Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tongue abscesses causing drooling and mouth pain in three dogs
By von Doernberg, M C et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2008·Department of Clinical Science of Companion Animals, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Lingual abscesses in three dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three dogs were brought in with swollen tongues, excessive drooling, and difficulty opening their mouths, which were signs of tongue abscesses. After thorough examinations and imaging, the dogs underwent surgery to drain the abscesses, followed by antibiotics, fluids, and pain relief. It's important to treat these abscesses promptly, as leaving them untreated can be life-threatening. All three dogs recovered well after their treatment and were able to eat and drink normally again.
People also search for: dog swollen tongue treatment · why is my dog drooling excessively · dog mouth abscess symptoms
Abstract
Lingual abscessation is a rare condition in dogs. Very little information is available on the diagnosis and treatment of lingual abscesses in the major surgical textbooks and current veterinary literature. The common clinical signs of lingual abscesses are macroglossia, hypersalivation and a reluctance to open the mouth, but these can vary depending on the time course of the disease and the location of the abscess. This article presents three cases of tongue abscess in the dog outlining treatment and outcomes. A thorough diagnostic work up, consisting of anamnesis, clinical and haematological examinations, oral inspection under sedation and the use of diagnostic imaging techniques should be mandatory before surgical exploration of the abscess. Surgery is followed by drainage and systemic antibiotics, complemented by systemic fluid support and pain management. Conservative management of lingual abscesses can be fatal. Sharp trauma from an unknown object is suspected to be the underlying cause for the abscesses in the present cases.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18482333/