Oesophageal disease in 33 cats

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Small Animal Internal Medicine
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Oesophageal diseases in cats are not well-characterized.
• Understanding the frequency and types of feline oesophageal conditions is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of oesophageal disease in cats presenting to a referral clinic.
• To describe the clinical signs, diagnostic findings, and outcomes of feline oesophageal diseases.
• To evaluate the utility of various diagnostic techniques.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 33 cats diagnosed with oesophageal disease.
• Review of medical records including signalment, clinical signs, diagnostic imaging (radiography, fluoroscopy, barium studies, endoscopy), and treatment outcomes.
• Calculation of in-clinic frequency of oesophageal disease.

Main Results:

• Oesophageal disease was identified in approximately 1% (33/2894) of feline referral cases.
• Vomiting and/or regurgitation were the most common clinical signs, but some cats were asymptomatic.
• A diverse range of oesophageal diseases was observed, including congenital anomalies, oesophagitis, foreign bodies, neoplasia, hypomotility, and strictures.
• Diagnostic modalities such as radiography, fluoroscopy, barium studies, and endoscopy proved useful.
• Five out of six cats with acquired oesophageal strictures had a recent history of oral doxycycline administration.

Conclusions:

• Oesophageal disease is an uncommon but significant condition in cats seen at referral practices.
• A combination of diagnostic imaging and endoscopy is valuable for diagnosing feline oesophageal diseases.
• The association between doxycycline administration and acquired oesophageal strictures warrants further investigation.