Help Needed! Any info on Megaesopahgus?

[ddnene]

I've been meaning to ask you guys about this, been so crazy busy lately…

While I was out of town, Winston was staying w/my friend who happens to have been a vet tech for many, many years… She seems to think that Winston MAY have Megaesopahgus?!! (SP?!!). I looked it up online last night, and honestly I'm NOT sure… he does tend to gobble down his food, not as bad as when he was a puppy. He does act like he's going to vomit afterwards, but sometimes nothing comes up and at times a little bit of food comes up. Of course as most of you know I'm starting to look for a new vet, and then his impending Entropion surgery is coming up.

How do you know for sure if they have it? Is this something I should take him in for immediately? Does this affect his surgery coming up? Any advice, info would be very appreciated. I'm really stumped on this one…

 

[2BullyMama]

there was a recent thread about this... I'll search and post link when I find it.

 

[Petra]

Hope he's fine, I don't even know what it is just wanted to show some support

 

[ddnene]

Thank you both… I'm overwhelmed right NOW!!! [MENTION=2894]2BullyMama[/MENTION] [MENTION=7710]Petra[/MENTION]

 

[bullmama]

The eating behavior you are describing sounds very bulldog, so I wouldn't get too worried. Maybe trying a slow feed device to see if that helps. He's probably swallowing a lot of air when he eats.


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[ddnene]

The eating behavior you are describing sounds very bulldog, so I wouldn't get too worried. Maybe trying a slow feed device to see if that helps. He's probably swallowing a lot of air when he eats.


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That's what I am thinking… Thank you Lisa for putting my mind at ease. I will try one of those feeding ball things, honestly my nerves can't take anymore!!! LOL

 

[Libra926]

During one of Vegas many ER trips for epilepsy.....they decided to diagnose him with Megaesophagus. Vegas had a grandmal seizure and aspirated. He developed pneumonia also. This involved a very sick puppy and lots of coughing and throwing up. Once the word "megaesophagus" was written into the paperwork.....that ended VPI's thoughts on covering him for insurance. They were in the process of deciding to cover him (other than anything epilepsy related) but this diagnosis put an end to it.

He's not had any problems since then. Be careful (unless you are already covered) with this. I think it's a term that is loosely thrown around.

 

[Petra]

Thank you both… I'm overwhelmed right NOW!!! @2BullyMama @Petra

Aww, shame I'm sure everything will be alright It's just hard when it feels everything happens at once. We're here for you

 

[brutus77]

Interesting. I'm not sure really what it is. Brutus does the same kind of behavior that you are describing with Winston. He will eat fast and then sometimes he will act like he may throw up but usually winds up just giving a really loud burp. Sometimes a few pieces of food will come up, but I have also noticed that some food gets stuck in the abyss of his jowls and he "coughs them out". I think vets, just like some pediatricians are quick to diagnose with these "ailments" that are hard to understand so they can charge for services or meds. Brutus is not suffering from any ill effects from this and Winston doesn't look like he is either so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[2BullyMama]

@ddene -- I found two threads that might help shed some light, but I agree with Lisa, try the slow feed ball or bowl and maybe add a little water to make his lap the food instead of gooble

http://www.englishbulldognews.com/forums/showthread.php?32335-Rx-i-d-food-Hernia-Mega-esophagus-Food-intolerances&highlight=mega


http://www.englishbulldognews.com/f...-experience-with-Megaesophagus&highlight=mega

 

[Marine91]

Here is a description of Megaesophagus.

