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| Discussion on Dangling Tongue... | |
| Author | Message |
| Member: leec |
Posted on Friday, Oct 23, 2009 - 8:10 pm: Hi DrO,The Quarter Horse mare pictured here is 13 yrs old. She was born outside on a cold January night in the snow. Her ear tips froze and it is believed that she touched her tongue on something metal and half tore it out of her mouth. Her tongue has, for all of her life, hung out of the left side of her mouth. She brings it in only to eat. As the tongue was 'in the way', her teeth on the left side grew outwards at a significant angle, at least this is why they appear to be so angled. She has no problems eating hay or grass, appears healthy and keeps good weight without concentrates. She is comfortable with a bit in her mouth. She is well schooled in Dressage and has been a lesson/therapeutic riding horse. She has a very nice conformation, moves beautifully, is very well bred and has had two Warmblood foals. A kind lady took her in and is looking for a good home for her – thus where I come in... I tried this mare out today and she is very nice to ride and has a wonderful temperament. I don’t show, so the look of the hanging tongue is not a concern for me. The tongue, however, has some scars and marks on it (maybe she's bitten it in the past) and I wonder, what are some potential health issues that might arise with the angled teeth and/or hanging tongue? We don't know when, or if, her teeth have ever been looked at. Is there a surgery that could make the tongue less cumbersome? Being exposed so much, would make it very susceptible to further damage and potential infection I would think. It certainly can't be healthy for it to be exposed at all times to the sun or freezing cold? Though she seems to have coped well with it hanging out for 13 yrs... Any thoughts/suggestions about this odd handicap would certainly be appreciated. Thank you, LeeC   
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| Member: canter |
Posted on Friday, Oct 23, 2009 - 9:37 pm: Hi Lee,I'll let DrO give you the official medical response to your questions regarding this sweet faced mare. But I'll share a somewhat similar experience that may put your mind at ease just a bit. 16 years ago, our then 1 year old Setter was diagnosed with cancer in her jaw. To save her (the cancer had already eaten a dime size hole in the lower jaw bone), we brought her to Tufts and there the fabulous vets removed a good portion of 1 side of her lower jaw. The end result, was that her tongue hung out for the remainder of her 15+ years. She pulled it in only to eat, drink and bark. My husband continued her hunting training and she hunted in all sorts of heavy brush, in all weather, for many years. The tongue never slowed her down or negatively impacted her life except in one way. Other dogs saw this as a weakness and she was attacked several times, once she almost bled to death when another dog tore the tongue. We had to be VERY careful around other dogs for the remainder of her life. But that said, she lived a very full life before we said our goodbyes to her last year. The tongue did become very "leathery" over the years and she was the sloppiest eater and drinker because of it, but she quickly learned to cope, as we did, and she was fine. There were never any infections or issues with cold (granted, she lived in the house with us, unlike your mare, most likely  ). I would think, though, that after 13 years, the mare has also learned to cope and will be just fine. I would recommend keeping an extra close eye on the teeth should you choose to bring her home and of course, keep an extra vigilant eye out for anything around the barn/pastures that could cut her. Best of luck if you decide to take her. She has a lovely face and a very sweet eye. I'd find her hard to resist. |
| Member: mrose |
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| Member: dsibley |
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| Moderator: DrO |
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| Member: sodmonst |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 24, 2009 - 11:27 am: I think that she's lovely, and she doesn't seem to have problems keeping herself in good flesh. If I found myself in your position, I'd LOVE her floppy tongue and "frosty" ears because probably these attributes create the chance to get her in this way. She has striking chrome; her blaze is beautiful, her conformation is correct, and she has such a sweet eye. What a conversation starter she'll be! Maybe your vet would help you learn how to monitor in order catch problems early. With her temperament, it sounds like you could teach her to accept your checking her teeth for sharp places, and her cheeks for ulcers. She might even learn to accept having you use a water-pick if you had to! She could even get to like it if you mixed a little minty mouthwash with the water. Then she'd be opening her mouth wide when she sees you coming  Yikes! Picture that! Now I cannot get the image out of my head I'm getting jealous now, better stop.
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| Member: sodmonst |
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| Member: erika |
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| Member: leslie1 |
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| Member: leec |
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| Member: sodmonst |
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| Member: leec |
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| Member: mrose |
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| Member: sodmonst |
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| Member: paul303 |
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| Member: leec |
Posted on Monday, Oct 26, 2009 - 11:40 am: Hello all,Well, the new horse is home! I have to find a new barn name for her. Her registered name is Huskers Eskimo Pie. She was being called Kimo, but it makes me think of chemo, as in chemotherapy... I had thought I might just call her Pie, but after spending time with her yesterday, that is just too bland a name for her. My husband joked that she looks like a cartoon character, but I think she deserves better than a silly name. Any ideas? DrO, having had time to explore her tongue, it appears that she cannot feel me playing with the tip of it. Though, she will move it when a touch the side of it. The tip feels kinda rubbery. She definitely does not find it an inconvenience. She picks up hay and chews normally. She can pick up a treat off the palm of your hand (feels a bit funny!). I am not tall, so am more disappointed about her being 15.3hh, than I am about her tongue! Lee C 
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| Member: rtrotter |
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| Member: shanson |
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| Member: ajudson1 |
Posted on Monday, Oct 26, 2009 - 1:39 pm: I think she's just beautiful! The tongue just adds some interesting character.Find a really good equine dentist and get some feedback on what to keep an eye on would be my suggestion. If she hasn't had teeth problems, she may start to have some just with age. NJ Lee, "Frenchie?!?" LOL!! Now I have Grease on my mind, and the pink haired "Frenchie" from the movie, And I'll be humming songs from that the rest of the day!!
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| Member: sodmonst |
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| Member: paul303 |
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| Member: cheryl |
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