Extraesophageal reflux and reflux aspiration in dogs with respiratory diseases and in healthy dogs.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Salivary bile acids are used to diagnose extraesophageal reflux (EER) and to evaluate the risk of reflux aspiration that is associated with respiratory diseases in dogs. OBJECTIVES: To study total bile acid (TBA) concentrations in saliva and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) to investigate EER and reflux aspiration in dogs with respiratory diseases and in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: &#xa0;Thirty-one West Highland White Terriers (WHWTs) with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 12 dogs with inflammatory airway disease (IAD), 6 dogs with recurrent pneumonia (RP), 26 brachycephalic dogs (BD), 27 healthy WHWTs (HW), 52 healthy dogs (HD). All privately-owned dogs. METHODS: Saliva and BALF were collected from dogs in each group. RESULTS: Salivary TBA concentrations were higher in IPF (median 0.1692&#x2009;&#x3bc;M, interquartile range [IQR] 0.1115-0.2925&#x2009;&#x3bc;M, Cohen's d 3.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2-4.0, P&#x2009;<&#x2009;.001) and BD (0.0256&#x2009;&#x3bc;M, IQR 0.0086-0.0417&#x2009;&#x3bc;M, d 0.5, CI -0.1 to 1.1, P&#xa0;=&#xa0;.003) compared to HD (0&#xa0;&#x3bc;M, IQR not quantifiable [n.q.]-0.0131&#x2009;&#x3bc;M). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid TBA concentrations were higher in IPF (0.0117&#x2009;&#x3bc;M, IQR 0.0048-0.0361&#x2009;&#x3bc;M, d 0.5, CI 0-1.1, P&#x2009;<&#x2009;.001) compared to HD (0&#xa0;&#x3bc;M, IQR n.q.-0.0074&#x2009;&#x3bc;M). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Extraesophageal reflux and reflux aspiration occur in healthy dogs and those with respiratory diseases.