Surgery for puppy safe age

[Bellearell]

This gorgeous hunk of love is Leo, 18 weeks and just over 25 pounds. I got him at 9 weeks and have been digestion issues from the beginning. Basically he vomits or heaves until he just crashes. He’s been to ER a multitude of times and hospitalized twice. The first time diagnosed with food bloat and in respiratory distress. He’s had every test done imaginable including an ultra sound all with normal results except for the US showed a slightly dialated Common Bile duct. I lowered his food amount and increase frequency. That helped a lot. We went several weeks without episodes until a week ago. He ate breakfast and was fine then suddenly started to heave and crashed. His vet seems to think the issue is his elongated pallet. Certainly he has signs of compromised airway given he’s already snoring! She seems to think these episodes are related to the soft pallet suddenly blocking the airway and is proposing surgery. My first concern is his age of 4 1/2 months and including it’ll most likely grow back. Anyone have experience with the pallet causing these issues?
Other than this, he is absolutely PERFECT in every way!

 

[handsomedan]

Poor guy! I'm so sorry your going through this! Any chance he has mega esophagus?

 

[oscarmayer]

Absolutely! We have seen it many times in all ages of Bulldogs. See a specialist that is VERY familiar with Bulldogs and Bulldog intubation. Before surgery I recommend he be evaluated for hypoplastic trachea.
Until corrective surgery can be done, please feed him from a slow feed bowl or a wide flat baking sheet(messy but effective) so that he cannot gulp his food.

 

[Bellearell]

Absolutely! We have seen it many times in all ages of Bulldogs. See a specialist that is VERY familiar with Bulldogs and Bulldog intubation. Before surgery I recommend he be evaluated for hypoplastic trachea.
Until corrective surgery can be done, please feed him from a slow feed bowl or a wide flat baking sheet(messy but effective) so that he cannot gulp his foo

Absolutely! We have seen it many times in all ages of Bulldogs. See a specialist that is VERY familiar with Bulldogs and Bulldog intubation. Before surgery I recommend he be evaluated for hypoplastic trachea.
Until corrective surgery can be done, please feed him from a slow feed bowl or a wide flat baking sheet(messy but effective) so that he cannot gulp his food.

Yes I was concerned over trachea, X-rays show normal. I’m unfamiliar with mega esophagus (will research). I tried the slow feed bowl but he can’t use it effectively, I can try the baking sheet. Have zero concerns with a mess. And yes he absolutely gulps his food. I’m feeding him Blue puppy 2-2 1/2 cups a day. I also mix baby rice cereal in it too. And for sure I need a very experienced vet for surgery, especially the anesthesia. I once had a female code on me on the way home from the vets post surgery. I literally shook the heck out of her then breathed straight into her nares, mouth closed. Had no idea of what I was doing, but it worked! I’m thinking mega esophagus would be an enlarged esophagus and would show up in X-rays? I’m gonna try this cookie sheet and spread his food out waaaay wide.

 

[Bellearell]

Yes I was concerned over trachea, X-rays show normal. I’m unfamiliar with mega esophagus (will research). I tried the slow feed bowl but he can’t use it effectively, I can try the baking sheet. Have zero concerns with a mess. And yes he absolutely gulps his food. I’m feeding him Blue puppy 2-2 1/2 cups a day. I also mix baby rice cereal in it too. And for sure I need a very experienced vet for surgery, especially the anesthesia. I once had a female code on me on the way home from the vets post surgery. I literally shook the heck out of her then breathed straight into her nares, mouth closed. Had no idea of what I was doing, but it worked! I’m thinking mega esophagus would be an enlarged esophagus and would show up in X-rays? I’m gonna try this cookie sheet and spread his food out waaaay wide.

Also I’m curious about surgery at his age? I’m super familiar with hypoplastic trachea…unfortunately. And I’m very familiar with pallet surgery but waaay unfamiliar with doing any surgical procedure at 4.5 months.

 

[Bellearell]

Yes I was concerned over trachea, X-rays show normal. I’m unfamiliar with mega esophagus (will research). I tried the slow feed bowl but he can’t use it effectively, I can try the baking sheet. Have zero concerns with a mess. And yes he absolutely gulps his food. I’m feeding him Blue puppy 2-2 1/2 cups a day. I also mix baby rice cereal in it too. And for sure I need a very experienced vet for surgery, especially the anesthesia. I once had a female code on me on the way home from the vets post surgery. I literally shook the heck out of her then breathed straight into her nares, mouth closed. Had no idea of what I was doing, but it worked! I’m thinking mega esophagus would be an enlarged esophagus and would show up in X-rays? I’m gonna try this cookie sheet and spread his food out waaaay wide.

Thank you for the cookie sheet advice. Slowed his intake down and was quite entertaining

 

[oscarmayer]

Thank you for the cookie sheet advice. Slowed his intake down and was quite entertaining

LOL...videos are always appreciated here!

 

[oscarmayer]

BTW, 2.5 cups seems like a lot for a 25# dog. You might want to dial that back a bit...no more than 2 cups, IMO. Especially if you are giving additional food.
Concerning Megaesophagus...
Mega E dogs never heave, heave, heave before puking...it just suddenly comes out without warning...regurgitating. Also, you will notice the "regurge" after activity, up and down stairs, play time, running, etc. The esophagus is kind of floppy like an empty(old school) hot water bottle and lacks the ability to move food down to the stomach. Our Mega E patient is MINI. She eats her food while standing on steps that I built with the bowl elevated about 16". Immediately after eating she goes in Mom's lap upright for 20 minutes. This allows gravity to do the job of a normal esophagus.

 

[2BullyMama]

Wishing you all the best… Chip totally has you covered, he knows, so follow his suggestions