Salivary gland diseases. Diagnosis, treatment, and associated problems.

Salivary gland diseases are uncommon in both the dog and the cat. Conditions involving the salivary glands include rupture, inflammation, dilation, necrosis, fistula, a foreign body, autoimmune disease, calculi, and neoplasia. The onset of many of these conditions is often insidious, with vague findings on physical examination. Proper diagnosis and treatment is often dependent on aspiration, radiology, and exploratory surgery. Surgical problems associated with salivary gland surgery relate primarily to accurate dissection, complete extirpation of the involved gland(s) and duct system(s), and drainage when indicated. Complications are more often a result of improper diagnosis and iatrogenic interference than the primary disease. The focus of this discussion will be on accurate diagnosis and treatment so that associated problems and complications can be avoided.