O, awn tree!

What are awns and what do they look like?

Awns are the small, hairy extensions of certain plants, especially grasses and cereals, which they have developed over the course of evolution as a way of spreading their seeds. They are primarily an adaptation of the plant to its environment. In the case of awns, their evolution has given them a tip, which is as sharp as a needle, and hairs covered with barbs. A special feature is that the barbs all point in one direction. It is this point and barbs that make awns so dangerous.

Grannen unter der Lupe

The structure of awns

To understand why awns are so dangerous, we need to take a closer look at their structure. Awns are made up of several parts, which can make them real walkers in the body.

Un'arista sotto la lente d'ingrandimento: sono chiaramente riconoscibili le punte

The barbs:

This part of the awn is the most dangerous. The barbs are tiny hairs that all point in one direction. When the awn comes into contact with the dog's skin or coat, it is the barbs that hold the awns in place.

The tip:

The tip of an awn is sharp and can easily penetrate the skin.

Le punte non solo favoriscono l'adesione, ma permettono anche all'arista di muoversi attivamente in avanti.

Movement:

Awns are true masters of migration. The barbs not only ensure a tight fit, but also allow the awn to actively move forward. This means that they can penetrate deeper into your dog's skin or other body orifices.

The dangers of awns: What can happen?

The human and animal body reacts to penetrating foreign bodies by becoming inflamed. We are all familiar with the splinter in the finger that flushes itself out after two days due to inflammation, usually a pus blister. However, as burrs only ever move in one direction, namely deeper into the tissue, the body cannot fight them naturally. This means that burrs can cause a variety of problems, from abscesses in the interdigital space to injuries to the eardrum if the burr has penetrated the ear.

As a dog owner, you should be aware of a few signs to avoid consequential damage.

Pit in the ear: The dog starts shaking its head out of nowhere. Head tilting and constant scratching as well as pain can be a sign of a lump that has become trapped in the ear.

Awns in the nose: Sudden, incessant sneezing and nosebleeds after a walk. The dog may rub its nose with their paws.

Awns in the eye: Awns can also get into the eye, more exactly into the conjunctival sac. This can be recognized by permanent eye squinting, watery discharge and the dog rubbing their eyes.

Dopo ogni passeggiata, controlla il pelo del tuo cane e soprattutto gli spazi tra le dita delle zampe. Un comportamento insolito può essere un segnale della presenza di un'arista.

Awns in the interdigital spaces: The dog licks the affected paw and limps. In some cases you can see the area through which the awn has penetrated. After a few days, an abscess forms. The body tries to flush out the lump by local inflammation and the associated pus formation.

If you notice any of these signs, do not hesitate to consult your vet.

What can you do about awns?

Pay attention to unusual behavior of your dog. When awns enter body orifices, the reaction is always extreme. Check your dog's coat after every walk, especially the areas between the toes. For dogs that have a lot of fur on their ears, it helps to keep it as short as possible so that awns have fewer opportunities to get stuck.

29 September 2023 — by Katrin Rahn