Viagra might be given to dogs with a rare eating condition that causes pneumonia, making it a 'life-saving and life-changing medication.
The study was published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research by WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine.
Veterinarians Looking in the Study
A team of veterinarians at Washington State University in Pullman investigated sildenafil, the generic equivalent of Viagra, to treat a condition known as megaesophagus.
The disorder involves an expansion of the esophagus and a lack of the organ's capacity to transport food to the stomach, resulting in food accumulating in the lower esophagus, leading to aspiration pneumonia if left untreated.
It's a group of symptoms that cause the esophagus to grow, and it's been linked to genetic disease in a variety of breeds, including Wire Haired Fox Terriers and Miniature Schnauzers.
The German Shepherd, Newfoundland, Great Dane, Irish Setter, Shar-pei, Greyhound, and Labrador Retriever are among the breeds that may be prone.
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Injecting Medication to Dogs
When administered in liquid form, the medicine relaxes the smooth muscle of the lower esophagus, allowing it to open up and allow food to travel to the stomach, bringing comfort to the dog.
Ten dogs with megaesophagus were included in the trial and given either a placebo or sildenafil for two weeks, then one week without either medicine, before swapping them around and receiving the drug they hadn't received previously.
During the five-week research, owners were required to journal any regurgitation occurrences, but they were not told which medicine their dog was taking.
"According to the literature, many dogs with the condition die from aspiration pneumonia or are humanely terminated owing to low quality of life within eight months of diagnosis," stated research co-leader, Dr. Jillian Haines.
No Adverse Effects
A man prepares his dog during the First Championship of German Shepherd Dog Breeding organized by the Association of German Shepherd Dogs of Nicaragua in Managua on February 10, 2013.
The scientists discovered no adverse effects in dogs from the medicine at the level employed in the trial, other from some minor gastrointestinal discomfort.
While sildenafil is most commonly associated with erectile dysfunction in men, it also treats increased pulmonary blood pressure in both dogs and humans.
"There are no medications we can use to control megaesophagus. Sildenafil is the first to target these processes and minimize regurgitation, which is important since regurgitation is what kills these dogs in the end," adds Dr. Haines in a report in Daily Mail.
The researchers utilized videofluoroscopy, which offers a real-time view of swallowing, to track liquid and mixed wet food down the esophagus.
Over a 30-minute videofluoroscopy, there was no significant difference between the placebo and sildenafil; however, nine out of ten owners reported less regurgitation during the two weeks when liquid sildenafil was given.
Unfortunately, the findings were not as promising in dogs with advanced indications of the illness, as getting the medicine into the stomach for absorption was more difficult.
While the research is encouraging, Haines believes there is still much to learn about the medication and expects that future research will focus on its usage in veterinary care.
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