Standardization of a Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Protocol to Investigate Dysphagia in Dogs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary medicine
• Swallowing physiology
• Diagnostic imaging

Background:

• Videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) is the gold standard for diagnosing dysphagia in dogs.
• Current VFSS protocols lack standardization and do not emulate natural feeding behaviors.
• The impact of age on canine swallow function has not been evaluated using VFSS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a standardized VFSS protocol using custom kennels for free-feeding.
• To optimize contrast media and diet formulations for palatability and voluntary intake.
• To investigate age-related differences in objective swallow metrics in dogs.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, experimental study involving 24 healthy dogs across juvenile, adult, and geriatric age groups.
• Custom kennels were designed to facilitate natural feeding behaviors during VFSS.
• Dogs were evaluated using 16 swallow metrics with three food consistencies and two contrast agents.

Main Results:

• A standardized VFSS protocol was successfully developed, enabling data collection in healthy dogs.
• No significant differences in swallow metrics were observed between different age groups.
• Substantial variability in swallowing was noted in healthy dogs, with some exhibiting signs like gastric reflux.

Conclusions:

• A VFSS protocol reflecting natural feeding practices can potentially reveal physiological signs of dysphagia.
• Age did not significantly alter swallow metrics in this study.
• Further research is warranted due to the observed variability in normal swallowing function.