Esophagitis in Cats

Esophagitis is the term applied to inflammation of the esophagus -- the muscular tube that carries food down from the mouth cavity to the stomach. Gastrointestinal reflux, or acid reflux, is the most common cause of esophagitis in cats. Acid reflux is the result of stomach acids passing into the esophageal canal, causing irritation to the tissue lining of the esophagus.

Young cats born with congenital esophageal abnormalities are at an increased risk for esophagitis. Older cats that are being treated with anesthesia for surgery, or for other reasons, may also develop this condition. One of the most important complications of esophagitis is aspiration pneumonia, by which a cat that is not able to swallow food properly may end up with food material entering into the lungs.

Symptoms and Types

• Regurgitation (return of food or other contents from the esophagus or stomach back through the mouth)
• Increased swallowing motions
• Increased secretions coming out of mouth
• Pain while swallowing
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Cat may cry while swallowing food or after swallowing due to pain in the esophagus
• Cat may extends its head and neck during swallowing
• Inability to ingest food
• Reluctance to move or lie down
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss
• Coughing
• Fever
• Cat may feel pain if you touch its neck or esophagus
• More pronounced symptoms if pneumonia develops

Causes

• Reflux of gastric and/or intestinal contents (backward flow of fluids toward the esophagus)
• Accidental ingestion of irritant chemicals
• Infections
• After surgery involving the esophagus -- often due to passing of the feeding tube through the esophagus
• Chronic vomiting
• Foreign body remaining in esophagus
• Animal retaining ingested pills or capsules in esophagus