Esophageal dysfunction in dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis: a controlled cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare esophageal function in dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis (ILP) to age and breed matched controls; to determine if dysfunction is associated with aspiration pneumonia over 1 year; and to compare clinical neurologic examination of dogs with ILP at enrollment and at 1 year.


METHODS
Prospective controlled cohort study.


METHODS
Dogs with ILP (n=32) and 34 age and breed matched healthy dogs.


METHODS
Mean esophageal score was determined for each phase of 3 phase esophagrams, analyzed blindly. After unilateral cricoarytenoid laryngoplasty, dogs with ILP were reexamined (including thoracic radiography) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Neurologic status was recorded at enrollment, 6 and 12 months.


RESULTS
Esophagram scores in dogs with ILP were significantly higher in each phase compared with controls, most notably with liquid (P<.0001). Dysfunction was more pronounced in the cervical and cranial thoracic esophagus. Five dogs that had aspiration pneumonia during the study had significantly higher esophagram scores than dogs that did not develop aspiration pneumonia (P<.02). Ten (31%) ILP dogs had generalized neurologic signs on enrollment and all ILP dogs developed neurologic signs by 1 year (P<.0001). Conclusions- Dogs with ILP also have esophageal dysfunction. Postoperative aspiration pneumonia is more likely in dogs with higher esophagram scores. Dogs with ILP will most likely develop generalized neuropathy over the course of 1 year.


CONCLUSIONS
Esophagrams and neurologic examinations should be performed on all dogs with ILP.
Stanley
Bryden J
BJ
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. stanle32@cvm.msu.edu
Hauptman
Joe G
JG
Fritz
Michele C
MC
Rosenstein
Diana S
DS
Kinns
Jennifer
J
D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*