Swallowing Disorders in Dogs – More Common than You Think!

INTRODUCTION Disorders affecting the oropharynx and esophagus are relatively common in dogs, and are typically associated with dysphagia. Despite the frequency of this problem, the diagnosis of disorders affecting the oropharyngeal, esophageal or gastroesophageal phase of swallowing can be extremely challenging, and warrant a thorough physical examination, followed by clinical observations of the animal eating and drinking. The causes of dysphagia may be secondary to either a neurologic or muscular disturbance of the swallowing reflex (functional) or secondary to strictures, traumatic injury, foreign bodies, or neoplastic processes (structural) involving the oropharyngeal region or esophagus. The swallowing reflex involves a coordinated process involving the tongue, hard and soft palate, pharyngeal muscles, esophagus, and gastroesophageal junction. The swallowing reflex is also dependent on normally functioning striated muscle and neuromuscular transmission, the integrity of the trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal, vagus, and hypoglossal nerves, their nuclei in the brainstem, and the swallowing center in the reticular formation of the brain.