Chungnam National University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Internal Medicine Daejeon, Taejon-jikhalsi, Republic of Korea
Abstract:
Background: Dogs with sialocele often have concurrent hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) or are receiving long-term glucocorticoid (GC). Their association has not been investigated, and previous human studies have suggested that GC may affect the salivary glands.
Hypothesis/
Objectives: This retrospective matched case-control study aimed to investigate the association between HAC, long-term GC treatment, and diagnosis of sialocele in dogs.
Animals: Fifty-seven client-owned dogs were enrolled. 19 dogs diagnosed with sialocele, 38 dogs without sialocele.
Methods: This study constitutes a retrospective review of the records from 2018 to 2022. Records of 19 dogs diagnosed with sialocele were investigated for the presence or absence of HAC and long-term GC treatment. Two age- and breed-matched controls for each sialocele dog (38 dogs) were equally investigated for the same concurrent diseases. Logistic regression analysis was used.
Results: The odds of sialocele in dogs with HAC were 16.21 times that of dogs without HAC (P = .022; 95% CI: 1.5-175.2). And the odds of sialocele in dogs with long-term GC treatment (median, 8 months; range, 5-13) were 7.71 times that of dogs without long-term GC treatment (P = .034; 95% CI: 1.16-50.94). No associations were found between age, sex, body weight, and the presence of a sialocele.
Conclusions and clinical importance: Sialocele was significantly associated with HAC and long-term GC treatment in dogs. Hyperadrenocorticoid dogs and dogs with long-term GC administration should consider the possible presence of a sialocele. Dogs diagnosed with sialocele should be identified for concurrent HAC if clinically suspected, as well as prolonged GC exposure.
