Cisapride is usually used to increase the lower esophageal sphincter and to improve gastric emptying. Feeding with canned food (i/d; Hill's Pet Nutrition, Topeka, Kansas, USA) was instituted within 24 to 48 h of the dilation procedure. One month after successful management of esophageal stricture, the toleration for dry food was tried.
Full Answer
How do you treat narrowing of the esophagus in dogs?
Recovery from narrowing of the esophagus is largely dependent on the cause of the problem. Dogs are often given antacids or proton pump inhibitors following surgery to reduce stomach acid and prevent it from traveling up the esophagus and further injuring healing tissue.
What are the symptoms of esophageal stricture in dogs?
Symptoms of Esophageal Stricture in Dogs. 1 Regurgitation of food; water is generally better tolerated. 2 Difficulty swallowing. 3 Signs of distress, such as crying, whining or moaning while eating. 4 Anorexia (refusal to eat) 5 Coughing. 6 Weight loss. 7 Excessive drooling. 8 Persistent gulping.
What can I give my Dog for acid reflux after surgery?
Dogs are often given antacids or proton pump inhibitors following surgery to reduce stomach acid and prevent it from traveling up the esophagus and further injuring healing tissue. Post procedure, all dogs are placed on a soft diet free of hard kibble and monitored by both owners and veterinarians.
What are the symptoms of esophageal cancer in dogs?
Symptoms and Types. Howling, crying, or yelping during swallowing when the animal has active inflammation of the esophagus Good appetite initially; eventually, lack of appetite with progressive esophageal narrowing and inflammation.
How do you treat esophageal stricture in dogs?
Treatment options for esophageal strictures include conservative or surgical procedures. Conservative treatment includes mechanical stricture dilation (bougienage, balloon catheter dilation) and prosthesis placement.
Can a dog's esophagus be stretched?
Abnormal dilation or stretching of the esophagus (also called megaesophagus) can be caused by a congenital defect Esophagus Congenital abnormalities are conditions that an animal is born with; they are often called “birth defects.” Some of these conditions are inherited and tend to occur within particular families... ...
What can you give a dog for esophagitis?
First and foremost is to neutralize the stomach acid. This requires the use of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole. These drugs inhibit gastric acid secretion and need to be given twice daily. Mild cases are treated for 7 days and severe cases are treated for 30 days.
Can a dog live with stricture?
In this study, dilation of strictures was performed using the endoscope tip or a balloon catheter, depending on the estimated diameter of the esophageal lumen. It seems that when the passage of the endoscope tip through the stricture is possible, even with some difficulty, the prognosis is good in most of the cases.
How do you feed a dog with dysphagia?
If your dog's problems with eating are being caused by an abnormality of the mouth (oral dysphagia), you will need to feed your dog by placing a ball of food at the back of its throat and helping it to swallow.
Can narrowing of the esophagus be reversed?
Various treatment methods can treat benign esophageal strictures effectively. However, esophageal strictures can reoccur, and people may need to have repeat dilations to reopen the esophagus. According to one source, 30 percent of people who have an esophageal dilation will require another dilation within a year.
How can I treat my dogs esophagitis at home?
Home care for esophagitis includes administering all prescribed medications and feeding only approved diets. Since many esophageal diseases can result in difficulty swallowing or regurgitation, inhaling food particles or saliva is possible. This can result in secondary aspiration pneumonia.
How long does a damaged esophagus take to heal?
It might take 1 to 3 weeks to heal. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
What does omeprazole do for dogs?
Omeprazole (brand names Gastrogard® and Prilosec®) is used in the treatment of ulcers occurring in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine in dogs and cats. It is also used to treat or prevent gastric erosions caused by drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
What causes narrowing of esophagus in dogs?
Esophageal stricture is a narrowing of the esophagus. It may develop after trauma (for example, ingestion of a foreign object or caustic substance), anesthesia, use of certain drugs, inflammation of the esophagus, gastroesophageal reflux (gastric acid flowing back into the esophagus), or tumor invasion.
Is esophageal stricture life threatening?
Many patients need more than one dilation over time to keep the esophagus wide enough for food to pass through. In rare cases, severe and untreated esophageal strictures can cause perforations (small rips), which can be life-threatening.
How is dysphagia treated in dogs?
