Beautiful Female Veterinarian Petting a Noble Golden Retriever Dog. Healthy Pet on a Check

Research & Innovation

Meet the Innovator

Teresa Lever, PhD, MS, CCC-SLP

Dr. Teresa Lever is an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Missouri (MU).

Dr. Lever is the inventor of FluoroKennel for contrast videofluoroscopy and developed the associated clinical methodology with her research collaborators.

Dr. Teresa Lever PhD inventor of FluoroKennel

Research Publications

“Videofluoroscopic swallow study features of lower esophageal sphincter achalasia-like syndrome in dog

“Standardization of a Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Protocol to Investigate Dysphagia in Dogs”

“Videofluoroscopic swallow study abnormalities identify aerodigestive disorders in dogs with respiratory disease versus healthy controls”

“A New Clinical Protocol for Contrast Videofluoroscopic Assessment of Dysphagia in Freely Behaving Dogs“

“Mechanical dilation, botulinum toxin A injection, and surgical myotomy with fundoplication for treatment of lower esophageal sphincter achalasia-like syndrome in dogs”

“A mutation in the Warburg syndrome gene, RAB3GAP1, causes a similar syndrome with polyneuropathy and neuronal vacuolation in Black Russian Terrier dogs”

“Videofluoroscopic swallow study abnormalities identify aerodigestive disorders in dogs with respiratory disease versus healthy controls”

The FluoroKennel Story

Current Procedural Issues

The current protocol involves physical restraint and atypical posture via sternal or lateral recumbency. The result is an assessment of atypical eating/drinking behaviors and increased radiation exposure to the animal handler(s). FluoroKennel is setting a new standard in veterinary aerodigestive medicine by overcoming these major challenges.

1. Uncomfortable for the patient, physical

restraint also exposes personnel to excess radiation.

2. Traditional procedures rely on unnatural force-feeding approaches.

A Testimonial From a Relieved Dog

Meet Max, a professional dog food taste tester. He was previously diagnosed with megaesophagus (based on X-ray films) and prescribed upright feeding in a Baily Chair.

Radiographic imaging using FluoroKennel showed that Max has NORMAL swallowing function during free feeding. He no longer requires upright feedings in a Baily Chair, and has successfully returned to being a professional taste tester.