Bad day .. my puppy has MegaE

[FrankieC]

Kira regurgitated food this morning and shortly after began breathing heavy and drooling uncontrollably. Apparently aspirating. I rushed her to see the vet and the barium test confirmed she has megaesophgeus. She was treated with antibiotics and we will be picking her up shortly.

This feels like a nightmare I can't wake up from. She was just perfect this morning.

[FlyAway]

I'm sorry to hear that, but it's not the end of the world. Here is something that might help you.

Megaesophagus & The Bailey Chair Pet Project

[Bear GSD]

Oh no!! I'm so sorry, I hope that everything will be alright with Kira. I'll send you and her some healing thoughts and prayers!

[gagsd]

Mega-E can be really hard to deal with.... but it is not a death sentence. Several people on here have experience with Mega-E dogs and can tell you what works for them.
Upright feeding is the biggy.
There is also a super Yahoo group.

[Castlemaid]

I'm sorry, I hope it is a mild case. Sometimes the symptoms go away and the pup grows up normal and healthy.

I would contact your the breeder and let them know, and I hope they will not pair up the parents again if they have produced Mega-E.

[jaggirl47]

I am sorry to hear this. I lost one to mega e in August.

Mega e is able to be dealt with. It does take a schedule, alot of care, and a strict regimen.

Did the vet say how severe it was? Is it secondary to PRAA or is it congenital? Can your pup hold down any water? The Mega E Yahoo support gorup is fantastic and they helped me every step of the way.

There are different severities of mega e. The most important thing is learning how to deal with it. One of the best ways I found to feed mine was I blended his dry dog foor with equal parts of water plus an extra 1/2 cup of water. He was fed 4 times a day. It is usually best to build a baily chair for feeding. Until then, you can feed the pup on your lap completely upright (think begging position with dog sitting on bottom, paws in the air). Keep the pup upright like that for a minimum of 20 minutes to help the food move to the stomach. The gravity helps to push it down.

Talk to your vet and get a prescription for carafate. It helps to coat the esophagus and lessens the chance of esophagitis. Food can be given 1 hour after or 2 hours before. You also want to get the pup on Zantac or Prilosec. This will help lessen the amount of stomach acid. Also, talk with the vet to see if you can get a script of cerenia and learn how to do the injections at home. If the pup has a bad day this helps with vomiting.

Most recommend a procollor. It is a really big, fluffy pillow that goes completely around the neck. It keeps the pups airway raised and lessens the risk of inhalation pneumonia.

It is extremely overwhelming at first but there are plenty that have gone through it and can help you. Talk to your breeder and take it one day at a time.

[FrankieC]

Thank you all for your kind wishes support and advice. I just got her home and will try to get back with an update when I get her settled.

-Frank

[MaggieRoseLee]

I'm on dog #2 with mega and,with management (depending on how badly your dog is affected ) they may live long and healthy lives! My one dog lived over 10 years and I expect my GloryB to live even longer. Key is the age your dog shows signs, cause the pups with the worst outlook are sick when still nursing from their mom. Be aware there is a heart condition (vascular ring anomaly) that is a part of some mega that a fairly easy surgery can fix. But you need to have the surgery when they are young or pup may not make it.

Go to any of my YouTube videos and watch Glory run if you are being told this condition is a death sentence, most dogs live healthy normal lives, specially once you manage them to a year of age.

Make sure you tell your breeder! This is a genetic condition so they probably will not do a repeat breeding once they know. Just mail them a copy of the barium xrays for their records.

[Carriesue]

I'm so sorry Frank! I'm attached to little Kira so definitely keep us posted... And isn't this forum a wonderful thing with so much information and support!

I will keep positive thoughts that this will be a mild case and will go away as she gets older.

[furweed]

Hello,

I hope Kira is doing ok at home.

I have three MegaE GSDs and I train and compete with them in obedience, rally and agility. One of them has PRAA with the MegaE, she is my worst case. All of my guys are doing great.
One is 2 years old, one is 18 months old and the other is not quite 6 months old I love these guys very much.

I don't think I could take in and care for these very special GSDs if I did not work as a vet tech at a vet hosp that helps me with these guys

If you would like to email and talk please feel free to email off line.

Furweed