Treatment for Swelling of the Salivary Gland in Dogs
Surgery to remove the affected gland is the most common treatment of a sialocele. Removing the gland decreases the flow of saliva into the swollen area and typically prevents similar capsules of saliva forming in the area.
After surgery, at-home care will be provided as the area continues to heal. Your veterinarian may insert a drain that will remain in place for a few days. They will also provide instructions tailored to your dog’s specific needs and severity of surgery. This may include using a cone or other barrier to prevent your dog from scratching and accidentally removing the drain.
You may also need to remove and reapply clean bandages, per your vet’s instructions.
Mucoceles and Ranulas
It is believed that rupture of the sublingual salivary duct results in the formation of a salivary mucocele. The injury may be due to trauma or to unknown causes. These mucoceles, or accumulations of saliva, can occur in various ways. A ranula is a sublingual mucocele. A cervical mucocele is first seen as an external swelling, which may vary in size, in the ventral neck area. A pharyngeal mucocele, develops as a swelling in the pharyngeal wall, and may cause airway obstruction. It may require emergency evacuation and marsupialization. Mucoceles are usually seen as painless, fluctuant swellings. Initially, some pain may exist from tissue irritation by saliva, but this phase is rarely part of the clinical presentation.
In response to the recent COVID-19 epidemic, we are taking recommended precautions. We are providing curb-side service. Communication with clients and doctors will be largely conducted via phone, Zoom meeting, FaceTime or another platform. Pets needing surgery or other treatments/diagnostics will be transferred from you to our staff, typically in the parking lot, in an effort to minimize human contact. Please be patient with the process in order to keep everyone safe.
