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