Swollen Tongue / Jowls

Sarah_Jane

Sarah_Jane

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My vets are baffled so hoping someone here may have had experience I can draw on.

Daisy my greyhound bitch is 8 and about 6 months ago we noticed her eyes starting to water as she ate, in the last 3 months it has become clear that the underneath at the back of the tounge is swollen pushing it slightly up and out in of her mouth. She will sleep and stand relaxed with it slightly poking out.

When you look at her face her jowls appear puffy. This is gradually getting more pronounced. Her eyes continue to run at times yet she has no problem eating, does not dribble just occasionally opens her mouth and almost tries to re position her tongue probably aware it is a bit swollen.

The vet can feel her salivary gland slightly up, the swelling under the tongue has been biopsied and is clear. She has tonight had a blood test and a few levels slightly up including chloresteral but nothing that explains the symptoms.

Anyone any bright ideas or experienced anything similar? As I say vet baffled.
 
S_J do you have any pics?

When you say biopsies clear I am guessing you mean no cancer cells? :confused:
Do you know what they did see on biopsies?
 
Will get some pics of her face tomorrow and post here although not really possible to show tongue. Can show pudgy jowels! I forgotten the term they used re what the biopsy said, it does not eliminate cancer further down.

Ostrich no nothing like your girl, have put same message in hound lounge :)
 
Very difficult to show in pics and none showing tongue

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CAYLA said:
Nothing to say it could not be an infection though? did this come on suddenly? how long has she been showing the symptoms?
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This has come on gradually over 3 or 4 months. Cancer is not being ruled out but need to get to bottom of it so we know how to progress :(
 
So did your vet rule out blocked salivary gland? does she retrieve sticks/chew them (odd question I know) lol, my mams shepherd had a bad accident with a stick and some foreign stick material lol got into the tongue and her tongue and jowls swelled for a good while after the op, due to infection/inflammation no doubt.
 
CAYLA said:
So did your vet rule out blocked salivary gland? does she retrieve sticks/chew them (odd question I know) lol, my mams shepherd had a bad accident with a stick and some foreign stick material lol got into the tongue and her tongue and jowls swelled for a good while after the op, due to infection/inflammation no doubt.
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Not ruled out totally but unlikely on the salivary gland front. No she doesn't chase sticks we do feed raw and I wondered if something had got stuck uner her tongue but this is not the case.
 
CAYLA said:
I have only ever seen one dog like this (not exact symptoms) and it was a form of cancer. :(
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If nothing in mouth/salivary gland region then the other thing I have seen that caused similar swelling is with a cancer putting pressure on one of the major blood vessels in the chest, resulting in oedema/swelling of the head, neck and forelimbs.

S_J if you can get access to biopsy results and PM them to me am happy to have a look....if your vet is stumped is referral for a second opinion an option?
 
karen_c said:
If nothing in mouth/salivary gland region then the other thing I have seen that caused similar swelling is with a cancer putting pressure on one of the major blood vessels in the chest, resulting in oedema/swelling of the head, neck and forelimbs.

S_J if you can get access to biopsy results and PM them to me am happy to have a look....if your vet is stumped is referral for a second opinion an option?
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I will get them next time I see vet. Vets spoke about referral yesterday so an option although not easy as in tip of Cornwall and Daisy isn't insured saying that if it needs a referral she will get it.
 
My mums dog started with his eyes running and top of his nose slightly swollen, went to the vets and thought it was an infected bad tooth so he had it pulled out. Within a week he had swollen up more so he went back under only to find cancer that had tracked along the roof of his mouth ( you could not see anything before his tooth had been pulled. Sadly we PTS he was only 6 but the cancer was very aggressive. Could you not get a 2nd vet to have a look or go back for more test? Really hope you get sorted.
 
Thanks we made need to be referred on I guess. I am lucky my small animal vets very good and teo in the practice have looked at her it just pinpointing the cause.
 
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