Endoscopic evaluation of oesophageal and gastric disorders and its management in dogs

Abstract

Endoscopic evaluation of oesophagus and stomach was conducted in seven dogs of either sex, belonging to different breeds and age groups presented to the Veterinary Hospitals of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy and Kokkali, with the history of reduction in food intake, regurgitation or chronic vomiting. The incidence, clinical signs, haematological and serum biochemical changes, radiographic and endoscopic observations, efficacy of treatment adopted and postoperative management were studied.

The incidence of gastro-oesophageal disorders was more in Labrador Retriever and non descript dogs. The age of the dogs ranged from six months to nine years with a mean age of 3.57 + 1.21 years. Gastric foreign body was found in dogs with age six months and two and half years and both of them were female. Megaoesophagus condition was noticed only in male dogs. The body weight of dogs ranged from 12 kg to 38 kg with a mean of 23.14 + 3.34 kg.

The prominent clinical signs observed were chronic vomiting, regurgitation or anorexia. Vomitus contained undigested food materials and vomiting was noticed immediately or 10 to 30 minutes after food intake in those dogs suffering from megaoesophagus. Among the dogs examined, four were dull and emaciated. The dogs with gastric foreign body obstruction were active and in good body condition. Pain on palpation of abdomen was observed in the dog with pyloric ulcer and hypertrophy. Palpable mass could be detected in the upper half of the left anterior abdominal region in one dog with gastric foreign body obstruction. The physiological, haematological and serum biochemical parameters were within normal range in all the animals prior to endoscopic evaluation and on eighth day of initiation of treatment. Serum T4 estimation revealed hypothyroidism in two cases of megaoesophagus.

The different conditions included gastric foreign body obstruction (2), pyloric ulcer along with hypertrophy (1) and megaoesophagus (4) and were diagnosed by radiographic (plain and contrast) and endoscopic examination. Foreign bodies were retrieved by endoscopy, pyloric ulcer and megaoesophagus were treated medically.

In a non-responsive condition of megaoesophagus due to stricture of cardia, cardiomyotomy was performed as surgical treatment. Postoperatively the animal was managed by fluid therapy for three days and antibiotic for seven days. The skin sutures were removed on 10th postoperative day. On 15th day, endoscopic evaluation revealed ulcerations on the distal third of oesophageal mucosa due to gastro-oesophageal reflux. Administration of aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and oxethazine preparation orally for a week could give favourable result.

The appropriate treatment measures adopted viz. endoscopic, medical and surgical were satisfactory to obtain substantial cure from the conditions in all the dogs and the results of treatments were evaluated endoscopically.