# Case report: Sepsis secondary to infected protracted parotid sialocele after maxillofacial oncologic surgery in a dog

## TL;DR

A dog developed sepsis from an infected parotid sialocele after maxillofacial surgery, marking the first reported case in veterinary medicine.

## Contribution

This is the first veterinary case report describing sepsis caused by an infected protracted parotid sialocele.

## Key findings

- The dog developed sepsis with hypoglycemia, elevated lactate, and band neutrophils after surgery for a bone tumor.
- A contrast CT scan identified an infected parotid gland sialocele as the source of sepsis.
- The dog was successfully stabilized with fluids, antibiotics, dextrose, and pressor support.

## Abstract

An 8-year-old male intact mixed breed dog was treated for a 3.7×3×3.6 cm grade 1 multilobular osteochondrosarcoma (MLO) arising from the dorsal aspect of the right coronoid process with a coronoidectomy, a zygomectomy, and a caudal maxillectomy. Ten months later, the dog presented for a swelling near the right angular process, which was presumed to be a locoregional recurrence. Blood work and initial staging tests (abdominal ultrasound) had mild abnormalities of no clinical concern/significance. The dog was hospitalized with a plan for computed tomographic (CT) scan of skull and chest the following day. Overnight, the swelling rapidly increased, and the dog became laterally recumbent, febrile, and hypotensive. Laboratory evaluation revealed hypoglycemia, elevated lactate, and elevated band neutrophils with moderate toxicity, most consistent with sepsis. The dog was stabilized with fluid resuscitation, intravenous (IV) antibiotics, IV dextrose, and pressor support. Once stabilized, a contrast CT scan was performed, which revealed evidence of an infected parotid gland sialocele. To our knowledge, this is the first veterinary case that describes sepsis secondary to an infected protracted parotid sialocele.