Grass Awn Dog Symptoms

The barbed seed heads of the foxtail plant can work their way into any part of your dog or cat from the nose to between the toes and inside the ears eyes and mouth they can even simply dig themselves directly into a patch of skin.

Grass awn dog symptoms. A dog might also excessively rub its nose. J small anim pract. So entry points are often in the armpits groin area and toes. First be aware that the symptoms of a grass awn infection can be very vague and nonspecific.

If the seeds are just tangled in the fur only matting of the hair coat may be seen. So do yourself a favor and get educated on grass awn symptoms. Pieces of plant material typically the awn seed penetrate the skin or are inhaled or ingested as the dog runs through cover the awns of the most problematic grasses are barbed which allows the awn to ratchet itself along through the tissue. Vansteenkiste dp lee kc lamb cr.

Computed tomographic findings in 44 dogs and 10 cats with grass seed foreign bodies. The foxtail plant is a grass like weed. Whitty cc milner hr fau oram b oram b. The signs associated with grass seeds and awns depend upon the location of the grass seed.

The dogs own movement causes the seeds to be worked into the skin. What are the symptoms of grass awn infection. But if the seeds have penetrated the skin or have been inhaled or ingested usually pain inflammation and swelling will result. If grass awns are not removed in a timely fashion they will lead to the formation of painful abscesses which need regular drainage of fluids.

Use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of spinal empyema caused by a migrating grass awn in a dog. Movement from the dog allows the grass awn to pierce the dog s skin becoming embedded due to the barbs. Grass awns can be inhaled swallowed and even penetrate the dog s skin. Foxtail plants can be risky for your dog.

The height of many dogs lines up well with the location of the seed pods on the grasses and contact with the grass allows the sharp lightweight grass awns to stick to the dog. After a while the problem might result in nasal drainage or infection. From here the seed can move into the abdomen or chest in which case surgery would probably have to be administered to remove it. The awn may carry bacteria as it enters the dog s body and or it may carry bacteria that are normal inhabitants of one part of the body.

The dog may try to remove the grass seed by licking and chewing a specific area. If a dog has an awn stuck in its nasal cavity sneezing is usually among the first symptoms says dr. Grass awns are just one of the many danger your dog is exposed to when he or she is outdoors. I have provided details of symptoms and treatments of our own dogs below.

What are the symptoms of grass awn infection.