Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fungal infection in the esophagus of two dogs with megaesophagus
By Anderson, Katie L & Tefft, Karen M·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Esophageal Candidiasis in Two Dogs With Megaesophagus: A Case Report.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 16-month-old male King Shepherd and a 2-year-old female German Shepherd were both suffering from chronic regurgitation and were found to have a condition called megaesophagus, where the esophagus is enlarged and doesn't function properly. During examinations, vets discovered white fungal plaques in their esophagus, which turned out to be a yeast infection caused by Candida albicans. Both dogs were treated with fluconazole, an antifungal medication, which helped improve their condition significantly. If your dog has megaesophagus and isn't getting better, it might be worth discussing the possibility of a fungal infection with your vet.
People also search for: dog regurgitation treatment · megaesophagus in dogs · fluconazole for dog yeast infection
Abstract
Esophageal candidiasis is the most common cause of infectious esophagitis in human patients, but to date, this disease has not been reported in companion animals. A 16-month-old male intact King Shepherd dog and a 2-year-old female spayed German Shepherd dog were presented for evaluation of chronic regurgitation with diffuse megaesophagus identified on thoracic radiographs. In both cases, esophagoscopy disclosed diffuse, white fungal plaques, and brush cytology showed severe esophagitis with numerous yeast structures. Fungal cultures in both cases were positive for Candida albicans. The dogs were treated with fluconazole, which led to improvement or resolution of esophageal candidiasis. Esophagoscopy to evaluate for candidiasis should be considered in dogs with megaesophagus that either fail to improve on medical management or suffer an exacerbation of previously controlled signs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40570295/