Sildenafil, the generic version of Viagra, could be the long-awaited remedy for dogs with a rare disorder called megaesophagus.
That’s according to new research conducted at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. It was published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research.
The condition involves an enlargement of the esophagus and a loss of the organ’s ability to move food to the stomach, which leaves food in the lower esophagus, according to WSU Insider. Dogs can then regurgitate their food and aspirate food into their lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia.
“The literature tells us that many dogs with the disease die from aspiration pneumonia or are humanely euthanized due to poor quality of life within eight months of diagnosis,” said Dr. Jillian Haines, a veterinarian at Washington State University who co-led the study.
Liquid sildenafil “was shown to relax the smooth muscle of the lower esophagus so it will open to let food pass to the stomach,” according to the university.
“It opens the lower esophageal sphincter for 20 minutes to an hour, which works really well for dogs because we only want that to open when they are eating,” said Haines.