Grass Awn Dog Treatment

The seeds of the nasty foxtail grass seem to have a special affinity for invading dogs bodies.

Grass awn dog treatment.

Simple awn or seed removal can be as little as 50. The problem with grass awns is that they are difficult to be located. Unfortunately owners can do only so much to protect their pets from the effects of grass awns. They get sniffed into dog noses work their way into dog ears and lodge between dog toes.

Should you spot the grass awn make sure to remove it as quickly as you can. Your vet may attempt to remove the grass awn if possible while your dog is still under sedation. Stopping medication too early can allow the signs of discospondylitis to recur even in a dog that was showing dramatic signs of improvement. 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 awns can be inhaled swallowed and even penetrate the dog s skin. Treatment typically is continued for a period of 6 12 months with long courses of medication required to clear infection. The ultimate goal is successful removal of the foreign body debridement and drainage of infected tissue and long term antibiotic therapy to resolve infection. Grass awns are deadly dangerous for your dog.

In cases where the grass awn is suspected to have migrated through a body cavity imaging such as x rays or ultrasound may be required to located the foreign material. In some cases the abscess can be opened and the foreign body removed. Cost of treatment cost can vary greatly depending on the severity of the condition. Moderate cases may cost 200 to 500 to sedate a pet find and remove the awn and treat any infection or abscess.

How to protect your dog from grass awn injury. Your dog may need to be sedated if the grass awn is in an area like the mouth or nose or if the affected area is very painful. Once inside they start a relentless crawl forward traveling deeper into a dog. Tai s illness finally culminated in a pyothorax that required chest drains at the university of wisconsin madison veterinary hospital.

The grass awn project started when i had a field bred english springer spaniel that suffered recurring bouts of unexplained illness approximately every three months for almost a year. Each of these sites is a mere port of entry for these sturdy seeds.