Sadie's Salivary Gland Ruptured!!

[GoodGirlSadie]

Hi all -

I just wanted to check in & see if anyone else had been through this before.

Here's what my day has been like: Sadie was really groggy when she woke up this morning & didn't want to eat her breakfast. I took her out for her morning "business" and noticed that she was really "drooly" when I brought her back in. I thought maybe she was just a little nauseous, so I let her hang out in the backyard for a few minutes. She didn't throw up then, but (of course) did as soon as I let her back inside. I was trying to clean all the drool off of her when I noticed that her neck was really swollen on her right side only. I called out to work & made an emergency appt. at her vet (who is an angel).

Today, Sadie got an x-ray, sedation to check for obstructions, and a needle aspiration of the "lump" on her chest. Turns out, her salivary gland has ruptured. Sadie's vet gave us a referral to a specialist surgeon so i have set up a consultation appointment for tomrrow morning, and surgery for Friday.

Has anyone else had a Rottie with this? The vet said there's no exact cause - but I realy want to know how this happened! I'm sure the surgeon will be able to set our expectations for her surgery and recovery, but I just wanted to see if anyone else had any experience with this diagnosis.

Thanks - everyone think healing thoughts for Sadie please!!

[Debbie Ervin]

I can't help you on this one but I sure will keep Sadie in my nightly prayers.

[targonrotts]

we just had a case of this 3 weeks ago with one of my friend's italian greyhounds.
we hardly ever see them, but it happens. cause-unknown. could have had an infection, trauma, ect.
we did the surgery and the gland was removed. the first few days after the surgery the dog's neck looked swollen and bruised(italian greyhound!),(also had drains in place) but with antibiotics,ice packs, some lasix for the edema and traumeel placed on skin, he looks great now and back to his old self and starting to get back into agility.

hope all goes good with yours!

[GoodGirlSadie]

Thanks to Debbie & Targon for the kind words!

I am glad to hear that someone else's pup made it through this "ordeal" - Sadie is looking somewhat like her old self now that she's got some painkilllers in her system. She was a little groggy from the anesthesia after I picked her up this afternoon, but by mid-evening she was following me around the house carrying her tennis ball. It's a good sign.

I have dubbed her "the dog lebowski" until she gets off the pain pills. I believe she's a wee bit stoned!

Our appt. with the specialist is tomorrow morning - I will post an update on her condition. Best to all!

[Nishasmom]

Did they fix her gland, or remove it? Will she be able to produce saliva anymore?

I am glad she made it through surgery okay! Poor baby .

[GoodGirlSadie]

They have to remove it, unfortunately. Once the tissue fills with fluid and "drops" down to her neck, there's no saving it. Left untreated, it could become so swollen that she could have problems swallowing or breathing.

Her surgery is actually scheduled for tomorrow - she only went under on Wednesday so the vet could try to figure out what the problem was, and to get a (painless) needle aspiration.

I have been assured by both her vet & the surgeon we were referred to that her other salivary glands will be more than capable of making up slobber for the missing gland. Kind of like having one kidney.

She is doing great today, in spite of the now softball-sized gland that seems to bother me more than her. She is managing well with her painkillers & antibiotics. We are 3k lighter, but she is worth her weight in gold & we wouldn't have it any other way. We may be eating rice and beans for the next month, but she's getting A+ medical care! I'm starting to see the benifit of pet insurance...

[GoodGirlSadie]

Hi all -

Just wanted to give you the update that Sadie made it through her surgery on Friday with flying colors. Targon - you weren't kidding - this is some serious swelling! The surgeon assures us that it is totally normal. She spent the night at the doggie hospital on Friday night and we were able to pick her up Saturday afternoon. She was pretty pitiful-looking when we got her, but by the next morning she was doing 100% better.

Her stiches come out in 10-14 days. I can't wait for her fur to grow back - she got shaved from her chin to her chest on one side! She has about a 5-inch incision - we'll see how badly it scars. Anyone have any tips on preventing scarring?

Thanks everyone for your prayers and good thoughts!

[targonrotts]

i saw the italian greyhound we did surgery on this weekend at the obedience trial. it was done about 4 weeks ago now. he looks great! and that breed bruises and scars easy.

what we did for his neck was traumeel ointment(homeopathic) made by heel. and vitamin e rubbed on the neck twice a day. cold packs 3 times a day. we also had drains in for the first 5 days.

wow, 3k! i think my friend's surgery was under 1500.plus meds.

hope your girl goes thru this quick and recovers well. keep her quiet for at least 2 weeks to minimize more swelling.

[GoodGirlSadie]

The surgery & related expenses total was around $2100, but we spent almost $700 at the vet on procedures to figure out a diagnosis (x-rays, needle aspiration, etc.) & $150 on the surgical consult. So, yep - it's a lot of money - everything is high in LA!

We've gotten plenty of opinions about how we could have "bought a new dog for way less" and should have "put her down" - people can be so mean. It's our money...if we want to spend it on our four year old baby, it's our business, you know?

Interesting that you used cold packs - our surgeon recommended warm packs 4x/day to get the swelling under control. Will def. keep an eye out for some traumeel.

We're trying to keep her calm, but it's so tough b/c she's beginning to show some of that pent up energy - and no fetch, no jogging, no horseplay, per doctors orders. She's been a good girl, though. Actually she's napping now!

[Nishasmom]

I am so glad she is doing well. Soon enough she will be able to let out some of that energy! Did the vet say slow walks were okay?

Ignore what people say...they can be so heartless and mean. I would have done the same...as well as most dog owners.