Salivary glands are responsible for producing saliva in the mouth. They aid in chewing and swallowing by moistening food. Saliva enters the mouth through ducts that can sometimes become irritated and/or swollen.
An examination will determine if your salivary glands are causing a problem. When palpated, the gland may become painful or pus may drain into the mouth.
At times, salivary gland issues arise from a salivary stone. It is not known what causes these stones. When a salivary stone is lodged in a gland, saliva can become backed up and cause irritation. The stone must be removed and biopsied. Below are images demonstrating salivary stones in a CAT scan.