Mobile Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Paul Newman 615-519-0647 Post Surgical Home Care of Salivary Mucocele Home patient care after surgery is critical to the success of the procedure. Allowing your pet too much activity may alter the anticipated outcome of the surgery. In most cases, salivary gland removal will resolve the swelling in your pet’s neck or throat but on rare occasions, glands other than these two can cause a mucocele and further surgery may be needed. Rarely, a biopsy may reveal a malignant (cancer) growth of the salivary gland but removal is usually curative. The following instructions will be your general guide to home care. General Exercise and Activity Restrictions: The patient should be confined for a minimum of two / four/ six weeks following the surgery. 1. Keep your pet indoors confined to a small area or room with no running, jumping, or playing. 2. The patient is left in a traveling kennel or spare bathroom or laundry room while unattended. 3. Never let your pet outside off leash until your veterinarian says it is safe. 4. Do not allow your pet run, jump or play as this can cause injury to the surgery site before it is fully healed. Note: Most dogs do very well with the confinement restriction short term. However if your pet is difficult to control or has an exceeding amount of energy, the use of small amounts of a tranquilizer may be necessary to help during this confinement period. If you cannot control your pet or you cannot take care of your pet post operatively it may be better to board your pet with your veterinarian for the first few days or weeks after surgery. Resuming Activity Resuming full activity and exercise will be determined in most cases by your veterinarian after suture removal or recheck. Complications As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur. The most common complication of a mucocele is a swelling called a seroma which is just clear fluid filling up the space where the gland used to be. These usually resolve over time with no treatment but sometimes a rubber drain needs to be placed. Infection is uncommon but can occur. Very rarely, a gland other than the ones removed can be Client Information Series # 188 Page 1 Mobile Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Paul Newman 615-519-0647 the cause of the mucocele and additional surgery is needed. Failure to follow these instructions carefully can lead to sutures coming loose or other complications which can lead to costly second surgeries. If your pet stops eating, has any vomiting or diarrhea, acts like they are in pain, or has any other signs that concern you, please call and talk to your veterinarian immediately or call me if they are unavailable. Your pet had the following procedure(s) done: Removed mandibular and sublingual salivary glands. Removed parotid salivary gland. Biopsy recommended: yes / no / hold Biopsy recommended: yes / no / hold Penrose drain placed in cervical mucocele Marsupialized sublingual ranula Drained pharyngeal mucocele of saliva Follow Up Instructions: Please place some frozen peas or corn over the incision for five minutes three times daily for three days then a moist hot pack (wet dish towel in microwave for 30 seconds or so until warm but not too hot to the touch) on incision for five to ten minutes three times daily for another three days. No collars around neck that can irritate incision. Use a harness or put leash around front legs and chest until sutures are removed or incision is healed (10 days) Any swelling or redness near the incision should be checked immediately. Recheck in ten days: Sutures / Staple removal / Dissolving sutures Recheck every 2 weeks after suture removal to evaluate progress Recheck in 4-5 days to remove penrose drain Call in one week for biopsy results Tegaderm clear bandage can be left on until it falls off or at suture removal Start Keflex Clindamycin Baytril Ciprofloxin tonight and give for _____ days Start Rimadyl Metacam and give for _____ days Previcox Derramax Client Information Series # 188 Zubrin pain medication tonight Page 2 Mobile Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Paul Newman 615-519-0647 Start Tramadol pain medication tonight and give for _____ days Soft food for 2 weeks (soak dry food in hot water for 10 minutes or use canned food) to allow incision under tongue to heal Leave Elizabethan collar on until recheck Client Information Series # 188 Page 3