GI Medicine 1 - Swallowing Disorders

Question 1

Define dysphagia and state where is originates from.

Answer 1

Difficulty swallowing
Oropharyngeal (occasionally oesophageal)

Question 2

Define odynophagia and state where is originates from.

Answer 2

Painful swallowing
Oropharyngeal or oesophageal

Question 3

Define regurgitation and states where it originates from.

Answer 3

Regurgitation is the passive return of food.
Oesophageal

Question 4

What is halitosis?

Answer 4

Bad breath

Question 5

What is the difference between ptyalism and pseudoptyalism?

Answer 5

Ptyalism - increased saliva production
Pseudoptyalism - normal amount of saliva but failing to swallow and clear from mouth.

Question 6

List six primary clinical signs of dysphagia.

Answer 6

Difficulty lapping or forming a bolus
Excessive jaw or head motion
Dropping food
Drooling saliva
Gagging
Persistent, ineffective swallowing

Question 7

List six secondary clinical signs of dysphagia

Answer 7

Failure to thrive
Nasal discharge
Coughing
Halitosis
Reluctance to eat/odynophagia
Blood tinged saliva

Question 8

What is chelitis?

Answer 8

Inflammation of the lips

Question 9

What should you test cats for when they have diffuse gingivostomatitis?

Answer 9

Oral swabs for feline herpes virus (FHV) and feline calcivirus (FCV).
Blood tests for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibody and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) antigen ELISA.

Question 10

Which antibodies would you test for in a suspected case of masticatory muscle myositis?

Answer 10

2M

Question 11

Which antibodies would you test for in a suspected case of myasthenia gravis?

Answer 11

AChR

Question 12

List three tests that referral specialists may use to investigate more subtle swallowing disorders.

Answer 12

Fluoroscopy swallow study
Specialist neurology assessment +/- functional assessment
CT Imaging