Ulcerative glossitis and gingivitis associated with foxtail grass awn irritation in two horses

Two horses were presented for diagnosis of lethargy, salivation, halitosis, dysphagia, bleeding ulcerative glossitis, gingivitis, and focal bleeding ulceration along the mucocutaneous junction of the labial commissures. In both instances, ulceration was attributed to foxtail awns (Setaria geniculata) based on microscopic examination of representative tissue biopsies and identification of numerous foxtail seed heads in representative samples of the available hay. The horses recovered and the lesions resolved completely following removal of the affected source of hay.