Nuclear scintigraphy used to detect silent reflux in dogs
Studies on canine reflux and aspiration area lacking, and in this prospective study, twelve healthy, client-owned dogs were used.
Dogs were free-fed a meal containing (111 MBq) colloidal 99 m-technetium phytate. Dynamic-scans were performed five and thirty minutes post-ingestion. Time-activity curves, reflux margination, volume, frequency, and duration were evaluated over seven regions of interest in dorsal ± left-lateral recumbency.
Static scans in dorsal recumbency were performed at two and eighteen hours post-feeding to detect aspiration. Reflux and aspiration events were defined as greater or equal to 200% of background activity ± decreased gastric counts, with comparisons performed by Wilcoxon rank-sum test or one-way ANOVA on ranks with significance of P < .05.
In this study, reflux was detected in every dog. No significant differences in outcomes were detected with recumbency. Margination to the pharynx and portions of the esophagus were identified in some of the dogs. Median reflux frequency and duration were two events every five minutes and six seconds respectively. No dog had detectable aspiration.
Nuclear scintigraphy can document reflux in dogs. Reflux, but not aspiration, is common in healthy dogs and must be considered when interpreting results in clinically affected dogs.
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