Duodenogastric reflux in the dog, a clinicopathological study.

In an experimental group of dogs which included seven clinically healthy dogs and 34 dogs with symptoms of (upper) gastrointestinal disease, nine dogs had endoscopic signs of duodenogastric reflux and 13 dogs had a positive duodenogastric reflux test. Endoscopic examination and the reflux test were in agreement in seven dogs (dogs with duodenogastric reflux) but not in eight dogs (dogs with potential duodenogastric reflux). Examination of dogs with duodenogastric reflux showed bile stained gastric material; thick red rugal folds; petechia in the antral mucosa in three dogs; five dogs with histological signs of gastritis; four dogs with signs of enteritis; four with gastric acid hyposecretion and four with a delayed gastric emptying. Two dogs with potential duodenogastric reflux had endoscopic reflux gastritis; three dogs had histological gastritis and seven enteritis. The present study indicates that excessive duodenogastric reflux is likely to play a role in the pathogenesis of canine gastritis.