Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Esophagitis in Cats and Dogs.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
- Year:
- 2021
- Authors:
- Kook, Peter Hendrik
- Affiliation:
- Department of Small Animals
Plain-English summary
Esophagitis, which is inflammation of the esophagus, can happen in both cats and dogs when the lining of the esophagus is exposed to stomach contents too often. This can occur due to reasons like vomiting, foreign objects stuck in the throat, or even reactions to anesthesia. There's also a specific type called eosinophilic esophagitis, which is thought to be related to allergies. To diagnose esophagitis, vets may use tools like an endoscope, pH monitoring, or tissue samples, and they often need to see if the pet improves with medications that reduce stomach acid. Treatment is important to confirm the diagnosis and help the pet feel better.
Abstract
Esophagitis in cats and dogs is a consequence of increased exposure of the esophageal mucosa to gastroduodenal reflux. Causes can include anesthesia-related reflux, frequent vomiting, or lodged foreign bodies. An exception is eosinophilic esophagitis, an emerging primary inflammatory disease of the esophagus with a presumed allergic etiology. Reflux esophagitis owing to lower esophageal sphincter incompetence is often suspected; a tentative diagnosis can be made by endoscopic assessment, wireless esophageal pH-monitoring, or histologic examination. Because it can be difficult to distinguish diet-responsive upper gastrointestinal disease from esophagitis, response to treatment with gastric acid suppressants is needed to confirm the tentative diagnosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33187619/