How do you treat ranula in dogs?

Ranulas may be treated by marsupialization which involves removal of an elliptical, full thickness section of the mucocele wall and suturing the granulation tissue lining to the sublingual mucosa to encourage drainage. If the ranula recurs removal of the mandibular and sublingual salivary glands is recommended.

Can dogs get ranula?

Dogs with sublingual or pharyngeal mucoceles, however, experience more significant effects. A ranula or sublingual mucocele may cause difficulty eating, chewing, or swallowing, due to swelling around the tongue.

Is ranula serious?

Ranulas do require treatment, but they are not serious in that they are not life threatening and do not typically cause pain. A ranula, if large enough, can lift the tongue and impair chewing, eating, and swallowing.

What causes ranula cyst?

If there’s an injury to the duct carrying saliva to the mouth from the salivary gland, a blockage could occur. Saliva accumulates in the salivary gland and forms a cyst since it cannot drain properly. This creates a ranula. Similarly, if you get hit in the face or bite your cheek too hard, a ranula could form.

Is a ranula painful?

What are symptoms of a ranula? A clear or bluish translucent growth on the floor of the mouth is the main symptom of a ranula. They don’t typically cause pain, so you may not notice it until the cyst increases in size. If you have a simple ranula, swelling is confined to the sublingual gland.

Can a dog live without salivary glands?

Prognosis is excellent for a normal life after drainage of a mucocele and adequate removal of the affected salivary glands. Dogs do not suffer from a dry mouth following removal of the mandibular and sublingual glands, even if performed on both sides.

Can a dog live with swollen salivary glands?

As fluids accumulate outside of the gland, the surrounding tissue swells, leading to a mass around the dog’s head or neck. A salivary mucocele can be treated by surgically removing the affected glands and has a good prognosis for a full recovery.

What happens if a ranula is left untreated?

Patients with an untreated ranula will continue to experience the pain and swelling of the ranula, and if infected, can result in serious neck abscesses requiring hospitalization and abscess drainage procedures.

Can ranula be cancerous?

There are reports of plunging ranulas that developed after the excision of a sialolith or transposition of the duct of the submandibular gland. The diagnosis of a plunging ranula is of clinical significance for there are many benign as well as malignant lesions that have the same appearance during physical examination.

Can ranula disappear itself?

Rarely, a ranula can spontaneously go away without any treatment but usually a procedure will be needed to treat the problem. Simple drainage of the fluid collection rarely permanently fixes the problem as the diseased gland continues to leak saliva.

Can a ranula heal on its own?

How long is ranula surgery?

In an uncomplicated procedure it will take approximately 30 minutes to remove the sublingual gland.