Surgical treatment of an oesophageal achalasia in a small breed dog

Abstract

A 6-year-old, male Yorkshire Terrier dog presented with persistent regurgitation and severe weight loss. Based on the clinical signs, physical and other various diagnostic examinations, including fluoroscopy, were performed. Myasthenia gravis was ruled out through a serum acetylcholine receptor antibody titre measurement and a negative response to neostigmine bromide (0.02 mg/kg) within 4 hours of injection. The dog was diagnosed with idiopathic oesophageal achalasia. As a treatment, a modified Heller's oesophagomyotomy was performed, and the dog recovered well with no signs of recurrence for 18 months.

Keywords

• canine oesophageal achalasia
• oesophagomyotomy
• modified heller's myotomy
• myenteric plexus