Diagnosis and Treatment of Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a relatively common disorder and can be either congenital or acquired. The definition of dysphagia involves difficulties in swallowing but often used more broadly to describe problems with eating (i.e. prehension, mastication, swallowing and esophageal transport). Dysphagia can be the main problem or part of a multi-systemic condition that may be associated with muscular or neurological diseases. As a consequence, a horse with dysphagia has an inability but not the unwillingness to eat. More than 109 possible causes of dysphagia are recognised in horses. Therefore, a thorough clinical examination is a must, but sometimes it can be difficult to find the cause for dysphagia. […]