Pup with Megaesophagus--need info/advice

[lucymom]

Geez, I'm heartbroken. 4 months ago, I lost my heartdog to hemangio. I finally decided it was time to get a pup and two weeks ago, found my perfect baby girl. I spent 90 minutes with the very kind and patient breeder visiting the pups from two litters--lovely East German lines.

I ended up falling head over heels for a beautiful sable girl--her pics are in the pictures section. I am due to pick her up this Saturday, when she is 8 weeks old.

http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/ubb...rue#Post1052504


I was really not sure if I was ready or would be able to attach to another dog after Lucy, her loss has been devastating. This pup stole my heart like none of the others, I swear, I practically saw rainbows and heard music when I held her. Her breeder adores her, says she's very, very sweet and laid back. She was also the first pup to check out the agility tunnel.

The pup has not been gaining weight and has been throwing up. The breeder had her checked out and we found out today that she has ME. Apparently the vet said that it's not as bad, per the x-ray, as it can be, compared to x-rays of other pups who have had it.

I'm very grateful for her for getting the puppy checked and she now needs to find a home for the pup--who is now free--who can manage her needs. She will keep her if nobody can be found.

I am crushed--it's not like puppies are interchangeable, this was MY pup and for some reason, I'm very attached, even after just meeting her once.

I'm sure there are threads on this, I ran a couple of searches and did not find them.

Anybody out there deal with this? What is the life expectancy of the dog and how to you accomodate their special needs?

I would be willing to think about it if I can make an informed decision about whether I can manage it, but I don't want to set myself up for heartbreak either.

I will call my vet and have him call HER vet for more info, and fill me in. But I need to hear from folks who live with it....would you take the pup??

Thanks for any advice.

Jennifer

[DSudd]

Jennifer I dont have any experience with this, but I know of one member who does have a pup with it. I will PM you the info I have on her.

[BowWowMeow]

So sorry your little pup to be has MegaE!

I fostered a gsd puppy whose breeder turned him in to the vet to be pts b/c he had persistent right aortic arch. The vet did corrective surgery and gave Rio to the rescue I worked with. He had MegaE but it wasn't severe and he didn't need a corrective chair. I was able to make his food and puree it into a gruel like consistency and feed him on a milk crate. Then I kept him quiet for a while after he ate. I also fed him many more times a day (5). He did great.

When he was adopted they continued with the homemade food for a while and then switched him over to raw and he really thrived. I was told he would be very small b/c of the praa but he grew to be 80 pounds and was very healthy.

When he was 5 his adoptive mom had to leave home suddenly and she gave him back to the rescue. At that time they tried to feed him kibble (I tried to warn them!) and he was regurgitating. I recommended they switch him to a freeze-dried, add water and raw meat food and they did and he was adopted and is still doing great at age 8.

Darcy1 has fostered at least one puppy with MegaE and Lisa, who is rarely on here, has a dog with severe MegaE and she's done an amazing job with her!!!!!!!!!

[fourdogsrule]

Jennifer,
I know someone that has a dog with Mega E. I will contact her and give her your info. and maybe she can give you some info. and help.

[lucymom]

That is encouraging. I don't know if I can afford the raw diet, but I can be creative. The breeder is making her a slurry using goatsmilk, which she is loving. I bought a bag of Blue Buffalo large breed puppy kibble---can kibble be soaked and used in the food or would that not work. What was in the gruel you made?

I work full time and get home for lunch (most days) so feeding 5x a day would not be possible. Three--yes.

I want to make sure I can do right by the puppy--my heart says yes, but I want to know I can do it right.

I fear that as an ME dog ages, their hind ends may not be able to support them as they eat, or they might be hard to maneuver in to a chair. I'm trying to think ahead......

How about water....can they use a gerbil-type bottle that they have to stretch up to drink from??

And the milk crate--she'd stand with her front feet on it?

Hmmm...my head is spinning, but it seems like their may be possibilities.........

Jennifer

[gsdlove212]

Jennifer, I am so sorry to hear about this. Unfortunately the only experience I have with Mega E did not have a happy ending, but it was diagnosed much later in life...my mom's boy was 3 I think when he passed. I do know of some members on here who have dogs with Mega E, and they seem to be doing well...hopefully they chime in here. My biggest concern with this pup, is that she is already showing some strong symptoms (not gaining weight). Good luck with whatever you decide to do....my prayers are with you.

[HeidiW]

Sorry to hear your sad news, what is ME? she looks so sweet.

[BowWowMeow]

Rio actually just stood regularly on the floor and ate from the milk crate. In cases that are severe there is a special chair that you strap them into to eat and they can be trained to climb into the chair on their own.

I used a recipe from the Pitcairn book for puppies who needed to gain extra weight. It worked great. I think I initially fed him 5 times a day because he needed extra meals in order to put on more weight but once he started gaining weight I switched him to 3 meals.

Actually, I also dealt with another MegaE dog that someone was trying to rehome through the gsd rescue. He was about 5 and doing fine. His dad soaked his kibble and he was able to eat that. He didn't have to have a special chair or anything. His was also a mild case.

I know in more severe cases you have to be very careful of aspiration pneumonia. Lisa from this board uses a feeding tube for her dog.

[JerzeyGSD]

Originally Posted By: JenniferD I don't know if I can afford the raw diet, but I can be creative.

I can't say that I know anything about MegaE because, well, I don't, but raw can be affordable. I buy meat for $1/lb from the grocery store and I think that you could probably do a raw diet for whatever amount you're paying for Blue Buffalo. I just wanted to reassure you that, if raw would help your pup the most, it is DEFINITELY doable for a reasonable cost.

Good luck with your pup. I hope you can find a way to make her yours.

[BowWowMeow]

But it might have to be a raw diet with ground up bones and meat--more like the Primal and Bravo grinds. And that might not work for this pup.

I do get the Primal chicken grind for $16 for 10 pounds so that's pretty cheap.