A dog’s esophagus is a long, flexible muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. It’s main function is to transport food and liquids from the mouth and into the stomach for digestion.
It is also lined with a mucous membrane that protects it from acidic digestive juices and helps lubricate it to make the passage of food efficiently for digestion.
With such an important role, it can be a real problem when the canine esophagus’ lining is damaged or injured. When this happens, it can lead to inflammation, known as esophagitis in dogs.
Esophagitis in dogs is more common than some people might think – but it can be tricky to recognize as signs and symptoms come in a wide range, from mild to severe.
In this article, we’ll help you better understand esophagitis in dogs, what causes it, what the clinical signs are, and how it can be treated and managed.
What Is Esophagitis In Dogs?
Esophagitis in dogs is the inflammation of the esophagus. This can happen due to a wide variety of reasons. But commonly, it happens due to acid reflux, when there is a backflow of stomach fluid up into the esophagus. This fluid is very acidic, and the esophageal lining is not equipped enough to handle such acidity, resulting to irritation and inflammation.
Esophagitis in dogs can be caused by foreign objects such as toys or bones being ingested by dogs. But it can also be a secondary complication resulting from a wide variety of gastrointestinal problems.
For example, puppies born with congenital anomalies of the esophagus have a higher risk of developing esophagitis. Furthermore, taking certain medications, such as doxycycline, can also result in esophagitis in dogs.
Symptoms of Esophagitis In Dogs
As mentioned above, esophagitis in dogs is common, but it can be tricky to recognize it as the clinical signs and symptoms can be so wide.
In mild cases, there may be minimal symptoms, including:
- Mild regurgitation (this is usually when mucus and phlegm from the esophagus/stomach comes back up through the mouth)
- Lack of appetite
- Odd lip smacking and licking at things more than usual
If disregarded and if treatment is delayed, signs and symptoms can become severe. These signs include:
- Regurgitation (When food, along with other contents, comes back up through the mouth)
- Increased swallowing motions
- Excessive drooling
- Difficulty swallowing
- Obvious pain when trying to swallow food
- Inability to ingest food
- Neck pain
- Coughing
- Fever
As you can see, signs and symptoms of esophagitis in dogs come in a wide array. And it can be difficult to say if it’s esophagitis because it shares a lot of these symptoms with other health problems.
Even the most common sign of esophagitis, which is regurgitation, can be mistaken as vomiting.
But if you look closely, you’ll be able to differentiate regurgitating from vomiting with these key differences:
| Regurgitating | Vomiting |
| A passive action. Meaning the body expels the food for the dog. It occurs without warning. | An active action. The dog’s body forcefully expels food from the stomach. |
| Dogs do not heave or grunt. | Dogs will grunt, retch, and heave. |
| It requires no effort. | Dogs look like they’re straining. |
| Happens right after eating. | Can happen right after eating or hours later. |
If you’re still unsure between the difference, you can always take a video of your dog and show it to your dog’s veterinarian to confirm and see what’s really happening.
Causes Of Esophagitis In Dogs
Inflammation of the esophagus can be caused by a lot of factors. And some of these are primary disorders with esophagitis as their secondary complication. Knowing the following factors is vital in helping prevent or manage esophagitis:
- The swallowing and ingestion of foreign bodies (such as bones and toys)
- Acute or chronic vomiting
- Acid reflux
- Gastroesophageal reflux (This is a more serious form of acid reflux where the backflow of stomach fluids happen chronically)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Abnormal functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter (A ring of muscle fibers in the lower esophagus that prevents swallowed food from moving back up in the mouth) due to anesthesia during surgeries.
- Neoplasia
- Ingestion of irritating and/or toxic substance such as cleaning products
- Congenital abnormalities in the esophagus
- Different types of infections (Parasitic, viral, and bacterial)
- Medications such as doxycycline
- Tumors
- Esophageal stricture (or the narrowing of the esophagus)
Diagnosis Of Esophagitis In Dogs
Diagnosis of esophagitis starts with a physical examination, routine laboratory tests, and the vet asking for your dog’s medical history.
For an accurate diagnosis, you will need to provide the vet with as much information as possible – including the onset of symptoms, and any situation that might have lead to your dog’s current condition.
In most cases, an endoscopy is the most common option for diagnosis in esophagitis patients because it is the most reliable procedure. This procedure uses a long, thin tube with a small camera that helps detect and remove any foreign object or assess the lining of the esophagus for any damage.
While plain radiographs do not help much in the diagnosis of esophagitis, an advanced type of radiography, called barium contrast radiography, can help diagnose and reveal changes in the esophagus if it really is inflamed.
In barium contrast radiography, barium sulfate is orally administered to the dog. When ingested, it will coat the inside of the dog’s gastrointestinal tract that will then help create a clear image on an x-ray.
Treatment Of Esophagitis In Dogs
Treatment of esophagitis in dogs will vary and depend on the underlying cause and the severity of the case.
If the esophagitis is caused by gastroesophageal reflux, then using medication (such as antacids) that decrease the amount of gastric acid the stomach procures will be prescribed.
The vet will also prescribe medication to coat, protect, and soothe the lining of the esophagus from the constant exposure to stomach acids. And depending on the severity, they may also prescribe antibiotics and pain medication to reduce any discomfort and eliminate any harmful bacteria.
Mild esophagitis may require no treatment at all. And for moderate cases, patients often recover with treatment after three to five days.
Furthermore, surgical treatment might be necessary if the esophagitis is caused by hernia or ingestion of foreign bodies. And in some severe cases, dogs need to be hospitalized for intensive care and treatment.
Recovering From And Managing Esophagitis In Dogs
Depending on the vet’s instructions, you will have to withhold water and food for a few days while your dog recovers. This means you’ll have to switch to intravenous nutrition during recovery.
And then when your dog is able to eat normally again, make sure to give them something that is soft and highly nutritious.
Furthermore, diet management will help the esophagitis heal. And your dog will need a low-fat prescription diet that helps lower the production of stomach acid.
Food should also be divided into a number of small meals throughout the day instead of one big meal to help reduce reflux in the esophagus.
To ensure that recovery is going well, make sure to take your dog to its follow up progress checkups. Sometimes, another endoscopy examination is needed during recover to ensure the the esophagus is responding well to medication and is healing properly.
Conclusion
A dog’s esophagus plays a crucial role in the digestive system, and any form of damage or issues affecting it can lead to significant health problems.
And while esophagitis is a common problem, it is often overlooked or mistaken for another issue. It can start mild, but delaying treatment can worsen your dog’s condition.
That’s why understanding the symptoms and causes and knowing how to prevent and manage it are all vital in ensuring that your dog stays healthy.
So, if you recognize any signs and symptoms, make sure to bring your dog to the vet for immediate diagnosis and treatment.
