How to Care for a Dog With Megaesophagus
You probably don't think much about swallowing your food, but the next time you're eating your lunch, consider how your esophagus moves your food along its way. Sometimes the es
How to Care for a Dog With Megaesophagus
You probably don't think much about swallowing your food, but the next time you're eating your lunch, consider how your esophagus moves your food along its way. Sometimes the esophagus doesn't work, meaning the food can't go anywhere and sits in the esophagus, a condition known as megaesophagus. There's no cure for this condition, but if your dog has megaesophagus, you can manage the condition with food, medicine and a bit of ingenuity.
A Dilated Esophagus
When the esophagus loses its muscle tone, it can't propel food to the stomach, a process referred to as peristalsis. The loss of muscle town causes the esophagus to enlarge, so food doesn't move when it reaches the esophagus. Any dog can develop this condition, however a few breeds -- Irish setter, German shepherd, Labrador retriever, Great Dane, Newfoundland, miniature schnauzer and Shar-Pei -- are more prone to it. A dog may be born with it or he may develop it as an adult.
Usually the cause is idiopathic, or unknown, though sometimes it may present as a result of another disease, such as hypoadrenocorticism, esophagitis and hypothyroidism. Symptoms almost always include regurgitation -- different from vomiting because the food never reaches the stomach -- and often, weight loss. Aspiration pneumonia is common in dogs with megaesophagus because it's easy for the food sitting in the esophagus to make its way into the lungs; it's a normal cause of death for dogs with megaesophagus.
Food for Megaesophagus
The type and consistency of food your dog eats can make a difference in how he deals with megaesophagus. He may tolerate a low-fat diet better in the beginning of treatment, since high-fat diets can prompt regurgitation. If cooking for your dog is important, an animal nutritionist should guide your choices, as certain foods, such as rice, may be difficult for a dog to tolerate.
In addition to playing with what your dog eats, you probably will have to experiment with its form. Some dogs do well on a liquid diet, while some are able to process canned food better. Others find success eating food of a consistency to form meatballs, and rarely, a dog will be fine on dry food. Trial and error will help you discover what your dog will tolerate best. Regardless of his food's form, one or two feedings a day won't work for him; a dog with megaesophagus should eat between three and six small meals a day.
Eating and Drinking Upright
Gravity is your friend when it comes to dealing with megaesophagus. A Bailey chair, which looks like an open-ended b