2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Twelve dogs with ME were included in the study. Six dogs had congenital ME, 4 dogs had idiopathic acquired ME, and 2 dogs had ME secondary to myasthenia gravis. All dogs were placed in a vertical position using adjustable size-appropriate Bailey chairs. Bailey chairs were constructed from thin wood which allowed them to be radiolucent. In three different feeding sessions, dogs were given standardized amounts of liquid barium, canned food meatballs mixed with barium, or their normal diet also mixed with barium (if the diet was a different consistency than meatballs, generally a slurry). Fluoroscopy was performed in 5 minute increments to visualize transit of food or barium from time to ingestion until full clearance of material from the esophagus, or for a maximum of 20 minutes for liquid barium and 30 minutes for food material.