Ryder is making a beautiful recovery from malnutrition, mange and massive skin and upper respiratory infections. He’s now been diagnosed with a condition called megaesophagus. His new feeding and medication protocols have already been implemented and he’s improving there too.
He’s gained a whopping 23 pounds in our care!
Megaesophagus in dogs is a disorder in which the esophagus gets larger in size and consequently loses its ability to transport food efficiently.
The mainstay of lifelong management is specialized feeding to minimize the potential for regurgitation. Food is typically fed from raised bowls. Some patients cope best with a ‘slurry’ type preparation of food, whereas others are better with more solid food, such as hand-moulded balls of tinned diet. Trial and error is the only way to determine what works best. For Ryder, feeding raised wet meals has worked well. Holding the patient upright after feeding is also indicated. A specially designed “Bailey Chair” that keeps the dog sitting upright for a while during and after eating is very helpful for some dogs.
The outlook for dogs with megaoesophagus is variable. Some do very well but others either continue to regurgitate despite treatment or succumb to pneumonia. The outlook is, unfortunately, unpredictable.
Ryder is a Great Dane or Weim type pup of maybe 8 months old, who was found in shocking condition. We expect him to mature at 80-100 pounds or more. He’s friendly to people and other dogs, crate trained, good in the car, on leash, at the vet and on walks. He’s going to need a very committed adopter.
Making a difference one animal at a time.
