In a person, the esophagus is vertical. That means that in addition to muscle contractions in that organ propelling food from the back of the mouth to the stomach, gravity helps the food slide down. A dog’s esophagus, on the other hand, is horizontal. So if it doesn’t work right, food doesn’t make its way through the digestive tract. A dog will end up regurgitating much of his meals. Often, aspiration pneumonia sets in when the food erroneously ends up in the dog’s lungs or airway. There can also be severe malnourishment that leads to an inability to thrive and, all too often, death.
To continue reading this article or issue you must be a paid subscriber. Sign in
Subscribe to Tufts Your Dog
Get the next year of Tufts Your Dog for just $20. And access all of our online content - over 1,000 articles - free of charge.
Subscribe today and save 44%. It's like getting 5 months FREE!