Treatment of Dysphagia in Dogs Nutritional support is of paramount importance. A change in food consistency or the position of the patient during feeding may be recommended in some cases. A feeding tube that bypasses the mouth and throat may be indicated, such as a gastrostomy (stomach) tube.
How does esophageal stricture affect dogs?
Esophageal strictures in dogs can have quite an impact on dogs, causing them to fail to absorb enough nutrients and lose weight if not corrected in a timely matter. In order to better understand esophageal strictures in canines, it helps to fist gain a closer understanding of how the dog's esophagus works, what can cause it to narrow and how it impacts the dog's overall health and well-being. Veterinarian Dr. Ivana explains esophageal strictures in dogs and what conditions may cause a stricture along with some treatment options.
What is the esophagus of a dog?
Your dog's esophagus is an elastic, muscular tube through which the swallowed chunks of food and liquids are transported to the stomach. The swallowed mouthfuls of material do not just passively move along the esophagus. Instead, they are actively squeezed and pushed by the rhythmical contractions performed by the esophageal muscular walls.
What is the diagnostic process for a dog?
As in any other case, the diagnostic process starts with taking the dog’s history and performing a full physical examination. The owner should provide an accurate and thorough medical history that includes information such as contact with potential irritants, recent surgeries and current unrelated treatments and medications.
Is esophageal stricture gender predisposition?
Esophageal strictures also tend to have a gender predisposition – they are more frequently reported in females. The signs and symptoms of esophageal strictures are versatile, non-specific and usually progressive. The most commonly observed signs and symptoms include:
What are the symptoms of a dog with esophageal strictures?
Regurgitation (return of food or other contents from the esophagus) Liquid meals are often tolerated better than solid meals. Difficulty swallowing is seen with upper esophageal strictures. Howling, crying, or yelping during swallowing when the animal has active inflammation of the esophagus.
What is esophageal stricture in dogs?
The esophagus is the tubular organ that runs from the throat to the stomach; an esophageal stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the inner open space of the esophagus. It can affect dogs at any age, and there is no apparent genetic factor involved.
What is a dog's life threatening complication of esophageal stricture dilation
A life-threatening complication of esophageal stricture dilation, called esophageal tear or perforation , usually occurs at the time of dilation. This complication has been observed after several days to weeks have passed, so you will need to observe your dog for signs of this.
How to prevent gastroesophageal reflux?
If gastroesophageal reflux is present, avoid late-night feedings, as they tend to decrease the ability of the muscle between the stomach and esophagus to remain closed during sleep.
What is the vascular ring anomaly in dogs?
For example, if your dog has just been weaned, an abnormality called vascular ring anomaly may be the problem. In order to arrive at a definite diagnosis, your doctor may conduct a barium-contrast X-ray, which uses a radiopaque fluid in the esophageal passage, so that the passage of the liquid shows on the X-ray image, revealing abnormalities in the passage. An X-ray may reveal a foreign body caught in the esophagus. An insertable visual diagnostic tool called an endoscope can also be useful for visually examining the esophagus in closer detail. Your doctor will also be looking for tumors and masses.
What is the term for the backward flow of stomach contents into the esophagus?
Backward or reverse flow of stomach contents into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux) during anesthesia - most common. Backward or reverse flow of stomach contents into the esophagus, unrelated to anesthesia (gastroesophageal reflux disease) Mass lesion (known as a granuloma) secondary to the parasite Spirocerca lupi;
What is the tool used to look at the esophagus?
An X-ray may reveal a foreign body caught in the esophagus. An insertable visual diagnostic tool called an endoscope can also be useful for visually examining the esophagus in closer detail. Your doctor will also be looking for tumors and masses.
Diagnosis of Esophageal Strictures
Diagnosis is confirmed by a barium contrast esophagram, contrast assisted fluoroscopic barium swallow, or direct visualization with esophagoscopy.
Treatment of Esophageal Strictures
A variety of techniques have been used to address these strictures when they occur. In the past, various stents have been developed to be deployed in the esophagus to try and prevent stricture reformation.
How many procedures are needed for esophageal stricture?
On average, a patient with an esophageal stricture will require four to six different endoscopic balloon procedures, usually a few days to a week apart, in order to achieve a functional esophagus.
What is esophageal stricture?
An esophageal stricture is suspected when a patient has the typical clinical signs of regurgitation, especially when they coincide with a history of recent anesthesia, esophageal foreign body, or oral antibiotic therapy. The diagnosis is generally confirmed with an endoscopic exam of the esophagus.
