Dysphagia as the primary clinical abnormality in two dogs with inflammatory myopathy.

Two adult Boxers were evaluated because of chronic dysphagia of several years' duration. Serum creatine kinase activity was high in both dogs, but other hematologic or serum biochemical abnormalities were not detected. Esophagraphy revealed abnormalities of the cricopharyngeal phase of swallowing in both dogs, and electromyography of the pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles revealed complex repetitive discharges, positive sharp waves, and fibrillation potentials characteristic of primary myopathy or neuropathy.