Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with swallowing trouble from tongue muscle inflammation
By Strøm, P C et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2018·William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Dysphagia secondary to focal inflammatory myopathy and consequent dorsiflexion of the tongue in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 14-month-old female pitbull terrier mix was brought in because she had trouble swallowing (dysphagia) for the past eight months, along with a tongue that was bending upwards. Tests showed high levels of a muscle enzyme in her blood, and a biopsy of her tongue revealed inflammation and muscle damage. Unfortunately, treatment with prednisone, a common anti-inflammatory medication, did not help her condition. While she could still eat kibble with some help, she struggled to drink water on her own.
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Abstract
A 14-month-old female pitbull terrier mix was presented for evaluation of dysphagia of 8 months' duration secondary to intermittent dorsiflexion of the tongue apex. Physical and neurological examinations were unremarkable with the exception of the dorsiflexed tongue. Serum creatine kinase activity was increased (703 IU/L, reference interval: 55 to 257 IU/L), and electromyography of the tongue demonstrated areas of fibrillation potentials. Histopathology of the tongue showed myopathic changes with excessive variability in myofibre size and endomysial fibrosis. Cytochemical stains verified mixed mononuclear cells throughout the endomysium and perimysium consistent with a chronic inflammatory myopathy. No improvement was reported following prednisone administration; although the dog was able to prehend kibble, it needed assistance when drinking water. This is the first report documenting a focal lingual myopathy in a non-corgi breed and highlights the utility of determining creatine kinase activity and obtaining tongue biopsies when warranted in dysphagic animals.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29355995/