Showing that so called "brachycephalic" dogs frequently have problems with their food pipe. We have noticed for several years now that short-nosed dog breeds (like the pug, French bulldog etc.) can suffer from a combination of clinical signs that involve both their well known breathing problems (see BREATHE clinic), but also less well known problems with their ability to swallow or keep food "down" properly. These dogs show frequent vomiting or regurgitation of water and food, especially when they are excited or when their breathing difficulties increase. To see if this was a real problem in the breed, we have conducted a retrospective study analysing all the live swallowing studies we have performed in the hospital over the last few years and looked at what the presenting complaint, breed and final diagnosis was for all those dogs. The results are currently in the process of being published, but the main finding is that a lot of dogs that were presented for these clinical signs were short-nosed dog breeds and they had very typical features of abnormal swallowing and movements of their oesophagus (food pipe). We are working together with the BREATHE clinic to establish a holistic approach to these patients and determine if these problems are in any way linked to the breathing problems also frequently seen in those breeds. This study is not supported by any funding. Publication date 19 Apr, 2018
