Megaesophagus and Esophagitis .. swallowing problems - Page 1

Megaesophagus

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/10/29/megaesophagus-disorder.aspx

• Megaesophagus is a condition in which the esophagus, a muscular tube that runs from the mouth to the stomach, is enlarged and malfunctioning. The disorder is much more common in dogs than cats.
• In megaesophagus, the esophagus stretches out and muscular contractions are inefficient, which means food doesn’t always reach the stomach and instead builds up in the esophagus, causing the dog to regurgitate.
• Megaesophagus can be either inherited or acquired. The acquired form is almost always secondary to another disease, a foreign body or tumor in the esophagus, or exposure to toxins.

Esophagitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the esophagus, which is the muscular tube that transports swallowed food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach.

• Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus, which is the tube that carries food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach
• In dogs and cats, gastroesophageal reflux is the most common cause of esophagitis
• Symptoms of the condition include regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, and coughing
• The focus of treatment of esophagitis is protecting the lining of the esophagus and decreasing gastric acid production

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/11/18/esophagitis.aspx?e_cid=20151118Z1_PetsNL_art_1&utm_source=petsnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20151118Z1&et_cid=DM90521&et_rid=1219550807