Will Salivary Mucocele In Dogs Go Away

A salivary mucocele is a collection of saliva that’s leaked from a damaged salivary gland or duct and has accumulated in the tissue. It can be painful at first but then becomes a painless swelling in the neck or even in the mouth. The swelling fluctuates, but never completely goes away.

Diagnosis of Salivary Mucocele in Dogs

Your veterinarian will go over your pet’s medical history and he will ask you when the swelling first started. During the physical examination your veterinarian will gently palpate the area. Usually mucoceles are easily identified; tumors and abscesses may appear similar but are generally firm and painful. Your veterinarian may recommend a sterile aspiration of the fluid in the mass. In mucocele the aspiration will be a clear blood tinged thick ropy fluid. The aspirated fluid will also be examined under the microscope. High white blood cell count in the fluid may indicate an infection in the salivary gland or an abscess.

Your veterinarian team will need to perform surgery to find the ruptured duct. To make sure your pet is healthy and can undergo surgery, a complete blood work (CBC), urine test, and chemistry profile will be recommended.

How is a salivary mucocele diagnosed?

Your veterinarian will begin by palpating any visible swellings on your dog’s head and neck. Most salivary mucoceles can be readily identified on palpation, with the exception of pharyngeal mucoceles. In the case of a pharyngeal mucocele, your veterinarian may need to examine your dog’s throat under sedation or general anesthesia. The diagnosis of a salivary mucocele is typically confirmed by aspirating the swelling. Your veterinarian will insert a needle into the swelling, in order to withdraw fluid for examination under a microscope. Performing a microscopic examination of this fluid will allow your veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes of swelling, such as an abscess or cancerous mass. In some cases, advanced laboratory testing may be required.

Treatment of Salivary Mucocele in Dogs

The only suitable treatment for salivary mucocele is surgery to remove the ruptured gland or glands involved. Aspiration or draining of the mass will only resolve the problem for a short amount of time.

Ranulas, cervical and pharyngeal mucoceles are all treated by surgical removal of the mandibular and sublingual glands of the affected side. A zygomatic mucocele means the gland needs to be removed from beneath the eye.

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FAQ

Can salivary mucocele in dogs go away on its own?

Salivary mucocele can develop into a major problem because the saliva is being constantly produced and the body is unable to reabsorb it all. The area where the saliva is being collected continues to grow and may form cysts. The problem will not just go away, you must take your pet to the veterinarian.

How do dogs get salivary mucocele?

Treatment of Swelling of the Salivary Gland in Dogs

Cervical, ranula, and pharyngeal mucoceles are treated by removing both the mandibular and sublingual glands on the affected side of the mouth, with marsupialization being additionally performed to help with drainage in cases of ranula mucoceles.

How do you treat a salivary mucocele in dogs at home?

Salivary mucoceles are caused by trauma to a salivary gland or salivary duct. In most cases, the cause of trauma is not identified. Potential inciting causes may include bite wounds, chewing on sharp objects, and the use of choke collars, all of which may damage a salivary gland or duct.