Grass Awn Dog Ear

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.

Grass awn dog ear.

Grass awns can be inhaled swallowed and even penetrate the dog s skin. 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. They may also become embedded in the body. These seeds or grass awns can become lodged in pet ears between toes and under the skin.

The signs associated with grass seeds and awns depend upon the location of the grass seed. The most common presentation is a draining tract between the toes. The foxtail plant is a grass like weed. 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.

Movement from the dog allows the grass awn to pierce the dog s skin becoming embedded due to the barbs. Foxtail plants can be risky for your dog. The problem with grass awns is that they are difficult to be located. Foxtail seeds can also separate from the pod and become embedded.

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. If the seeds are just tangled in the fur only matting of the hair coat may be seen. Further motion enables the grass awn to migrate. But if the seeds have penetrated the skin or have been inhaled or ingested usually pain inflammation and swelling will result.