Esophageal foreign bodies in dogs: 51 cases (1992 – 1997)

All medical records of dogs with an esophageal foreign body treated at the Small Animal Hospital, University of Bern between January 1992 and December 1997 were reviewed. The retrospective data obtained included signalment (sex, age, breed), history, clinical findings, thoracic radiographic diagnosis, localization and type of foreign body, treatment, esophageal reevaluation and outcome. Macroscopic appearance of the esophagus was graded into normal, mild, moderate and severe lesions, or perforation. Telephone follow-ups of dogs that were not reevaluated in-house were obtained from referring veterinarians or owners.