It’s amazing the havoc a small seed can wreak on dogs and cats.
The barbed seed heads of the foxtail plant are called grass awns. They work their way through the skin, ears, nose — literally anywhere on an animal’s body. By only moving forward — never backward — and not disintegrating, grass awns penetrate ever deeper tissues and cause infections that smolder out of sight.
These seed heads are tough to find in fur and even harder to spot in other areas of the body. That’s why it’s important to examine your pet carefully after walks. Depending on where a grass awn attaches, your pet might sneeze, limp, squint, shake her head or paw or lick incessantly. Deeper infections can manifest with a wide array of signs.
If you notice anything out of the ordinary, don’t wait to call your veterinarian. It could save your pet’s life.