Glossitis

Signalment

• Long coated dogs that commonly get plant seeds stuck in their coats.

Description

Acute or chronic inflammation of the tongue usually secondary to an infectious, physical, chemical or metabolic cause:

• Infectious: calicivirus, feline herpesvirus, panleukopanenia, fungal, necrotising stomatitis and leptospirosis
• Physical: irritation from periodontal disease, foreign bodies and trauma
• Metabolic: uraemia, vitamin deficiencies and hypoparathyoidism
• Chemical: heavy metal poisoning

Diagnosis

History

Ingestion of a foreign body

Clinical Signs

• drooling
• bleeding
• dysphagia
• a reddened, swollen and ulcerated tongue edge in the case of periodontal disease.
• visualisation of a foreign body under the tongue (they may become embedded so that they cannot be palpated).
• acute swelling in the case of insect stings
• in chronic ulcerative glossitis there may be a thick, malodourous brown discharge.

Definitive Diagnosis

Careful examination of the entire mouth which the animal may resisit.

Treatment

Involves treating the primary cause. Removal of any foreign objects or diseased teeth. Systemic antibiotics for bacterial causes. Debridement, 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwashes, lingual curettage (in the case of a deep foreign body) may also be used to treat glossitis. Nutritional support should be offered if required.

References

Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual