Grass Awn In Dogs
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.
Grass awn in dogs. They get sniffed into dog noses work their way into dog ears and lodge between dog toes. If the seeds are just tangled in the fur only matting of the hair coat may be seen. Once inside they start a relentless crawl forward traveling deeper into a dog. Grass awns can be inhaled swallowed and even penetrate the dog s skin.
These seeds or grass awns can become lodged in pet ears between toes and under the skin. The most common presentation is a draining tract between the toes. However grass awns can also cause much more serious health problems when they enter through the mouth or nose of a dog and migrate through the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract. But if the seeds have penetrated the skin or have been inhaled or ingested usually pain inflammation and swelling will result.
The problem with grass awns is that they are difficult to be located. An awn is a hairy or bristle like appendage growing from the ear or flower of barley rye and many types of widely growing grasses. The seeds of the nasty foxtail grass seem to have a special affinity for invading dogs bodies. The three most common hazards of foxtails to dogs are these.
Each of these sites is a mere port of entry for these sturdy seeds. 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. Grass awns are deadly dangerous for your dog.