Dogs That Have Respiratory Disease May Have Digestive Illness, Study Says

A recent study revealed that dogs that are suffering from respiratory disease and lacking gastrointestinal (GI) signs possibly have co-existing abnormalities in their digestive system.

(Photo : Getty Images/Miguel Medina)

Researchers from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) said that 75% of dogs with respiratory disease had one or more abnormalities on their swallow study, even though their owners did not report any clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease.

They pointed out that dogs with respiratory signs lacking dysphagia, vomiting, or even regurgitation usually do not undergo diagnostic testing that identifies comorbid alimentary disease.

Swallow study

In order to determine more of the dogs' condition, they perform a videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) that identifies defects in swallowing, reflux, and aspiration.

"In dogs presented for evaluation of respiratory clinical signs without owner-reported dysphagia, regurgitation, or vomiting, 75% had subjective abnormalities of metrics on VFSS, emphasizing the critical interplay between the shared respiratory and upper digestive tracts," results of the study explained.

Researchers noted that a previous retrospective study even documented a high rate of 81%o f VFSS abnormalities in dogs presented solely for cough, saying that their present study supports similar findings in dogs with more diverse respiratory clinical signs.

The study further indicated that most dogs had multiple respiratory disorders and the VFSS was an important tool to provide evidence of overlap between pathology of the digestive and respiratory tracts.

Also, the study noted that the airway diseases would include functional, structural, and inflammatory etiologies.

The findings of the study, which included 45 dogs with respiratory clinical signs without GI signs and 15 healthy dogs as a control group, then showed a pathologic link between the alimentary and respiratory tracts of dogs.

The scientists found out that dogs which have respiratory disease are far more likely to have abnormalities such as accidental breathing of food or fluid into the lungs, a condition known as aspiration, gastroesophageal or extraesophageal reflux.

Furthermore, they could have more trouble swallowing compared to control dogs.

Treatment

The American Kennel Club has said that the French bulldog has recently been ranked as the most popular dog breed in the United States, replacing the Labrador retriever, which held the top post in the previous years.

The recent study had assessed a wide variety of small and large breed of dogs with different facial conformations and the study has underscored that aerodigestive disorders appear to be common and could hit any of dogs at home.

Meanwhile, it was said that the study would enhance the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in canines.

The dog owners and veterinarians should closely monitor the symptoms being manifested by the canines as they may possess potential digestive issues and respiratory diseases.

This is even when the dogs do not appear to have trouble swallowing, regurgitate, or even if they are not vomiting.

According to the American Kennel Club, veterinarians should always be suspicious of gastrointestinal disease in canines with respiratory disease, even without overt GI clinical signs.

It said that a fluoroscopic swallow study is a valuable tool for evaluating aerodigestive problems in dogs and should be included in a thorough diagnostic work-up for dogs with respiratory disease.