In some cases ultrasound may be instructive in locating an awn or at least identifying the tract the awn creates as it travels. A chest x-ray will likely be helpful and blood work a matter of course to check for indications of infection.

Grass awns recently recovered from a Labrador.

An awn that migrates to the outside of the body and sets up an abscess may be a best-case scenario, though our experiences with this manifestation have both involved surgery.

These abscesses commonly erupt towards the rear and to the lower edge of the rib cage.

We've had two dogs with this type of symptom, and one lost the bottom few inches of the last few ribs because the abscess was both external and internal to the ribs.

The second dog had two ribs removed entirely to remove her abscess, and also lost a 1- by 3-inch piece of her back muscle, which is where the offending awn was located and removed. Apparently migration to the spinal region is also common.

An abscess or infection in the chest (pyothorax) or lung can be life threatening. Typically these cases cannot be treated with antibiotics alone; the fluid and pus in the chest cavity will need to be drained.

BW: What can you do to protect your dog?

CL: Learn to recognize hazardous plants, and be watchful of where you are hunting, training or even just exercising your dog. These plants are especially hazardous in late summer through fall as they dry out and the awns loosen and become more prone to drop. If you are in an area that may support foxtail, inspect your dog after he or she runs to remove awns before they have the chance to penetrate the skin or lodge in the ear and begin to migrate.

If you have had a dog suffer a grass awn infection, or know someone else who has, please assist in our data-gathering efforts.

Access a case history form at http://www.meanseeds.com or e-mail me at regentess@gmail.com.

If you are an event organizer, be aware of the problem and avoid hazardous fields.

Express your concerns to your local conservation groups. Seed mixes are available without rye grass, so be careful how you select your mix.

If you have rye grasses in your own fields, Nancy Pals, a conservation resource officer in Illinois, recommends burning to weaken the stands, and has also seen some success in reducing the amount of rye grass with overseeding with big and/or little bluestem.

BW: Thanks, Cathy. I appreciate you taking the time to update Gun Dog readers.

It's obvious you've dedicated yourself to the task, and we hope this alert will save some dogs from these hazards.

Resources
You'll find links and additional information at http://www.meanseeds.com and http://essfta.org/Health_Research/grass_awn.htm. [1] http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/horjub/all.html [2] http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MUSC [3] An excellent article summarizing symptoms and treatment, Actinomycosis and Nocardiosis, Standards of Care, Volume 10, Number 3, April, 2008, can be found here: http://www.vlsstore.com/Media/PublicationsArticle/SOC_10_03_4.pdf