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.