Grass Awn Infection 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 infection dogs.

Cells begin to wall off the area to contain a potential infection forming an abscess. It often can be hard to see the embedded awn especially if you have a dog with a lot of fur and your timing in getting your dog to a veterinarian is critical. Whether you call them awns mean seeds timothy foxtails cheat grass june grass downy brome or any other number of colloquial names to dogs they generally mean one thing and that s trouble. Embedded grass awns can lead to serious infections and other complications.

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. New nafc fc afc cody cut a lean grade grady owned and handled by chad baker won the 2011 national amateur retriever championship which concluded june 25 in ronan montana. Since then she has become much more involved as she and dean have dealt with four more grass awn infection cases with their own dogs as well as learning of fellow trialers experiences. Many dogs develop a lump where the grass awn is located.

If a grass awn becomes embedded in your dog and an infection and abscesses develop your dog is at risk for dying if he receives no treatment. The essfta established a committee to investigate the grass awn issue in 2007. Fatalities and grass awns. An awn is a hairy like bristle or appendage from the ear or flower of barley rye or many other types of growing grass.

When a grass awn is embedded the body responds with inflammation. The signs associated with grass seeds and awns depend upon the location of the grass seed. 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. This can result in the formation of abscesses and even life threatening infections inside the body cavities.

Scary stuff and with upland bird hunting seasons in many states set to kick off in the next few weeks now is a good time to remind all dog owners about the very real dangers of grass awn infections. Grass awns can be inhaled swallowed and even penetrate the dog s skin. Foxtail plants can be risky for your dog. Grass awns are deadly dangerous for your dog.

Cathy was an initial member and now chairs that committee. Oftentimes once grass seeds and awns penetrate the skin they will continue to migrate deeper into the pet s tissues. The foxtail plant is a grass like weed.