Last Week: HOW TO Tell If Your Dog is Overweight or Underweight
Recently, one of my dogs suddenly became very ill. She began to vomit and did not stop for more than three hours. She was puking roughly every 20 minutes or so.
I took her to the emergency vet for what I believed was bloat. It was not bloat, which is a good thing, but it did not mean she was out of the woods.
She had esophagitis. Esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophagus. This can happen to any dog at any time.
According to The Daily Puppy, “Esophagitis occurs when your dog’s esophagus and the mucus membranes within and surrounding the esophagus become inflamed. The inflammation narrows the esophageal passage and makes it difficult and painful for food or water to pass through. Your buddy may feel as though he’s suffocating or has a golf ball in his throat.”
What Causes Esophagitis?
We still aren’t sure what caused my dog to get so sick. It could have been the frequent vomiting and/or something she ate, or it could have been acid reflux.
“Foreign objects, trauma, chemical ingestion, infection, irritation and acid reflux are the most common causes of esophagitis. One common cause of irritation and trauma to the esophagus is going under anesthesia. When your vet anesthetizes your dog, he inserts a tracheostomy tube into his windpipe to help him breathe during surgery. This can put pressure on and irritate his esophagus, especially during insertion and removal. Another onset of esophagitis, acid reflux, burns and irritates the esophagus, causing painful swelling and potentially leading to esophagitis,” states The Daily Puppy.
Even though esophagitis can affect any dog at any time, short-nosed and female dogs are more likely to be affected.
The Daily Puppy writes, “Brachycephalic breeds – those adorable squishy-faced dogs such as Pugs, Boston Terriers, Bulldogs and Chinese Shar-peis – are at higher risk for esophagitis due to their shortened tracheas, prevalence of breathing problems and knack for developing hiatal hernias and acid reflux. Female dogs are also at increased risk for developing the disorder, though the reason is unclear.”
What Are the Symptoms of Esophagitis?
My dog’s clearest symptom was frequent vomiting, and her belly was also distended. These are just two of the symptoms your dog could present. PetMD.com lists the following as potential symptoms of esophagitis.
- Regurgitation
- Increased swallowing
- Pain while swallowing
- Drool
- Trouble swallowing
- Difficulty/pain when swallowing food
- Dog may extend his head and neck during swallowing
- Inability to eat
- Unwillingness to move or lie down
- Poor appetite
- Weight loss
- Coughing
- Fever
- Your dog may yelp out in pain if you touch his neck or esophagus
How Is Esophagitis Diagnosed?
PetMD.com says, “Your veterinarian will examine your dog thoroughly after taking a full history from you. You will need to give your veterinarian as much information as you can about your dog’s health, including the onset of symptoms, and any possible incidents that might have preceded this condition.”
Your vet will do some routine lab tests that include a biochemistry profile, urinalysis as well as a blood test and X-rays. He may also do an endoscopy, which is a more reliable test for diagnosing esophagitis.
“Endoscopy is an internal diagnostic tool which uses an endoscope, a rigid but flexible tube equipped with a camera and methods for retrieving tissue samples, which can be inserted into a hollow cavity, such as the esophagus. Using this method, your veterinarian can look directly into the esophagus in order to visually inspect it, to take pictures, and to take a sample for biopsy,” according to PetMD.com.
How Is Esophagistis Treated?
As always, vets want to treat any underlying disease or condition associated with esophagitis. If no source is identified as the direct cause, then your vet will address the symptoms and provide supportive measures as treatment. However, most cases are mild and your dog can be treated as an outpatient.
Petplace.com lists the following as potential treatments for esophagitis
- Gastric acid inhibitors or blocking agents
- Esophageal and gastric coating agents
- Gastrointestinal motility modifiers
- Dietary modification
- Antibiotic therapy
- Endoscopic removal of a foreign body
- Surgery
- Hospitalization in severe cases
- Nutritional support by placing and feeding through a stomach tube or intravenous nutrition, but only in severe cases
Can Esophagitis Be Prevented?
Not really, since you can never really know what is going to irriate or get caught in your dog’s throat.
Petplace.com notes, “Several causes of esophagitis are not preventable. Prompt examination and treatment will help speed recovery. Prevent animals from ingesting caustic substances and foreign bodies and avoid late night feedings. Late feedings tend to diminish gastroesophageal sphincter pressure during the dog’s sleep, contributing to reflux.”
PHOTOS: deviousrlm, fotoedu
Find A Vet HOW TO articles are intended for informational purposes only. You should always consult with your veterinarian about any health issues affecting your dog.
Do you have a question about esophagitis? Submit it to i Love Dogs’ Ask a Vet here.
My Blog 