Todayโs path rounds are on ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฐ๐ง๐ฌ!
(Fun fact, this is our 250th post!)
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฐ๐ง๐ฌ are the seeds of certain types of plants, which have characteristic barbs that allow them to embed into tissue. This is great for the plant, as it means their seeds are spread great distances, but it can be very bad for the animal!
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Any species can get this!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Animals are usually exposed when they are moving through long grasses. When they come into contact with the seeds, the barbs lodge themselves in the skin, and the unique shape of the awns encourages the barbs to burrow further and further into the animal. In some cases, animals running through long grass may inhale awns, lodging them in their lungs. Herbivores may also eat the seeds, allowing them to embed in the gastrointestinal tract.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
The significance of a grass awn depends on the location it embeds. Because these seeds burrow deeper into the animal, they can compromise internal organs in some cases. Grass awns have been found in the lungs, liver, kidneys, eyes, and even the brain! The seeds often bring bacteria with them as well, which can cause abscesses or other bacterial infections.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
Diagnosis can be very challenging, especially because the awns can affect basically any organ. Most of the time, ultrasound can be used to identify the awn and any associated abscesses or infectious fluids.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Usually abscesses or infection have to be drained surgically, followed by a long-term antibiotic protocol. In some cases, the grass awn may not be found during surgery! These animals must be watched closely for any new symptoms, as the grass awn could continue to migrate and damage other tissues.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1) The characteristic shape of most grass awns. The โarrowheadโ allows it to dig deeper into tissue, while preventing its removal. Ouch!
2-4) Different types of awns in the lungs and brain.
5) A cat with ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฑ, or pus in the thorax. This was caused by a grass awn migrating into the chest, and bringing some bacterial friends along with it!
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Klocke E. CVC highlight: The hunt for grass awns. DVM 260 2014.
Photos 1-5 Noahโs Arkive contributor Weeks, Jakowski, King, Carpenter licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
