Author Topic: Salivary Cysts  (Read 9807 times)

Kymw90

  • Joined Apr 2014
  • Falmouth, Cornwall
  • Nubians are cute!
Salivary Cysts
« on: June 13, 2014, 04:18:52 pm »
I have a Nubian doe with what appears to be a salivary cyst. Is this something I can drain myself? I have drained such things before but not on a goat. I would think a syringe would be better than lancing it with a big hole. Can anyone shed some light on this weird lump? The lump moves when I hold it. Not solid or firm but a lump. It looks like she has a big cheekful of stuff but it definitely isn't her chewing food. I would say it is bigger since I got her.

Lesley Silvester

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Telford
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2014, 09:45:37 pm »
Cloud had a huge lump come up on her cheek and the vet lanced it. The pus and blood squirted all over the place, including the vet's face.  :innocent:  He reckoned it was something she'd eaten stuck in her and asked if I'd given her hawthorn which I had. He told me that hawthorns often have a poison on the tip of the thorns which can cause infections if it pierces the skin.


It sounds like your goat may have the same.

Melmarsh

  • Joined May 2014
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2014, 11:22:05 pm »
It could be as already suggested, a pocket of pus , the vet would probably use a syringe and large needle to see what comes out, if it is pus then it can be lanced. The only other thing I can think of, because I have had three goats with them on different parts of their bodies, is a thymoma. The goats I have had kept them until they were put down and then I had them excised to find out what it was. They did grow but didn't interference with their eating or anything else. They are not common but a possibility and worth thinking about if it isn't pus filled. :idea:

shygirl

  • Joined May 2013
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2014, 08:36:32 am »
oh no, i feed hawthorns. i also get really painful splinters from cutting them so that explains alot. ouch

Dogwalker

  • Joined Nov 2011
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2014, 11:55:10 am »
oh no, i feed hawthorns. i also get really painful splinters from cutting them so that explains alot. ouch

I'd find it hard to stop mine eating hawthorn the hedges are full of it.
Blackthorn and pyracantha are probably worse for going septic but only in my hands so far ( touch wood)

Lesley Silvester

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Telford
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2014, 04:59:49 pm »
My vet knew about the hawthorn because he had had a hawthorn splinter go septic and have to be lanced and his GP told him about the poison. My goats have often eaten hawthorn with no ill effects but there's always the risk. I don't feed it now. If it's in your hedge, DW, there's nothing you can do except be aware.

tizaala

  • Joined Mar 2011
  • Dolau, Llandrindod Wells,Powys
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #6 on: June 14, 2014, 05:27:09 pm »
The tips of blackthorn /hawthorn break off under the skin and cause your hands to stiffen up , it was always called blackthorn rheumatism. and they go septic like nobody's business.

Roxy

  • Joined May 2009
  • Peak District
    • festivalcarriages.co.uk
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #7 on: June 15, 2014, 12:06:14 am »
Two of my Nubians have had these cysts before, and one had it again this year.  I left them alone and they must have popped, and disappeared.  Now one of the Nubian kids appears to have one too.  Never had it with the other breeds of goats!!
 

Lesley Silvester

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Telford
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #8 on: June 15, 2014, 12:15:01 am »
Mine isn't a Noob so I think you may just be unlucky with these.

wytsend

  • Joined Oct 2010
  • Okehampton
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #9 on: June 15, 2014, 07:38:36 am »
Nubians are very prone to these.................it is actually documented in John Matthews Vet book.
Sometimes they disappear on their own accord.

Emptying them will actually increase the size...............because 'nature' does not like an empty space.    You could try removing a little at a time but this is not always successful.

I have a goatling who had one from birth............just as I was contemplating what to do about as she reached 12 mths....by now it was huge !!!!..............it suddenly burst.   Not a pleasant site at all, but has now healed up completely.   It was a salivary gland gone wild effectively.

It has been suggested that Nubians may have a different jaw structure to swiss goats which traps/impedes the salivary gland in some cases.

It is unsightly but is not detrimental to the goat.     She may never produce kids with it............it is very random.

ballingall

  • Moderator
  • Joined Sep 2008
  • Avonbridge, Falkirk
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #10 on: June 15, 2014, 11:39:26 am »
Salivary cysts do seem to be more common in ANs. We have drained one (for someone else) before, but had to do it regularly, once a month or every 3 weeks. Once they get older, they normally improve as the tubes seem to get bigger, and they return to normal. If is a salivary cyst, what you drain out will literally just be clear saliva. We used needle and syringe.  It could be an infection, in which case it will be the pus and blood.


Beth

Kymw90

  • Joined Apr 2014
  • Falmouth, Cornwall
  • Nubians are cute!
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #11 on: June 20, 2014, 05:08:41 pm »
Hmm ok glad I'm not the only one. Is this something I can do myself? I am able to get lancing syringes if I need to. Or should I really get the vet to examine first?

shygirl

  • Joined May 2013
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #12 on: June 20, 2014, 05:21:41 pm »
when my pig had symetrical swellings, with no diagnosis, the vet put a sterile needle in and tried to draw something out. in that case there was nothing to come out so he stopped but if there was something there you would see it clearly in the syringe. the vet gave me a scalpel to use for the next time. its not rocket science so if you are sterile and careful, it shouldnt be a huge risk to do it yourself. from what posters are saying, it will be nothing, bloody pus, or clear saliva.

Kymw90

  • Joined Apr 2014
  • Falmouth, Cornwall
  • Nubians are cute!
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #13 on: June 25, 2014, 01:24:51 pm »
Well vet is booked for tomorrow and good job because on sunday it was big and squishy. Today bigger and rock hard so something is happening! I am worried! He said will probably need some antibios. I'm not squeamish so popping it will be good fun for me if that's an option.

The worrying bit is it has been there for 2 years and was dinky compared to now. Shouldn't a simple pus ball have gone by now?

Lesley Silvester

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Telford
Re: Salivary Cysts
« Reply #14 on: June 26, 2014, 12:34:28 am »
Not necessarily. Try not to worry. The vet will sort it out.

 

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