Changes

*Relatively common.   

*Youngish to middle age (mainly - although can be any age).

*Unable to eat although wants to. Hurts to open mouth.

In the cats, this condition is relatively common.  

*Whole of back of mouth covered in ulcerative granulation tissue.

*Chronic, tends to start at angle of jaw (bilateral), progression quite slow but over weeks affects whole of back of mouth.

   

====Pathology====

 

Epithelium lost over whole of mucosa, lots of macrophages, lymphocytes and proliferating fibrous response at base.

====Pathogenesis====

Relatively common in cats and quite common in dogs. Animals are often youngish to middle aged if the cause is viral, but are ususallyolder if the condition is caused by azotemia. There is no sex or breed predilection.

*Probably viral.  

 

*[[Feline Calicivirus|Calicivirus]] found in 7-80%, also often find [[Picornaviridae|picorna virus]] and [[Feline Immunodeficiency Virus]]

*Probably calici virus that starts it.

 

*Also owners often claim develops after 'having cold' prior to it.

*Calici virus infection may be followed by autoimmune / exaggerated immune response which produces lesions.

Signs of drooling and bleeding from the mouth or blood-tinged saliva are commonly seen. The animal may paw at its mouth frequently and be unable to eat although wants to. There may be resentment in opening of the mouth in a clinical examination. On physical examination, the whole of the back of mouth is covered in ulcerative granulation tissue and epithelium appears to be lost over the whole of the mucosa. In chronic cases the condition tends to start at angle of jaw (bilateral). Progression is quite slow but over weeks affects whole of back of mouth.  

*Will heal eventually, but takes time and cat loses lots of condition.

 

 

== Treatment and Control ==  

The primary cause should be treated in order to treat this condition. Meanwhile, supportive treatment is required such as soft food or a feeding tube in cats. Cats will need to be groomed regularly as they are not able to do this themselves. Antibiotics may be given to prevent secondary infection. The tongue will heal eventually, but takes time and cat loses lots of condition.  

 

 

== References ==

Blood, D.C. and Studdert, V. P. (1999) Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary (2nd Edition), Elsevier Science.

Ettinger, S.J, Feldman, E.C. (2005) Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine (6th edition, volume 2), W.B. Saunders Company.

Fossum, T. W. et. al. (2007) Small Animal Surgery (Third Edition), Mosby Elsevier.

Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition), Merial.

Sturgess, K. (2003) Notes on Feline Internal Medicine, Blackwell Publishing.  

Tutt, C., Deeprose, J. and Crossley, D. (2007) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dentistry (3rd Edition), British Small Animal Veterinary Association.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[Category:Tongue_-_Pathology]][[Category:Oral Diseases - Cat]]

[[Category:Tongue_-_Pathology]][[Category:Oral Diseases - Cat]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_Clinical]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_Clinical]]