Recognize and Treat Salivary Mucocele in Dogs

Recognize and Treat Salivary Mucocele in Dogs

A salivary mucocele is an uncommon condition where a salivary gland leaks saliva, which then builds up under the skin or under the tongue. It is important to recognize the signs early, since this makes treatment easier and more successful. Look for the signs and treat your pet so she doesn’t have any problems from this condition.

Recognizing a Salivary Mucocele Look for swelling of the chin.

One of the major signs that a dog might have a salivary mucocele is swelling under the chin. The swelling occurs in the angle of the jaw. In the early stages, the swelling sits to either the left or the right side. The longer the mucocele has been present, the more it spreads and it can be difficult to tell which side it arose from. If you notice something isnt quite right with the dogs chin, make a mental note of which side was swollen first. This helps the vet figure out which gland is damaged. If in doubt as to which side is affected, stand directly in front of the dog and compare one side with the other to see which is more swollen. The swelling will probably feel a bit squishy when you press it, like a fluid-filled balloon. If you notice something isnt quite right with the dogs chin, make a mental note of which side was swollen first. This helps the vet figure out which gland is damaged. If in doubt as to which side is affected, stand directly in front of the dog and compare one side with the other to see which is more swollen.The swelling will probably feel a bit squishy when you press it, like a fluid-filled balloon.Watch for swelling under the tongue.

This swelling can be more difficult to spot. Sometimes the swelling is subtle and can be there for a long time before it becomes large enough to be noticeable. This swelling looks like large pink bubbles or cysts under the tongue, and they can reach a size where they displace how the tongue sits and push it over to one side. Swelling under the tongu A salivary mucocele is an uncommon condition where a salivary gland leaks saliva, which then builds up under the skin or under the tongue. It is important to recognize the signs early, since this makes treatment easier and more successful. Look for the signs and treat your pet so she doesn’t have any problems from this condition.