Emi's Heart Rescue - Dogs-MegaEsophagus

Dogs - Megaesophagus

MegaEsophagus happens in other animals as well as dogs.

It is a condition where the esophagus muscles just don't work and the food cannot move into the stomach and it ends up just sitting in the esophagus and the dog later regurgitates up undigested food because it's never made it to the stomach. Often these regurgitations include liquids because many dogs with megaesophagus also have a hard time with liquids. It can help to gel water or broth and make it into cubes in order to provide enough hydration.

We are very lucky that our Bubulah (Bubby) has a very mild case of megaesophagus and since we caught it when he was 5 weeks old and started treating it immediately by adjusted his feeding, and though it’s very rare we are hopeful that he will grow out of it. He has been in remission for quite a while and if he continues to stay in remission until he's 3 years old we may do another swallow barium swallow study to see if somehow he miraculously grew out of it.

In addition to making the gel cubes for hydration we adjusted Bubby’s dog food by turning it into a pasty mush which made it easier for him to swallow. We then held him upright for 30-40 minutes after eating so that gravity could assist in getting the food into the stomach.

There are actually dog highchairs called Bailey chairs which will keep a dog in an upright position. More info at https://canine-megaesophagus.com/bailey-chair-information/ and https://www.baileychairs4dogs.com/

We actually just placed Bubby in a trash can with pillows to hold him in place, increasing the size of the trash cans as he got bigger.

Fortunately, at this time with medications and his food being the right texture he has been able to eat with just a raised bowl and no longer needs to be held upright.

There is one type of megaesophagus which is called PRAA that is surgically repairable. More info can be found here:

https://canine-megaesophagus.com/what-is-persistent-right-aortic-arch-praa/more-about-praa/

Another problem with megaesophagus is that some dogs end up having complications from Aspiration Pneumonia (AP). When food/liquid is regurgitated some of it can end up in the lungs causing Aspiration Pneumonia. This website will help you know what to look for: https://canine-megaesophagus.com/aspiration-pneumonia-ap/

Another condition that goes along with megaesophagus is Masthenia-gravis. Here is a link to more information: https://vetspecialists.co.uk/fact-sheets-post/myasthenia-gravis-fact-sheet/

One of the best resources I've ever found for this is the “Upright Canine Brigade - Megaesophagus Awareness and Support” Facebook group and there's wonderful people there with wonderful information.

In Facebook search for: Megaesophagus Upright Brigade and it should be the top entry.