Infected parotid sialocele treated by vegetal foreign body removal in a dog

Abstract

An 11-month-old French bulldog was presented for a recurrent fluid-filled mass located ventral to the right pinna. An infected parotid sialocele was diagnosed using ultrasonography, computed tomographic sialography and cytological analysis of the fluid. The dog also had a superficial corneal ulcer because of iatrogenic right facial nerve paralysis secondary to previous attempts by the referring veterinarian to excise the mass surgically. Vegetal foreign bodies (grass awns barbs) were found at the entrance to the right parotid canal and were removed with iris forceps. Bacteriology was positive for Streptococcus canis. Conservative management was initiated after grass awn removal, and the dog was discharged with oral antibiotics (amoxicillin-clavulate orally), ophthalmic antibiotic ointment and artificial tears. Clinical signs related to parotid sialocele resolved, and permanent partial temporal tarsorrhaphy was performed 2 months later. At the 3-year follow-up, the dog had no signs of recurrence of the parotid sialocele, but facial paralysis was still present.