Major Glossectomy in Dogs: A Case Series and Proposed Classification System

Major resections of the tongue have not been commonly performed in animals because of concerns about the unfavorable postoperative effects of diminished lingual function. Five dogs were retrospectively reviewed to determine prehensile function and quality of life after glossectomies. Examinations were performed 1 week to 8 years after glossectomy, and owner interviews were conducted 10 months to 8 years after the surgery. All five dogs had acceptable and functional outcomes. Based on these five cases, glossectomy was well tolerated by dogs and may be a viable treatment option for aggressive tongue tumors and other conditions that render the tongue unsalvageable.