In our most recent post, we spoke about the invasion of an infection through a wound and in a similar manner, I will also be writing about how another infection can happen through what seems like a similar route.
Wooden tongue is the name of the infection, although some people prefer to call it woody tongue, other people call it action. It is an infectious bacterial disease that is more common among cattle.
It is caused by the bacteria, Actinobacillus lingnieresii, the bacteria causing this disease is found naturally even on the tongue of healthy animals. It becomes a problem when the mucosa of the mouth gets injured by plant awns, rough or coarse feed, foxtails and other possible injury sources. It is at that time that this bacteria enters into the body and begins to cause problems.
With this infection, the cattle will find it hard to eat or drink due to a hard, swollen, and painful tongue protruding out of the mouth. It is from the changes on the tongue that the name wooden tongue is coined.
When it is expressed as an abscess, the lymph node could swell and become as large as a football. After some time, the abscess could break open, draining out granulated pus either externally or internally. The abscess can sometimes be found in the esophagus, lungs, skin, udder, and other internal organs.
Even if not considered a highly contagious infection, it can still spread amongst animals through the saliva spread from feed. This bacteria through reports can survive for up to 4-5 days in feed.
Even if this disease appears worldwide, it is more common amongst cattle fed coarse, rough hay, or pastures that have abrasive feeds.
Early treatment once noticed is encouraged as an advanced case may not respond easily. The most common treatments are tetracycline and iodine therapy, in advance situations, surgical drainage advanced irrigation with iodine solution for several days is the way to go. After an animal has been treated, careful observation should be made as relapse can occur.
Although it may be impossible to avoid rough grazing, however, the vegetation in this situation poses a serious risk. Soil-contaminated or straw for cattle feed needs to be avoided to prevent the risk of trauma being done to the mucosal membrane in the mouth.
In a situation where only a single animal is affected, such an animal should be isolated and treated until all possible symptoms disappear.
In the case of an outbreak, the possible cause should be identified which is most likely going to be the feed or an item in the environment, it should be discontinued and removed.
Early detection of wooden tongue infection and treatment is what will help save the life of the affected animal.
It is usually painful and a stressful condition for affected animals, so it needs to be treated with every sense of urgency just like other health conditions are concerned.
