Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Phenobarbital-responsive ptyalism, dysphagia, and apparent esophageal spasm in a German shepherd puppy.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 2004
- Authors:
- Gibbon, Kristi J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Medical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-week-old male German shepherd puppy was brought to the vet because he was drooling a lot, having trouble swallowing, vomiting, and had swollen salivary glands. Tests showed that his throat and esophagus were functioning normally, but further examination revealed thickening in the esophagus, which suggested he was experiencing spasms there. The puppy was treated with phenobarbital, a medication that helped him significantly and completely. This condition, which involved excessive drooling and esophageal spasms, is unusual but responded well to the treatment.
Abstract
A 10-week-old, male German shepherd dog was presented with a primary complaint of episodic ptyalism, dysphagia, vomiting, and mandibular salivary gland enlargement. An esophagram with fluoroscopy showed normal pharyngeal and esophageal function; however, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and cervical ultrasonography revealed a focal circumferential thickening of the midcervical esophageal muscular wall, consistent with esophageal spasm. The puppy responded dramatically and completely to phenobarbital treatment. An unusual syndrome of phenobarbital-responsive hypersialosis was consistent with this dog's clinical presentation and the finding of apparent esophageal spasm. The pathogenesis of this syndrome is unclear, but it may represent a form of limbic epilepsy or peripheral autonomic dysfunction.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15131105/