Wooden tongue, caused by Actinobacillus lignieresii, is a painful bacterial infection of the tongue and soft tissues in cattle that impairs eating and causes progressive weight loss without prompt treatment.
Wooden tongue causes a particularly distressing form of suffering because eating is one of the most fundamental behaviours for ruminants, occupying many hours each day. A cow with a painful, swollen tongue that cannot prehend or chew feed properly faces hunger on top of pain. Drooling is persistent and the animal becomes progressively more debilitated. The disease is entirely treatable with sodium iodide, making prompt identification by stockpeople essential — delayed recognition directly translates into extended unnecessary suffering. Training farm staff to recognise swelling and drooling as potential signs of wooden tongue and to seek veterinary attention promptly is a straightforward welfare improvement with high impact.