Research Publications

Below is a partial list of recent veterinary publications related to megaesophagus with links to the abstract summary or full publication when available.

General Information and Prognosis

• Haines JM. Survey of owners on population characteristics, diagnosis, and environmental, health, and disease associations in dogs with megaesophagus. Res Vet Sci. 2019 Apr;123:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2018.11.026. Epub 2018 Nov 30. PMID: 30543946.

• Nakagawa T, Doi A, Ohno K, Yokoyama N, Tsujimoto H. Clinical features and prognosis of canine megaesophagus in Japan. J Vet Med Sci. 2019 Mar 14;81(3):348-352. doi: 10.1292/jvms.18-0493. Epub 2019 Jan 10. PMID: 30626762; PMCID: PMC6451904.

Management of Megaesophagus

• Lyngby JG, Haines JM, Guess SC. Use of a videofluoroscopic feeding evaluation to guide management of dogs with congenital idiopathic megaoesophagus. Vet Med Sci. 2022 Apr 27. doi: 10.1002/vms3.821. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35476311.

• Mehain SO, Haines JM, Guess SC. A randomized crossover study of compounded liquid sildenafil for treatment of generalized megaesophagus in dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2022 Jan 21;83(4):317-323. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.21.02.0030. PMID: 35066488.

• Haines JM, Khoo A, Brinkman E, Thomason JM, Mackin AJ. Technique for Evaluation of Gravity-Assisted Esophageal Transit Characteristics in Dogs with Megaesophagus. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2019 Jul/Aug;55(4):167-177. doi: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6711. Epub 2019 May 17. PMID: 31099601.

• Quintavalla F, Menozzi A, Pozzoli C, Poli E, Donati P, Wyler DK, Serventi P, Bertini S. Sildenafil improves clinical signs and radiographic features in dogs with congenital idiopathic megaoesophagus: a randomised controlled trial. Vet Rec. 2017 Apr 22;180(16):404. doi: 10.1136/vr.103832. Epub 2017 Feb 10. PMID: 28188161.

• Manning K, Birkenheuer AJ, Briley J, Montgomery SA, Harris J, Vanone SL, Gookin JL. Intermittent At-Home Suctioning of Esophageal Content for Prevention of Recurrent Aspiration Pneumonia in 4 Dogs with Megaesophagus. J Vet Intern Med. 2016 Sep;30(5):1715-1719. doi: 10.1111/jvim.14527. Epub 2016 Aug 2. PMID: 27481487; PMCID: PMC5032866.

Genetics and Genetic Conditions

• Bell SM, Evans JM, Evans KM, Tsai KL, Noorai RE, Famula TR, Holle DM, Clark LA. Congenital idiopathic megaesophagus in the German shepherd dog is a sex-differentiated trait and is associated with an intronic variable number tandem repeat in Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Receptor 2. PLoS Genet. 2022 Mar 10;18(3):e1010044. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010044. PMID: 35271580; PMCID: PMC8912139.

• Farré Mariné A, Granger N, Bertolani C, Mascort Boixeda J, Shelton GD, Luján Feliu-Pascual A. Long-term outcome of Miniature Schnauzers with genetically confirmed demyelinating polyneuropathy: 12 cases. J Vet Intern Med. 2020 Sep;34(5):2005-2011. doi: 10.1111/jvim.15861. Epub 2020 Aug 1. PMID: 32738000; PMCID: PMC7517849.

Underlying Causes of Megaesophagus

• Hurley KJ, Mansfield C, VanHoutan IM, Lacorcia L, Allenspach K, Hebbard G, Marks SL, Poppenga R, Kaufman JH, Weimer BC, Woolard KD, Bielitzki J, Lulham D, Naar J. A comparative analysis of two unrelated outbreaks in Latvia and Australia of acquired idiopathic megaesophagus in dogs fed two brands of commercial dry dog foods: 398 cases (2014-2018). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2021 Jul 15;259(2):172-183. doi: 10.2460/javma.259.2.172. PMID: 34227867.

• Renwick M, Stevenson MA, Wiethoelter A, Mansfield C. A case-control study to identify risk factors for adult-onset idiopathic megaoesophagus in Australian dogs, 2017-2018. BMC Vet Res. 2020 May 24;16(1):157. doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02376-6. PMID: 32448348; PMCID: PMC7247263.

• Gomes SA, Van Ham L, Van Ham A, Ives EJ, Vanhaesebrouck A. Canine Nonstructural Megaesophagus as a Clinical Sign of Potential Neurological Disease: 99 Cases. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2020 Jan/Feb;56(1):7-16. doi: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6955. Epub 2019 Nov 12. PMID: 31715113.

• Grobman ME, Schachtel J, Gyawali CP, Lever TE, Reinero CR. Videofluoroscopic swallow study features of lower esophageal sphincter achalasia-like syndrome in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2019 Sep;33(5):1954-1963. doi: 10.1111/jvim.15578. Epub 2019 Aug 5. PMID: 31381208; PMCID: PMC6766503.