Megaesophagus is a condition in humans, cats and dogs where peristalsis fails to occur properly and the esophagus is enlarged. Normally, when the animal's esophagus is functioning properly, it acts as a muscle and pushes the food down the esophagus into the stomach. However, when an animal has megaesophagus, the esophagus stays enlarged and does not push the food down to the stomach. Therefore, the food fails to enter the stomach and often stays in the esophagus, and is eventually regurgitated, or enters the lungs through breathing, or decays in the esophagus.
In human pathology a condition known as achalasia may predispose a person to slowly develop megaesophagus. Achalasia is due to the loss of ganglion cells of the myenteric plexus. It occurs mostly in middle aged adults. There is a marked lack of contraction within the muscles involved in peristalsis with a constant contraction of the lower esophageal sphincter. Dilation of the esophagus results in difficulty swallowing. Retention of food bolus is also noted. Chagas disease is one cause of megaesophagus in humans. Achalasia also predisposes to esophageal carcinoma.
Megaesophagus can also be a symptom of another disease in dogs called myasthenia gravis. Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disease where the primary symptom is weakness in various body parts of the dog. However, when myasthenia gravis occurs in older dogs it is thought of as an immune-mediated disease. Often when myasthenia gravis is diagnosed in older dogs the first symptom the dog may manifest is megaesophagus.
Myasthenia gravis occurs when acetylcholine receptors (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors or AChRs) fail to function properly. Due to the inability of the nerve receptors to function appropriately, the muscles fail to have a stimulus that causes them to contract.
An important distinction in recognizing megaesophagus is the difference between when a dog regurgitates or vomits. Regurgitating is a common symptom of megaesophagus while vomiting is not necessarily associated with megaesophagus. When a dog regurgitates there is usually not as much effort involved as when a dog vomits. Often when regurgitating, the dog will tip its head down and the liquid and/or food will almost appear to "spill out" of its throat.
One of the primary dangers to a dog with megaesophagus is aspiration pneumonia. Because the food stays lodged in the throat, it can often be inhaled into the lungs causing aspiration pneumonia. One way to avoid this is to make sure that every time the dog eats or drinks anything, that the dog sits for at least 10 minutes afterwards or is held in a sitting up or begging position. This requires that all food and liquid intake be closely monitored and specifically administered to the dog in regular intervals (sometimes as often as 2–3 hours) in smaller quantities. Obviously, if smaller quantities of food and water are administered, one needs to take the necessary precaution to ensure the dog has a sufficient caloric and water intake. According to many specialists, this disorder has a guarded prognosis, however, since 2004 many owners have found a number of successful management techniques, one of which is vertical feeding (see "Bailey Chair megaesophagus").

 

[Opie CHL]

Tracey you are going through too much right now. you don't need this on your plate now! lets go with normal bully behavior.

 

[Lisa Marie Mayer]

My Boston may have this. We do know for sure he has reflux which can enhance the symptoms. I use the word may because our vet told us they could do further testing to confirm but once we got that confirmation there was nothing medically they could do to fix this outside of altering habits/food etc. I decided not to put him through that and have made adjustments based on the fact he might have it that have relived the issue and given him a much easier go of it. We give him meds to help with the reflux. We elevate his dish so gulping is less. We have just recently added a moist food to his fromms and may eventually move to all moist. The homeopath at our pet store thinks a moist food digests easier which limits the amount of "sludge" to regurgitate. Kibble hangs out longer in the belly so it has a greater chance of making its way back up. We are about 2 months incident free.

I hope your bully is just fine.

Peace Lisa

 

[ddnene]

My Boston may have this. We do know for sure he has reflux which can enhance the symptoms. I use the word may because our vet told us they could do further testing to confirm but once we got that confirmation there was nothing medically they could do to fix this outside of altering habits/food etc. I decided not to put him through that and have made adjustments based on the fact he might have it that have relived the issue and given him a much easier go of it. We give him meds to help with the reflux. We elevate his dish so gulping is less. We have just recently added a moist food to his fromms and may eventually move to all moist. The homeopath at our pet store thinks a moist food digests easier which limits the amount of "sludge" to regurgitate. Kibble hangs out longer in the belly so it has a greater chance of making its way back up. We are about 2 months incident free.

I hope your bully is just fine.

Peace Lisa

Thank you so much for your info… I hope that your Boston is doing okay!!!

 

[ddnene]

As always, Thanks so much for your advice & insight… after talking to the eye specialist today I mentioned to her about the Megaesopahgus. She said to me that she highly doubts it because he doesn't seem to have trouble gaining weight!!! I had to admit, that was a valid point!!! LOL I'm going to water his food down until I get a slow feeder, or one of those balls.