Inflamed Taste Buds

[coopersmom]

Anyone's dog ever had inflamed taste buds? Randy, who had surgery on his tongue in August for Extramedullary Plasmacytoma, has three red areas on his tongue around the area where the tumor was removed. Took him to the vet yesterday for surgery on the areas, as we assumed they were EMP. Vet calls and said after she got a good look at his tongue she feels like the areas are inflamed taste buds. They are circular areas and resemble the EMP.

 

[sable]

What is EMP? I learn something new all the time. Never heard of it Coopersmom. Hopefully he heals ASAP.

 

[Caro]

Not a dog, but I have had swollen taste buds which were followed by glossitis (basically my taste buds fall off). It was the result of a virus I causing other immune responses. It was not painful as long as I took care with what I ate (nothing spicy or salty or heated. In the end it cleared up on its own and made no difference to my sense of taste.

 

[sable]

Not a dog, but I have had swollen taste buds which were followed by glossitis (basically my taste buds fall off). It was the result of a virus I causing other immune responses. It was not painful as long as I took care with what I ate (nothing spicy or salty or heated. In the end it cleared up on its own and made no difference to my sense of taste.

I heard of that in humans too from a virus, or drinking something with alot of acid. Hopefully Randy clears up really fast! Oh my Caro, be careful too, thankfully you didn't have pain. Thats awful, sounds like it would hurt, Ouch.

 

[coopersmom]

Caro-How long did you have the inflamed taste buds? Did you tongue return to it's original color? My vet says his tongue may always have those spots on it. I am taking him to the internal med vet Tuesday. I am not too sure of the diagnosis from my vet, in light of the EMP he already has. He's had these places for about three weeks.

 

[Caro]

My taste buds were inflammed for about 6-8weeks and then I got glossitis when I started recovering (which was weird) and that was another month for the taste buds to completely come back (so bad when my apetite returned and I couldnt taste anything). My buds were white for quite a while after but even that faded and now my tongue looks completely normal.

How long it takes to clear really depends on getting the underlying cause under control and even then the buds get traumatised and can take longer to completely recover (like mine). Tongues are really resilient though.

And try giving him some honey - it is a nice gooey coating on the tongue and its meant to be a natural therapy for inflammation. Otherwise very bland, soft foods (mind you I didnt feel like eating - no fun when you have no taste).