Successful Medical Management of Severe Macroglossia Associated With Lingual Abscess in a Dog

A 9 yr old castrated male French bulldog, weighing 13.9 kg, presented with acute tongue swelling. Physical examination revealed marked macroglossia. Computed tomography (CT) showed a cavitary lesion extending from the lingual root to the body with rim enhancement. These CT findings were highly suggestive of a lingual abscess, and the lesion was aspirated. Cytological examination revealed degenerate neutrophils and intracellular bacteria, confirming a lingual abscess. Following aspiration, fluid therapy, systemic antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory dose of prednisolone were administered. The macroglossia improved rapidly, and the tongue size was normalized on day 4. Neisseria animaloris was isolated from the culture of the aspirated fluid. Treatment was discontinued 22 days after presentation, and no recurrence has been reported to date. This case is the first report describing the CT findings of a lingual abscess in a dog and demonstrates a successful outcome with medical management alone, without surgical intervention.