Spear Grass & Pet Health San Antonio

May 7, 2015 by Beth Thompson

Spear Grass & Pet Health San Antonio

Have you ever let your pet prance through the tall grass to their hearts content? Did you ever see grass or burrs stuck in your dog’s coat? Did you try to pull it out or maybe there were too many that you just gave up. You may want to rethink everything, because a plant called spear grass can put your pet in major danger, affecting short and potentially long term pet health San Antonio in instances where it is not noted early.

Spear grass is a grass that is commonly found in Texas, and does not pose much of a threat in the Spring, but when it starts to warm up and the plants dry out, the barbs of this plant can be life threatening. The spear grass has awns that carry seeds, and when the plants become dry, these thin stems can become very sharp and be lodged in legs, stomachs, and ears. Because the grass has a specific shape, these awns can only go in, and only go out the way they came in. Also, these plants can be found in the animals’ ears, and if it moves down the canal it can irritate the canal and have a chance to damage the ear drum.

You are probably wondering how to spot these barbs on your pets, and how to notice if your pet is in pain and what they would do in a response to the barbs. First, you should always check the fur of the animal as well as looking between the toes, on the stomach, and in the ears. The animals will shows signs of pain by licking and chewing at the part of the body that has been penetrated, as well as shaking or pawing at the ears when one barb may be lodged inside the canal. A few other signs of inflammation and infection are pain, swelling, redness, and discharge from the area.

How do we protect our precious pets while letting them have the freedom to run? It may be hard, but you have to stake out the area where you’d like to walk your dog, so that you can avoid the spear grass. The next step is to shave or clip the hair on the pet’s feet and toes. By doing this, it will make the spear grass more visible if it is there, so that you can catch it before it’s too late. Also, when you get home from a walk, make sure to check the feet, ears, and eyes to try to catch the grass before it becomes a problem.

Finally, if you notice irritation or pain in your pet, and you see that the barbs have already become a problem, you can call us and your vet, for it needs to be taken care of right away. Here at Bluebonnet Grooming, we have taken spear grass out of ears, paws, eyes, and noses regularly when it starts to warm up. Yet, if the infection is bad or the barb is lodged deeply into the tissue or ear, sedation may be required, and that must be done at your local veterinary office.

Remember, we are always here to help;  answering your questions or providing great grooming services.  Give us a call at (210) 399-8585 or (830) 515-2555.

Bluebonnet Grooming is a full service groomer, serving the needs of dogs and cats, in northern San Antonio, Bulverde and Spring Branch, Texas.  Check out our website at bluebonnetgrooming.com for additional health and related articles and current coupons.

Photo Credit: Google Pics