Esophageal stricture - please someone tell me it will be ok??

[Angelgirl]

Under the general term megaesophagus. My baby boy Bob was diagnosed with megaesophagus today and I'm a mess. I had a suspicion that that was his issue, but wasn't prepared for hearing he was almost positive it is a stricture. The way he explained it was that they are all born with a ligament and it goes away as they get older, but Bob's didn't and it's like pinching off a garden hose. He regurgitates his raw food. But he's ok with water. He didn't think the barium test would work for Bob since they would have to get into sedation. Bulldogs don't tent to drink the barium and just lay there while they are x rayed. Our best bet would be an ultra sound. He gave us Cisapride to try for 2 weeks, but he wasn't hopeful that it would help. He see's a lot of Mega E dogs so I am really confident in his diagnosis, it's just that I don't know where to go from here?? I know lots of dogs that have Mega E and use a Bailey Chair successfully, but they won't help Bob.

Just hoping there is someone out there that has dealt with this before I drive myself crazy..

 

[linda4568]

Hello~ I have a bulldog that has this. Why are they doing the barium test? Is this to confirm that he does in fact have it. The xray should show a huge pocket that is not allowing his food to go to his tummy. This is the reason they suffer weight loss and they throw up their food. I know about the chair but I have never got one. I feed my dog every morning in his bowl holding it up in the air at an angle downward so the food falls to the crease of the bowl and then he scoopes it out with his tounge. The problem with the throat being narrow kinda of takes care of its self because when you feed them the way I do you only allow then to eat a little at a time. If they get to much they will turn blue on their tounge. But mine has managed to keep swallowing till he gets it down so then I cut back on the portion I pour into the bowl. When he gets done he coughs a little but it gets the food past the sak and into the tummy. You should do something to keep his head up after he eats to ensure his food goes down after eating. So what I do is continue to hold his bowl in the air and he keeps his head up and then hes good.

Hope this helps

 

[Davidh]

I have no experience with this, but what I have read is feed him from a raised bowl and you might even put his food on a step with his food and water bowl are on another step so his upper body is elevated to have gravity help. Also they said to feed several small meals throughout the day as this will help. So why won't the Bailey Chair work for your baby? Plus have you tried the step method of feeding and drinking? You may have already tried these things, but I'm just throwing out suggestions. I hope you can find what works best for your baby. Please keep us posted.

 

[Angelgirl]

[MENTION=1007]linda4568[/MENTION] I guess the barium test would give them a good view of his esophagus and where the stricture was, but he said we could do a "poor man's MRI" and do an ultra sound for around $500. I had to do a barium test when I was diagnosed with Crohn's ..I definitely wouldn't wish that test on my baby So I guess it's an ultra sound in a few weeks.

These are wonderful people that make Bailey chairs for dogs https://www.facebook.com/baileychairs4dogs
[MENTION=2071]Davidh[/MENTION] thanks so much for the reply also! His bowl is raised about a foot , the problem with a stricture isn't necessarily that the esophagus doesn't work, it's just constricted so the food doesn't get down there fast enough and it usually forms a pocket in the esophagus where the food sits and just slides right back out the mouth with no warning. I think that was why the vet didn't think a Bailey chair would work. When he swallows you can tell how exaggerated it is.

He isn't the typical malnourished looking MegaE dog either though he is skinny looking.The boy is heavy! Something must be getting in there.

 

[dolphin]

I've never ever heard of this before, I had no idea about this at all! Thank you so much for sharing. I sure hope Bob is ok!! Please let us know how the ultrasound goes. Hugs to Bob , Belly and you!

 

[Angelgirl]

Thanks [MENTION=6717]pdolphin27[/MENTION] When he started regurgitating , I started googling. The stricture can be fixed, but it's a very invasive and very expensive. We would have to travel out of state I believe and see a specialist. Dr. said as long as he's happy and relatively healthy we probably won't have to do the surgery. Asperation pneumonia is what get's them in trouble and I have to keep a close eye on him.

 

[Sherry]

I'm sure you're going to give him a very long happy life. Lot's of work and dr. appoints, but sooo worth it. You're such a good mum

 

[linda4568]

HMMMM... My doc just did a quick Xray and you could see the pocket clear as day. I'm sorry that's why I was a little confused. As for the chair, my doc asked me to just to try to feed him the way I described first because he felt all the other stuff my not be needed. He's very good about trying the least first to see if that fixes it before going on to the next. My bully has a very large pocket and does great now. He was throwing up alot till I changed his way of feeding and holding his bowl in the air for him to feed. It forces him to hold his head up to swallow instead of him having his head down to swallow. Hope this makes since.

 

[Angelgirl]

[MENTION=1007]linda4568[/MENTION] I thought he would do an x ray on Bob. I don't know if he was trying to save me money or what? I'll question that when I call back in 2 weeks. Right now he's regurgitating quite a lot. A friend that owns a pet store suggested I try liquefying his food since he does fine with water.

 

[wvlady1965]

I have never heard of this with dogs. I don't know if they are like humans in this case, but I had a stricture in my esophogus and had to have it stretched. I have to chew my food carefully. Has the vet said anything of this that may be possible for your bully?

 

[Angelgirl]

[MENTION=8473]wvlady1965[/MENTION] my boss was just telling me about a friend that had this and they stretched it. Unfortunately I don't think they do this for dogs. This is a ligament that is restricting it and over time develops a pouch that the food sits in. He said the ligature would have to be removed.

I just want to make sure his life is as happy as I can make it. Right now he's just the happiest little 19 month old boy. He actually smiles when we come home and he does his little butt wiggle across the floor.

I'm hoping it never comes down to surgery for him.

 

[bullmama]

I'm so very sorry to hear about Bob

As I was reading the feeding suggestions I remember a thread on our sister site, they had issues with pneumonia but I thought it was interesting and maybe something to explore. She makes her bully meatballs. So I was thinking home cooked or ground raw could go down easier?

http://specialneedsbulldogs.com/showthread.php/87-Hello-everyone!


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Angelgirl]

Thanks Lisa I've read about the meatballs also. Google gets me in trouble... I'm going to try feeding him one at a time but I'll probably be missing some fingers. I get his raw fine ground so it's no trouble to roll it, just going to gross me out for awhile..

 

[wvlady1965]

I just hope the surgery can help your little loved one. It's always scary putting a bully under but then you have to weigh their value of life without it. I will pray all goes well with Bob.