Has anyone experienced a blocked saliva gland?

Nanuq has been having treatment for a blocked saliver gland recently and has had it drained a few times, but it keeps coming back worse.

The vet has referred her to see the soft tissue specialist and we have an appointment on Monday morning.

I'm just wondering if anyone has had any dealings with a similar situation? so we have an idea of what we can expect.

Many thanks.

Hi, not the same thing I know, but my cat had a lump in his mouth which turned out to be an extra salivery gland . He had an op to remove it and it healed really fast and he's had no trouble since. That was two years ago. I think if they do need to operate it will be a simple procedure. Try not to worry.

Hi Lisa my dog Amy (no longer with us) had a problem with one of her saliva glands.
Which gland is affected in Nanuqs case ?.

There are a number of names for conditions affecting saliva glands depending on which gland is affected, salivary mucocele / sialocele, cervical sialocele, cervical mucocele, ranula, zygomatic ucocele and salivary cyst.
It would seem the glands below the jaw are the most commonly affected.

Amy had an elongated lump on the side of her face below the eye which we think was a blocked saliva gland called a Zygomatic Mucocele , the vet failed to diagnose the problem and gave Amy antibiotics for a swelling caused by a bite.
I wasn't convined by the vets diagnosis and gave her a good examination myself and spotted a tiny hole inside her mouth on the inside of her cheek just above the back teeth. It contained a whitish yellow substance which was not infected (I had it checked later) . When I expressed the substance the lump went down but filled up again later.
I returned to the vet who confirmed my findings, he said there was an operation they could do but it was tricky and as Amy was an old dog with a bad heart he didn't advise the operation.

I continued to treat the lump myself by expressing the content when it became full which was every few days. It didn't seem to bother Amy too much to begin with but I think it became tender after a while.

Here is some information which might be of help to you.

http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/HealthConditions/SmallAnimalTopics/SalivaryMucocele/

ETA Please let us know how you get on at the specialists, had Amy been younger and the vet thought if advisable I would have had her operated on.

Hi and thank you for your reply.

The swelling in Nanuq's case is in her neck in the throat area. I noticed it when it was about the size of a golf ball and solid. The vet drained the swelling and took samples, which were found to be mainly blood and saliver. She was given a course of antibiotics at first and has had the lump drained again, but nothing has worked. It is seems bigger than tennis ball size and fluidy. The vet also adviced us that the operation was tricky and suggested we see the specialist to find out more. I guess we just need to see what he has to say on Monday. Will keep you informed.

Thanks again.

Update on Nanuq.

We have been to see the specialist this morning and have had to leave her for an operation

They will run a series of tests this morning and then do the op this afternoon and she will have to stay over for at least tonight.

They are removing the saliver glands and then will leave a drain in to remove the fluid from the pouch. If the drain works over night and they are happy with the amount of fluid that has drained away then she will be able to come home tomorrow. If the drain has to stay in longer then she will be in longer too.

So now it's a waiting game until they ring.

Hi Lisa , thank you for the update. I look forward to hearing Nanuq is home and all is well...