Differential Diagnosis for Ptyalism
(or hypersecretion of saliva)
|
Symptoms |
Differential diagnosis |
|
Ptyalism is often classified as acute drooling or chronic
drooling. In each case, causes are different. |
|
Acute ptyalism: |
Epiglottitis |
|
Neoplasia or
presence of a tumor |
|
|
Presence of an
abscess |
|
|
Pain |
|
Chronic ptyalism: |
Neurologic trauma (e.g stroke) |
|
Medication
(analgesics, anticonvulsants, anticholinesterase) |
|
|
Obstruction in the
nasal cavity (e.g. presence of polyps) |
|
|
Size of the tongue |
|
|
Position of the head |
|
|
Sitting or lying position |
|
|
Stress |
|
Further causes for ptyalism relate to tooth problems. |
|
Bacterial causes: |
Tooth root abscess |
|
Inflammation of the
tongue |
|
|
Cheek abscess |
|
Oral or
gastro-intestinal causes: |
Oral ulcerations |
|
Epulis, (tumor or
growth on the gum) |
|
|
Stomatitis
(inflammatory condition of the mouth, resulting from infection by bacteria,
viruses, or fungi, from exposure to certain chemicals or drugs, from vitamin
deficiency). |
|
|
Bloat, or an
abnormal collection of gas in the stomach, or cecum. In this case the stomach
feel swollen and the rabbit is in pain. |
|
|
Gastroesophageal
reflux |
|
|
Gastric distension |
|
|
Acute gastritis (inflammation of the lining of the
stomach), caused by surgery, aspirin or other drugs, by food allergens or by the
presence of viral, bacterial, or chemical poisons. |
|
|
Pancreatitis (e.g.
presence of gallstones, infection or medication) |
|
|
Digestive organ
failure (e.g. liver disease) |
|
Respiratory causes: |
Inflammation of the pharynx, bronchia and lungs (e.g. alveolar abscess) |
|
Pharyngitis
(inflammation of the pharynx), where the compromise passage of air can lead to respiratory
distress, and one symptom, among others is drooling. |
|
Cardiovascular causes: |
Portosystemic shunts, a congenital or acquired vascular
abnormalities that permit portal blood flow to bypass the liver and enter the
systemic circulation directly. In small animal, this is characterized by
drooling. |
|
Food: |
Nutrient deficiency, e.g folate deficiency, chronic
fluorosis, subacute scurvy |
|
Mechanical causes: |
Presence of a trapped foreign body between molars (e.g. hay, fur)
|
|
Overgrowth of the crown of the tooth (e.g. presence of
spikes) |
|
|
Malocclusion of the
front teeth |
|
|
Odontoclastic lesions
(small to large enamel defects right at the gumline) |
|
|
Broken tooth |
|
|
Broken maxillar bone |
|
|
Wounded or lacerated tongue and/or gums |
|
Nervous causes: |
Stress |
|
Pain |
|
Toxicity: |
Medication |
|
Toxins |
|
|
Poisoning |
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8 JULY 2003
updated: DECEMBER
2005