Regurgitation

What conditions cause regurgitation in pets?

Regurgitation is secondary to many medical conditions, including:

• Megaesophagus
• Geriatric onset laryngeal paralysis polyneuropathy (GOLPP)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Myasthenia gravis
• Hiatal hernia
• Hypothyroidism
• Addison’s disease

How can regurgitation affect my pet’s quality of life?

Chronic regurgitation can prevent your pet from absorbing adequate calories, which can lead to weight loss and emaciation. Decreased nutrient absorption can cause weakness and inactivity, and your pet cannot participate in activities they enjoy, such as walking and playing fetch. In addition, regurgitation can lead to aspiration pneumonia, a dangerous lung infection that occurs when regurgitated material is breathed into the lungs. Many pets with chronic regurgitation eventually succumb to aspiration pneumonia. 

How can I manage my pet’s regurgitation at home?

If your pet is regurgitating, these tips can help you manage their condition:

• Feed your pet a gruel of canned food and water to help food move more easily into the stomach.
• Train your pet to eat in an elevated position, such as with their front feet on a step ladder, to allow gravity to help move food into the stomach.
• Train your pet to stand upright in a vertical feeding chair, such as a Bailey chair, while eating, and for 10 to 15 minutes after.

When should I seek veterinary help for my pet’s regurgitation?

If your pet has a chronic condition, you should maintain close contact with your family veterinarian about their progress and management. Contact your family veterinarian if your pet has these problems:

• Inability to maintain adequate nutrition
• Weight loss of 10% or more
• Extreme lethargy or weakness
• Coughing
• Trouble breathing

Your family veterinarian may provide additional management tips, prescribe medications, or surgically place a feeding tube that bypasses your pet’s esophagus for better management. 

Before your pet’s condition becomes unmanageable, or they begin losing their quality of life, beginning end-of-life care discussions is vital. Learn more about pet hospice, in-home euthanasia, and our telehospice services, or contact a Lap of Love veterinarian in your area, so you can feel fully prepared for this difficult time.