Pet Care Pet Care

Dog Salivary Gland

If one of the ducts that conducts saliva from a salivary gland to the mouth is injured or obstructed, the saliva gradually accumulates, forming a pouch resembling early-stage mumps in people. Left untreated, it gravitates under the neck where it is unsightly though not life-threatening. Instead of pouching behind the jaw, some dogs gather saliva under the tongue, which is displaced to one side. This variation is called a ranula and requires surgical corrections.

Your dog has three major types of salivary gland. The gland differs from one another because of the difference between the type of saliva produced by each of the glands.

  • Parotid Glands – The parotid glands produce a serous and watery secretion.
  • Submaxillary – submaxillary or the mandibular glands produce a mixture of the serous and the mucous secretion.
  • Sublingual Glands – The sublingual glands produce and secrete saliva which mainly consists of the mucous form.
There are mainly two basic types of acinar epithelial cells that exist in the various salivary glands of the mouth. The two types of cells are named as the serous and the mucous cells. The serous cells secrete a watery fluid which does not contain any trace of the mucous, while the mucous cells are those that have ample amount of rich and rich mucous. The parotid glands contain acini that are entirely of serous type while the type of cell which is predominant in the sublingual glands. The submaxillary gland contains cells that are of both serous and mucous type.

The following are the various functions of saliva

  • The saliva helps in lubrication and binding. The muscus of the saliva helps the food items especially those of masticated nature into a slippery substance that can easily slide into the esophagus with out destroying the mucosa of the tract. The saliva actually forms a thin layer and covers the mouth cavity and the esophagus without any direct contact with the food and the deeper epithelial cells of the mouth.
  • The saliva also helps in solubilizing the food items. The tatste of the food that we get on sonsuming the food item is when the molecules of the food solubilizes in the saliva.
  • The saliva is also responsible for maintaining the oral hygiene of the mouth as well. The food debris floats in the saliva and gets flushed away out of the oral cavity. The saliva also contains lysozymes that kill bacteria and other microbial populations. During the time of sleep the salivation of the mouth reduces to great extent leading to bacterial growth and bad breadth.
  • The serous acinar cells produce an alpha-amylase which is responsible for breaking down the starch into maltose.
  • The oral cavity of your dog is alkaline in nature. This helps in digestion in animals those who have non secretory fore-stomachs.
The saliva is also a method of cooling. This is mainly seen in dogs that have poor seat glands. The evaporation of the saliva after a rigorous exercise would actually help the dog to be come cool.
Dog Health
Addisons Disease Dog
Ask the Dog Doctor Veterinarian
Babesiosis in Dog
Bacteria in a Dog Mouth Canine Cushings Disease
Canine Ehrlichiosis
Disease Transmission in Dog
Distemper Dog
Dog Abscess
Dog Anal Glands
Dog Anatomy Kidneys
Dog Anemia
Dog Antibiotic
Dog Aseptic Necrosis
Dog Auto Immunity
Dog Bandage
Dog Bladder Infection
Dog Bloat
Dog Blood Vessels
Dog Breathing Problem
Dog Bronchitis
Dog Cancer
Dog Castration
Dog Cathartic Sand Laxatives
Dog Cesarean Section
Dog Cleft Pallet
Dog Clipping
Dog Clitoris
Dog Cold Symptoms
Dog Collars
Dog Constipation
Dog Copulation
Dog Cough
Dog Cryptorchidism
Dog Deficiency Disease
Dog Devices to Prevent Self Injury
Dog Diabetes
Dog Diabetes Insipidus
Dog Discharge
Dog Diuretics
Dog Ear Infections
Dog Eating Stool
Dog Emphysema
Dog Encephalitis
Dog Enlarged Prostate
Dog Epilepsy
Dog Esophagus
Dog Fits
Dog Fleas
Dog Gum Disease
Dog Has Anthrax
Dog Head Fractures
Dog Heart
Dog Heart Stimulants
Dog Heart Worms
Dog Heat Cycle
Dog Hemophilia
Dog Hernias
Dog Hip Dysplasia
Dog Hip Problems
Dog Hock Joint Fracture
Dog Hook Worms
Dog Hydrothorax
Dog Hymen
Dog Hyperparathyroidism
Dog Hypoparathyroidism
Dog Hypothyroidism
Dog Illness Diagnosis
Dog Immunizations
Dog Infections of the Uterus
Dog Inflammation
Dog Intestinal Illness
Dog Intestinal Parasites
Dog Joint Health
Dog Kidney Problems
Dog Kidney Stones
Dog Laporotomy
Dog Liver Disease
Dog Lupus Erythematosus
Dog Male Sterility
Dog Mammary Swelling
Dog Monsters
Dog Nose Problem
Dog Pain Killers
Dog Pancreatitis
Dog Parasites
Dog Parvoviral Gastro Enteritis
Dog Pelvic Fracture
Dog Pleurisy
Dog Pneumonia
Dog Production of Monsters
Dog Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Dog Protozoa Infection
Dog Rabies
Dog Restricted Pelvis
Dog Round Worms
Dog Routine Problems
Dog Ruptured Cruciate Ligaments
Dog Rupture of the Heart
Dog Salivary Gland
Dog Salivary Gland Disorders
Dog Sanitation
Dog Sclerosis
Dog Secretory Gland Depressants
Dog Sedative
Dog Septicemia
Dog Shedding
Dog Shoulder Dislocations
Dog Skin
Dog Skin Problems
Dog Sneezing
Dog Spinal Cord Injuries
Dog Steroid
Dog Stomach Problems
Dog Taenia Worm
Dog Tape Worms
Dog Taxoplasmas
Dog Testicles
Dog Thermometers
Dog Throat Problem
Dog Tranquilizer
Dog Trichinae Trichinosis
Dog Tumor
Dog Twisted Uterus
Dog Urinary Tract Infection
Dog Uterus Problems
Dog Vaccine
Dog Verminious Pneumonia
Dog Veterinary Examination
Dog Viruses
Dog Vomiting
Dog Weight Loss
Dog Whip Worms
Dog With Diarrhea
Dog With Perianal Fistulas
Edema Dog
Enlarged Female Dog Breast
Enlarged Heart in Dog
Fluke Dog
Hemobartonella Canis
Is My Dog in Pain Congestive Heart Failure
Leash Breaking in Dog
Lime Disease in Dog
Mother Dog Health
Paraphimosis in Dog
Peripheral Nerve Diseases in Dog
Peritonitis in Dogs
Respiratory Infection Dog Treatment
Tetanus in Dogs
Tonsillitis in Dogs
What Cause a Dog to have Intussusception

>