Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
What to know about megaesophagus in dogs from owner surveys
By Haines, Jillian M·Published in Research in veterinary science·2019·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Survey of owners on population characteristics, diagnosis, and environmental, health, and disease associations in dogs with megaesophagus.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A survey of dog owners revealed important information about megaesophagus, a condition where the esophagus becomes enlarged and can lead to swallowing difficulties. Breeds like German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, and "goldendoodles" were commonly affected, with many diagnosed by their regular vet using X-rays or barium studies. The survey found that congenital megaesophagus was present in about 41% of cases, while acquired forms were often linked to conditions like myasthenia gravis and hypothyroidism. Understanding these associations can help owners recognize symptoms and seek timely veterinary care for their pets.
People also search for: dog megaesophagus symptoms · Labrador retriever swallowing problems · myasthenia gravis in dogs · goldendoodle health issues · dachshund esophagus problems
Abstract
Megaesophagus affects dogs worldwide but limited information is available regarding its characteristics in the general population of dogs. The objectives of this study were to provide information on a large population of dogs diagnosed with megaesophagus in regards to population characteristics, medical and family history, diagnosis, concurrent disease, and predisposing factors. A link to a web-based survey was provided on megaesophagus support websites and 838 eligible surveys were evaluated. Breeds most frequently associated with congenital megaesophagus were German shepherds, mixed breed "goldendoodles", Labrador retrievers, great Danes, and dachshunds. Breeds most often associated with acquired megaesophagus were Labrador and golden retrievers, Chihuahuas, boxers, German shepherds, dachshunds, and Rottweilers. Diagnosis was most often by a general practitioner (63.6%) via plain radiographs (63.3%) and/or barium study (45%). Congenital megaesophagus was diagnosed in 41.3% of dogs and persistent right aortic arch in 4.3%. Diseases most commonly associated with acquired megaesophagus were myasthenia gravis (19.3%), esophagitis (10.8%), hypothyroidism (8.8%). Survey results support previous breed predilections and identified dachshunds, boxers, Chihuahuas, Rottweilers, and "goldendoodles" as additional at risk breeds. Myasthenia gravis was found at lower rates than previous described and contrary to recent studies, hypothyroidism was found in relatively high prevalence. Most dogs were diagnosed by a general practitioner suggesting previous studies at referral facilities may be biased towards dogs with more severe disease and worse outcomes.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30543946/