A grass awn found in a ear.
As pets become more active with summer months they are more likely to pick up a foreign body while playing in tall grass. Grass awns appear to have a hair or bristle like appendage that make them more likely to become lodged in skin, ears, throats and eyes.
Symptoms of a grass awn can be:
- Coughing or gagging
- Drooling
- Shaking head
- Rubbing ears on ground
- Irritated skin, swollen irritated areas
- Pain
- Sneezing
- Squinting and eye discharge
If you are concerned that your pet may have a grass awn contact your veterinarian. Grass awns can migrate through the body causing greater issues if they reach areas like the lungs. These are difficult to prevent and a thorough once over of your pet after being out for a run in tall grass is the best way to ensure these pesky things do not cause bigger problems.