Why does my esophagus scar down?
Cause. Esophageal strictures occur when there is circumferential damage to the lining of the esophagus, causing it to scar down and narrow the lumen. This can result from reflux, in which acid or bile from the stomach or intestine pools in the esophagus, causing damage.
Can dogs tolerate balloon dilation?
Patients in which the procedure results in dilation of the esophagus will likely not have a normal life since they will need to eat a modified diet and cannot tolerate normal dog treats in the future but may still have a good quality of life . Unfortunately, it often takes several procedures to reach that point.
Can you swallow solid food with esophageal stricture?
A soft, liquid food might pass with relative ease, but solid food is difficult or impossible to swallow.
Can barium be used to treat esophageal stricture?
Because patients with esophageal stricture will regurgitate after eating and sometimes drinking, oral contrast agents such as barium are not recommended as a way to diagnose an esophageal stricture. Doing so puts the patient at risk for aspiration of barium, which can be life-threatening.
What is the esophagus made of?
In cats (and humans), the first part of the esophagus is made up of “striated” muscle and the lower part made up of “smooth” muscle; whereas in dogs (and cattle) the entire esophagus is made up of “striated” muscle type.
What is the esophageal mucosa in cats?
Normal esophageal mucosa in a cat. Between the esophagus and the stomach is a valve called the “ lower esophageal sphincter” which helps keep stomach contents (food, acid) from refluxing up into the esophagus (think about the one-way “valve” opening in a lobster trap). In cats (and humans), the first part of the esophagus is made up ...
Why does my cat have strictures?
Large pieces of food, treats and commonly toys, get stuck in the esophagus. In cats, the antibiotic doxycycline is well-known to cause strictures if the tablet gets stuck in the esophagus ...
Why does the esophagus narrow?
An esophageal stricture is a narrowing of the esophagus that has occurred because of severe damage and scarring of the lining of the esophagus. This narrowing can be so severe that food and water can no longer pass through the esophagus.
Is the esophagus a passive tube?
The esophagus is not a “passive” tube, but instead actively moves food into the stomach via peristalsis — this is how animals can eat horizontal and do not require gravity to “pull” food and water into the stomach. Normal esophageal mucosa in a cat. Between the esophagus and the stomach is a valve called the “lower esophageal sphincter” which helps ...
Can vomiting cause strictures in dogs?
Chronic vomiting can also lead to esophageal strictures due to stomach acid eroding the delicate lining of the esophagus. Very infrequently, cancers (malignant tumors) can also lead to esophageal strictures in dogs and cats.
Symptoms and Types
Causes
- Backward or reverse flow of stomach contents into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux) during anesthesia - most common
- Backward or reverse flow of stomach contents into the esophagus, unrelated to anesthesia (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Esophageal surgery
- Backward or reverse flow of stomach contents into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux) during anesthesia - most common
- Backward or reverse flow of stomach contents into the esophagus, unrelated to anesthesia (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Esophageal surgery
- Ingestion of chemical irritants
Diagnosis
- Your veterinarian will want to rule out many of the possible diseases or conditions that might cause these symptoms. For example, if your dog has just been weaned, an abnormality called vascular ring anomaly may be the problem. In order to arrive at a definite diagnosis, your doctor may conduct a barium-contrast X-ray, which uses a radiopaque fluid in the esophageal passage, …
Treatment
- Your dog may be kept in the hospital initially. Once hydration needs are addressed and the affected portion of the esophagus is dilated, you may be able to take your dog home. If your dog has aspiration pneumonia and/or inflammation of the esophagus, it may need to remain under medical supervision longer. Intravenous fluids may be needed for correcting hydration status an…
Prevention
- Proper preparation prior to anesthesia (12-hour preoperative fast)
- Avoid certain drugs prior to anesthesia, if possible
- If gastroesophageal reflux is present, avoid late-night feedings, as they tend to decrease the ability of the muscle between the stomach and esophagus to remain closed during sleep
- Prevent dog from ingesting caustic substances and foreign bodies
Living and Management
- A barium contrast X-ray, a method which uses a radiopaque liquid in order to trace a passageway and to define abnormalities within, or endoscopy, using an insertable tubular instrument for visually examining the interior of the esophagus, will need to be repeated every two to four weeks until clinical signs have been resolved, and adequate esophageal lumen size (the inner space of …