Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How suction and bicarbonate affect acid reflux in dogs
By Wilson, Deborah V & Evans, A Tom·Published in Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia·2007·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The effect of topical treatment on esophageal pH during acid reflux in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of healthy dogs under anesthesia experienced acid reflux, which can cause discomfort and regurgitation. Researchers tested different methods to see how they could improve the acidity in the esophagus. They found that simply suctioning the esophagus didn't help, but washing it out with water raised the acidity level in some dogs. Most importantly, when a bicarbonate solution was used, it significantly increased the pH level, making it less acidic for up to 180 minutes. This suggests that bicarbonate could be a helpful treatment for dogs suffering from acid reflux.
People also search for: dog acid reflux treatment · how to help dog with regurgitation · bicarbonate for dog esophagus
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of suction, lavage and instillation of sodium bicarbonate solution on esophageal pH during acidic gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) in anesthetized dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, clinical trial. ANIMALS: Ten healthy dogs, 4.8 +/- 2.4 years old, and weighing 37.1 +/- 7.9 kg. METHODS: Dogs were admitted to the study if they were under general anesthesia and regurgitation occurred. A sensor-tipped catheter was used to measure esophageal pH. On study entry the esophagus was suctioned. After an interval of at least 5 minutes, if the esophageal pH was still less than 4 the esophagus was lavaged with tap water and again suctioned. In 6 dogs 20 mL of dilute bicarbonate solution was instilled into the esophageal lumen. RESULTS: Suctioning fluid from the esophagus did not change the pH significantly. Lavage with tap water caused the pH to increase above 4 in four dogs, with the average pH increasing from 1.2 +/- 0.5 to 3.5 +/- 4.9. In all dogs where dilute bicarbonate solution was instilled, esophageal pH increased to above 6 for up to 180 (mean +/- SD, 89 +/- 81) minutes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Suctioning refluxate from the esophagus does not change the pH of the esophageal lumen. Instillation of a small volume of bicarbonate solution predictably increased the pH above 4 following an episode of acidic GER. Care must be taken that fluid is instilled into the lumen of the esophagus, and not into the trachea.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17565573/