This week’s case is a 2-year-old male Bull Terrier, choking while eating. Owners found he had been chewing on drywall joint compound. What is your diagnosis?
Findings
The thoracic esophagus is dilated and contains a broad based soft tissue opacity outlined by air. This structure appears to be intraluminal and is located between the heart base and the diaphragm. There is alveolar pattern in the right middle lung lobe with air bronchograms. There is also patchy alveolar pattern in the left cranial lung lobe. There is an incidental developmental cleft in the spinous process of C2.
Diagnosis
Esophageal foreign body with secondary aspiration pneumonia.
Discussion
Esophagoscopy was performed, and a 5-6 cm mass of foreign material was identified with extensive esophageal wall necrosis. Owners found he had been chewing on drywall joint compound. The dog was euthanized due to poor prognosis.
Great case