Documenting the prevalence of hiatal hernia and oesophageal abnormalities in brachycephalic dogs using fluoroscopy

ObjectivesTo report the prevalence of abnormal fluoroscopic findings in brachycephalic dogs that were presented to a referral hospital for obstructive airway syndrome. MethodsHospital records between May 2013 and November 2015 identified 36 brachycephalic dogs investigated for obstructive airway disease: 21 French bulldogs, 6 bulldogs, 4 Boston terriers, 2 pugs, 2 boxers and 1 shih‐tzu. The presence or absence of hiatal hernia, delayed oesophageal transit, gastro‐oesophageal reflux and redundant oesophagus were recorded. ResultsOf the 36 dogs, 16 had hiatal hernia, all of which were French bulldogs; 31 dogs had delayed oesophageal transit time, 27 had gastro‐oesophageal reflux, and 4 had redundant oesophagus. Clinical SignificanceClinical Significance: The prevalence of hiatal hernia is higher than expected in the French bulldog, and there was a high prevalence of oesophageal disease in this group in general. These results suggest a need to investigate similar cases for evidence of gastrointestinal disease that may also require attention.
Source: The Journal of Small Animal Practice - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Tags: PAPER Source Type: research