Tongue hanging out?

[loopy]

Hello everyone. One of my old guys has a strange new habit- he walks around with his tongue sticking out. The last time the vet saw him, which was in May, he said that it wasn't really anything to get worried about- Traveler has teeth and that the tongue thing was out of laziness (??). I've never really heard of a horse being so lazy that they would let their tongue flop out of their mouth, so I've become concerned. I tried searching for more information on tongue stuff, but I couldn't find anything. One thought I had was that maybe my horse had a stroke? It seems that he can't really control if his tongue comes out of his mouth, but he can put it back in. Has anyone had any experience with this sort of thing? I know there was a horse mentioned on this board somewhere that had a similar tongue thing, but I believe that there was a tooth-related thing going on with that guy.
Anyway! If anyone knows anything, please let me know. I hope it all really is out of laziness and not a symptom of something much more serious. Thanks!

[cutiepiepmu]

I would say stroke is a possibility - However, watch him move his face when he is not eating - is it possible that he has injured his jaw slightly and can't hold his mouth fully shut??? I saw a OTTB who had injured his lower jaw and was not able to fully close his mouth. He would drool like crazy and when he would relax the tounge would fall out the front. I do know that some horses will let their tongue hang as something to play with - like a passifier and I do see that alot in TB horses when I do nutritional and feed consultations.

Lastly - check the tongue over really well - you may have to give your kid some Ace or twitch himt o do this. But check all the way back - My old QH stallion got a barb from a fence stuck in the back of his tongue when he was younger - did a similar thing to what you are describing - vet finally found the barb WAY on the backside of his tongue. Took it out - gave some antibiotics and presto - he was all better!

Sara in WA

[watermarkfarm]

My guy Reggie is the one with the tongue that hangs out. He has no front teeth and so when he relaxes, his tongue hangs. But he can pull it back in just fine.

Last weekend, at a horseshow, I met Reggie's twin. Another grey TB with a tongue hanging out. This one had missing bottom teeth.

I have seen a handful of event horses who hang their tongues out, but it seems like more of an entertainment thing. Since this is new to your horse, it merits further investigation.

Let us know what happens.

Katie

[watermarkfarm]

One more thought: one of my PMU rescue mares started having slight trouble chewing and they xrayed her mouth. She had a cracked molar only visible on an xray. It was removed surgically.

Also, my CBER mare fractured her skull last summer (ran into a fence we think). Not knowing she was injured this badly, I noticed she was having great difficulty eating.

My point being.....maybe check this guy for head injuries? Could something be impinging on nerves?

[sherigraf]

you mean like this guy?

[cutiepiepmu]

LOL - we all have our issues!!!

Sara