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Complete ventral ankyloglossia in three related dogs
M Doga Temizsoylu1, Sirri Avki
1Department of Surgery, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Burdur, Turkey.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
|November 25, 2003
Summary
Anatolian Shepherd dogs with ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, experienced improved tongue mobility and weight gain after frenuloplasty surgery. This surgical correction effectively addressed the congenital condition, enhancing the dogs' quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Canine Health
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Anatolian Shepherd dogs presented with clinical signs of excessive drooling and poor weight gain.
- Affected dogs exhibited restricted tongue protrusion and a characteristic "W" shape at the tongue tip.
- A congenital ventral ankyloglossia, involving a restrictive lingual frenulum, was diagnosed in all three related dogs.
Observation:
- Physical examination revealed an inability to properly protrude the tongue.
- A thin tissue band tethering the tongue to the floor of the mouth was identified.
- The ventral aspect of the tongue tip showed notching and ventral deviation upon attempted protrusion.
Findings:
- Frenuloplasty successfully corrected the complete ventral ankyloglossia in all affected dogs.
- Post-surgery, dogs demonstrated significantly improved tongue mobility and normal tongue function.
- Weight gain and overall health improved markedly following the surgical intervention.
Implications:
- Frenuloplasty is an effective surgical treatment for canine ankyloglossia.
- Addressing congenital tongue-tie can resolve associated feeding and growth issues in dogs.
- This case highlights the importance of recognizing and surgically managing lingual frenulum abnormalities in veterinary patients.