Congenital Oesophageal Stenosis in a Puppy

Abstract

An extremely rare case of congenital oesophageal stenosis in a two-month-old, male, miniature pincher dog was reported. The puppy was presented at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, with a history of an acute onset of regurgitation at the time of weaning on to solid food. Contrast radiography of the oesophagus showed that the oesophagus at the cervical and thoracic-inlet portions was moderately dilated. Upon oesophagoscopic examination, the oesophageal lumen adjacent to the heart base showed intraluminal stenosis. The mucosa was normal and the stenotic opening was localized at the center of the lumen. Upon oesophagoscopy, the oesophageal stenosis was differentiated from a persistent right fourth aortic arch (PRAA) or vascular ring. Treatment was achieved by bougienage dilatation once after an hour of pre-dilatation administration of intravenous dexamethasone (1 mg/kg). Oral cefazollin (25 mg/kg), prednisone (1 mg/kg/day) and sucralfate (120 mg/kg/day) were given for two weeks after the dilatation. Pre- and postoperative
administrations of steroids were beneficial to the successful treatment. After the treatment, the dog
was able to swallow solid food and was doing well over a twelve-month follow up period.