Case Report: Esophageal Obstruction and Perforation in a Pekingese Dog Caused by a Matzah Ball

This case report describes a 6-year-old, castrated male, Pekingese dog diagnosed with a distal esophageal obstruction caused by the ingestion of a matzah ball and the life-threatening complications that may occur from the ingestion of a whole matzah ball. The dog was treated conservatively for two days with no clinical improvement. He was then referred to the Hebrew University Veterinary Teaching Hospital where thoracic radiographs detected a 3.5 cm soft tissue opacity in the distal thoracic esophagus. Esophagoscopy confirmed the suspicion of esophageal obstruction, however attempts to dislodge the matzah ball were unsuccessful. Thoracic exploratory surgery was performed detecting a right sided thoracic esophageal perforation with a few pieces of the matzah ball in the thoracic cavity. The owner elected euthanasia.