Surgical affections of Tongue
Surgical affections of Tongue in animals are congenital defects, smooth tongue, lateral deviation of the tongue, ankyloglossia, strangulation, tumors, glossitis, gangrene, trauma, glossoplegia.
From these Smooth tongue, Lateral deviation of the tongue and Ankyloglossia are the congenital defects of the tongue.
Surgical affections of Tongue are-
- Smooth tongue
- Lateral deviation of the tongue
- Ankyloglossia
- Strangulation of tongue
- Tumors of tongue
- Glossitis
- Glossoplegia
Smooth tongue
The horny papillae on the dorsum of the tongue will be either small or absent. Affected calves with smooth tongue will have difficulty in prehension. This leads to retarded growth.
Treatment is not indicated as this can’t be normal. Condition is more common in Brown Swiss and Holstein Friesian.
Lateral deviation of the tongue
If the lower canine teeth in dogs are missing the tongue may protrude laterally.
Lateral deviation of the tongue may be congenital or traumatic. Treatment is by excising the superficial muscle near the frenulum linguae on the contralateral side.
Ankyloglossia
Ankyloglossia is a incomplete or abnormal development of the tongue.
Treatment of Ankyloglossia is by incising the overlong frenulum linguae to provide a free range of motion of the tongue.
Strangulation of tongue
In dogs and cats accidental slipping of elastic rings or tracheal rings being slipped over the free portion of the tongue is a common cause.
Foreign bodies which lodge in the oral cavity and penetrate the surrounding tissue, tracheal ring.
Pieces of rubber etc may encircle and strangulate the tongue.
In the horses by tying a string around the free portion of the tongue as a means of control when the animal is vicious causes strangulation.
Symptoms of Strangulation
The portion of the tongue distal to the tourniquet becomes swollen and cyanotic due to impediment in venous flow.
Later necrosis will set in from arrest of blood supply in the distal portion.
Diagnosis of Strangulation
Careful examination after sedation especially in small animals will aid in the identification of a ligature deep in the swollen tongue.
The animal’s efforts to remove this object by pawing and rubbing on the ground push them further posteriorly. This leads to severe passive congestion and oedema of the tongue.
Treatment of Strangulation
In early cases removal of the cause, antibiotics, fluid and other supportive therapy should be followed.
Amputation is indicated in necrosis of the tongue. Amputation of tongue (partial glossectomy) up to its half can be practiced.
Tumors of tongue
Fibromata, lipomata, and angiomata are the neoplasms or Tumors of the tongue. Carcinoma confined to tongue is unknown in animals except for canine oral viral papillomatosis. Epithelioma affecting the face usually involves tongue. Malignant melanoma, fibrosarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma may be primary to the tongue.
In cats high incidence of tongue tumors is recorded, Squamous cell carcinoma, fibrosarcoma papillomata, Haemangioma.
Clinical signs of tumors
- Difficulty in mastication
- Salivation
- Quidding. -Chewed food drops from mouth with saliva
- Dysphagia
- If tumor is ulcerated: blood stained discharge from mouth
Treatment of tumors
Surgical excision and chemotherapy are of little value for treatment of tumors in animals. Radiotherapy is indicated for Squamous cell carcinoma in small animals.
Surgical excision is indicated for Papilloma. Irradiation and hyperthermia is indicated for fibrosarcoma.
Steroid therapy is indicated for hemangioma.
In Large animals: Amputation of tongue is indicated.
Glossitis
Glossitis is the inflammation of the tongue is rarely reported in dogs and cats.
Clinical signs of glossitis
Clinical signs of glossitis in animals are-
- Halitosis
- Dysphagia
- Oral haemorrhage
- Rolling of the tongue
- Saliva drooling
Differential diagnosis of glossitis
Differential diagnosis of glossitis in animals are-
- Neoplasia
- Heavy metal poisoning
- Vitamin deficiency
Treatment of glossitis
Removal of the cause of glossitis and systemic antibiotic administration with prednisolone in Siberian husky breed.
Glossoplegia
Glossoplegia is a unilateral or bilateral paralysis of the tongue. It is due to Hypoglossal nerve paralysis. Prognosis is grave for such conditions.