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Metallic foreign bodies in the tongues of 16 horses.
Abstract: The history, clinical signs, results of diagnostic imaging, treatment methods and outcome of 16 adult horses with a metallic foreign body in the tongue are reviewed. All the horses had a swollen tongue, they salivated excessively and were partially to completely anorexic. Less common clinical signs were fever, an enlarged and painful intermandibular space, dysphagia, unilateral tongue paralysis and halitosis. Most of the horses had shown clinical signs for less than 24 hours. The foreign bodies were diagnosed by oral examination, radiography and ultrasonography; they were removed from the tongue of four of the horses during the initial oral examination, and were removed surgically from nine others; the other three horses were treated medically without attempts being made to extract the foreign bodies. Twelve of the bodies were small pieces of wire and one was a hypodermic needle. All the horses received a combination of antimicrobial and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and they all made an uneventful recovery. Feeding hay and the use of cable-framed tractor tyres as feeders were commonly associated with the cases.
Publication Date: 2006-10-10 PubMed ID: 17028250DOI: 10.1136/vr.159.15.485Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research examines 16 cases of adult horses that had metallic objects lodged in their tongues, detailing the symptoms, diagnosis methods, treatments, and outcomes. The study found that all horses had a swollen tongue, excessive drooling, and reduced to absolute loss of appetite. The foreign objects were typically removed by surgery, although they could sometimes be extracted during the initial oral examination. All horses recovered well after being treated with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory medications, and changes in feeding methods.
History, Symptoms and Clinical Signs
- The research scrutinizes the history and clinical signs of the 16 horses that had metallic foreign bodies in their tongues.
- Common symptoms across all 16 horses included swollen tongues, excessive salivation, and partial to complete anorexia, or loss of appetite.
- Additional, less prevalent symptoms presented were fever, enlarged and painful intermandibular spaces, dysphagia, unilateral tongue paralysis, and halitosis or bad breath.
- Most of the horses exhibited symptoms for less than 24 hours before the diagnosis was made.
Diagnosis and Treatment Methods
- The foreign bodies in the horses’ tongues were identified using oral examination, radiography, and ultrasonography.
- The foreign objects were extracted from the tongues of four horses during the initial oral examination and surgically removed from nine others.
- Three horses were treated medically, without attempts to physically extract the foreign bodies from their tongues.
Nature of Foreign Bodies and Treatment Outcome
- The object found in the horses’ tongues were typically small pieces of wire, with one case of a hypodermic needle.
- All horses were treated with a combination of drugs: antimicrobial to ward off infection, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling and pain.
- All the horses recovered without complications following the medication regimen and necessary surgical interventions.
Associated Factors
- The study found a common correlation between the incidence of foreign bodies in the horses’ tongues and their feeding habits and equipment.
- Using hay for feeding, and the use of cable-framed tractor tires as feeders, were commonly associated with the cases studied.
Cite This Article
APA
Pusterla N, Latson KM, Wilson WD, Whitcomb MB.
(2006).
Metallic foreign bodies in the tongues of 16 horses.
Vet Rec, 159(15), 485-488.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.159.15.485 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Female
- Foreign Bodies / diagnosis
- Foreign Bodies / surgery
- Foreign Bodies / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Male
- Metals / isolation & purification
- Radiography
- Retrospective Studies
- Tongue / chemistry
- Treatment Outcome
- Ultrasonography
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Rahmani Shahraki A, Raisi A. Surgical treatment of a penetrated metallic foreign body in the oral cavity wall of a mare. Vet Res Forum 2019 Spring;10(2):177-179.
- Lang HM, Panizzi L, Smyth TT, Plaxton AE, Lohmann KL, Barber SM. Management and long-term outcome of partial glossectomy in 2 horses. Can Vet J 2014 Mar;55(3):263-7.
- Lohmann KL, Lewis SR, Wobeser B, Allen AL. Penetrating metallic foreign bodies as a cause of peritonitis in 3 horses. Can Vet J 2010 Dec;51(12):1400-4.
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