Mary Allen
Once caught in the fur, the awns sometimes begin a long journey, burrowing through the fur and skin and causing painful inflammation.
The awns of mouse barley (Hordeum murnium), which is widespread throughout Central Europe, especially in Austria in the east, have bitter aftermath for many dogs and cats and their owners at the vet, especially in the summer months. The plant often grows along roadsides or undergrowth and is therefore often found along popular walking paths
The pointed, barbed awns of the mouse barley fruits, also known in Austrian vernacular as “sleepyhead”, are often “picked up” by roaming four-legged friends.
If this harvest goes unnoticed, this can often have painful consequences: Once caught in the fur, the awns sometimes begin a long journey, burrowing through the fur and skin and – once there – can lead to painful inflammation. In this case, unfortunately, the name often says it all.
Paws, ears, nose, and eyes are particularly at risk here, but any other spot is also possible, the Schliafhansel doesn’t follow the rules and there is virtually no spot on the dog’s or cat’s body where it hasn’t been encountered.
So if walks in affected areas are the order of the day or if the house tiger has questionable plants in its territory and the animal starts scratching its ears, and shows signs of inflammation such as redness, discharge from the nose, eyes, mouth, or lameness on one or more legs, or licks more and more in one place, an examination by a veterinarian for the possible entry of such a mouse barley awn is urgently indicated.
Unfortunately, such a case cannot be prevented completely, but it is advisable in the summer months in affected areas to thoroughly examine the fur nose after the outlet for any plant parts that may have gotten caught in the fur and to collect them immediately. For long-haired animals, trimming hair on the ears and paws can reduce the risk. Ideally, contact with awn-bearing mouse barley can be avoided entirely.