Tongue Trauma

Signalment

• Usually young animals that play or chew with cables.

Description

Can be thermal, chemical, or electrical in aetiology and can involve the lips, buccal mucosa and palates as well as the tongue. The injuries sustained vary from mild to severe. Linear scars appear from electrical cable chewing along with discolouring of teeth and burns at the side of the mouth. Ulceration may appear following ingestion of caustic substances

Diagnosis

History

• Cat fight
• Seen playing with or eating a foreign body
• Chewing electric cables
• ingestion of caustics

Clinical Signs

• drooling saliva
• reluctance to eat
• bleeding
• pawing at mouth
• secondary infections

Definitive Diagnosis

Inspection uder a General anaesthetic making sure to check under the tongue for foreign bodies.

Treatment

The animal should be evaluated and treated for systemic involvement, which may be life-threatening in some cases If contact with a corrosive chemical is seen and the chemical is alkaline, the mouth may be flushed with mild solutions of vinegar or citrus juice; if the chemical is acidic, a solution of sodium bicarbonate may be used. Copious flushing of the mouth with water may help remove some of the chemical substances. More commonly, the animal is seen too long after the exposure for neutralization to be effective.