Our vet Sam went out recently and visited a heifer with Woody Tongue. Since it is such a common condition in cattle, we thought we would share some useful facts.
Woody Tongue Facts
Why is it called Woody Tongue? If you are to palpate the tongue, it often feels like a block of wood.
🐮Signs of Woody Tongue include drooling, rapid weight loss and sometimes the tongue may stick out of the mouth.
🐮It is usually caused by cattle eating thistles, chewing sticks and new teeth development.
🐮How is it caused? Woody tongue is caused by a bacteria found in the soil which can also affect the lips, cheeks, nose, and stomach.
🐮Woody tongue requires a certain antibiotic to treat it. Once this antibiotic is given, cattle usually respond to the treatment quickly. This antibiotic is very specific to woody tongue and won’t help with other conditions that may look like it.
Such as:
- An abscess in the mouth
- Liver fluke or other conditions that may result in anaemia. This can cause a bottle jaw.
- Foreign body e.g. turnips