Background: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is common in anesthetized dogs and can cause esophagitis, esophageal stricture, and aspiration pneumonia.Objective: To determine whether preanesthetic IV administration of esomeprazole alone or esomeprazole and cisapride increases esophageal pH and decreases the frequency of GER in anesthetized dogs using combined multichannel impedance and pH monitoring.Animals: Sixty-one healthy dogs undergoing elective orthopedic surgery procedures. Methods: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Dogs were randomized to receive IV saline (0.9% NaCl), esomeprazole (1 mg/kg) alone, or a combination of esomeprazole (1 mg/kg) and cisapride (1 mg/kg) 12-18 hours and 1-1.5 hours before anesthetic induction. An esophageal pH/impedance probe was utilized to measure esophageal pH and detect GER.Results: Eight of 21 dogs in the placebo group (38.1%), 8 of 22 dogs in the esomeprazole group (36%), and 2 of 18 dogs in the combined esomeprazole and cisapride group (11%) had 1 episode of GER on impedance testing during anesthesia (P < .05). Esomeprazole was associated with a significant increase in gastric and esophageal pH (P = .001), but the drug did not significantly decrease the frequency of GER (P = .955). Concurrent administration of cisapride was associated with a significant decrease in the number of reflux events (RE) compared to the placebo and esomeprazole groups (P < .05).Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Preanesthetic administration of cisapride and esomeprazole decreases the number of RE in anesthetized dogs, but administration of esomeprazole alone was associated with nonacid and weakly acidic reflux in all but 1 dog.

A subcutaneous ureteral bypass device successfully allowed renal decompression in a kitten with iatrogenic ureteral ligation. A subcutaneous ureteral bypass device may be an alternative to historical surgical options in cases of unilateral ureteral obstruction and may result in a good long-term outcome.

BackgroundIntestinal leiomyositis is a suspected autoimmune disorder affecting the muscularis propria layer of the gastrointestinal tract and is a cause of chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction in humans and animals.ObjectiveTo characterize the clinical presentation, histopathologic features, and outcome of dogs with intestinal leiomyositis in an effort to optimize treatment and prognosis.AnimalsSix client‐owned dogs.MethodsRetrospective case series. Medical records were reviewed to describe signalment, clinicopathologic and imaging findings, histopathologic diagnoses, treatment, and outcome. All biopsy specimens were reviewed by a board‐certified pathologist.ResultsMedian age of dogs was 5.4 years (range, 15 months–9 years). Consistent clinical signs included vomiting (6/6), regurgitation (2/6), and small bowel diarrhea (3/6). Median duration of clinical signs before presentation was 13 days (range, 5–150 days). Diagnostic imaging showed marked gastric distension with dilated small intestines in 4/6 dogs. Full‐thickness intestinal biopsies were obtained in all dogs by laparotomy. Histopathology of the stomach and intestines disclosed mononuclear inflammation, myofiber degeneration and necrosis, and fibrosis centered within the region of myofiber loss in the intestinal muscularis propria. All dogs received various combinations of immunomodulatory and prokinetic treatment, antimicrobial agents, antiemetics, and IV fluids, but none of the dogs showed a clinically relevant improvement with treatment. Median survival was 19 days after diagnosis (range, 3–270 days).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceIntestinal leiomyositis is a cause of intestinal pseudo‐obstruction and must be diagnosed by full‐thickness intestinal biopsy. This disease should be considered in dogs with acute and chronic vomiting, regurgitation, and small bowel diarrhea.