Oesophagitis

Typical Signalment

• Any age group can be affected
• Young animals with congenital hiatal hernias
• Cats are more prone to doxycycline-associated oesophagitis
• Cats suffering from oesophageal stricture
• Anaesthesia
• Poor positioning during anaesthesia

Description

Oesophagitis in an inflammatory disorder of the oesophagus that usually involves the mucosa but can involve the deeper layers of the submucosa and muscularis. It can take the form of acute or chronic. The disease process occurs after disruption of one of the barrier defence mechanisms and can lead one or several of inflammation, ulceration and erosion of the underlying structures. The most common causes are:

• chemical injury follwoing swallowing
• oesophageal foreign bodies
• gastro-oesophageal reflux

Diagnosis

Clinical Signs

include:

• regurgitation
• salivation
• neck extension during swallowing
• odynophagia
• food avoidance
• aspiration pneumonia (wheezes, coughing)

Laboratory Tests

Generally unremarkable but may show:

• leucocytosis
• neutrophilia

Diagnostic Imaging

The oesophagus is generally normal on routine survey radiographs. Signs of aspiration pneumonia may be seen in ventral lung lobes. It can be better differentiated using barium-contrast studies which may show:

• an irregular mucosal surface
• narrowing
• a dilated oesophagus
• oesophageal hypomotility

To better diagnose oesophagitis, endoscopy with biopsies can be used. Severe oesophagitis will be seen with an oedematous mucosa that is hyperaemic, ulcerated and actively bleeding, whilst less severe cases may require several mucosal biopsies to diagnose the condition.