The esophagus is the muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach, helping to transport food through perist altic movements There are causes that affect this mobility and produce what is known as megaesophagus. In this article on our site we are going to give more details about this disease, characterized by the presence of regurgitation, as well as its causes and treatment, paying special attention to how to feed a dog with megaesophagus, since it is an essential aspect to improve the quality of life of the affected animal. If your dog regurgitates it could be suffering from megaesophagus, so this article interests you!
What is megaesophagus in dogs?
Megaesophagus consists of the pathological and generalized dilatation of the esophagus It occurs when there is a decrease in its motility (hypomotility); remember that the esophagus performs movements called perist altics that help the transit of food. Megaesophagus can be congenital or acquired In the first case it will affect puppies, generally when they start solid food. Acquired megaesophagus, on the other hand, can affect animals adults and has different causes, such as the presence of a foreign body or myasthenia (muscle weakness).
Symptoms of megaesophagus in dogs
The most characteristic symptom is regurgitation of food and/or liquids, which can aggravate the condition by causing aspiration pneumonia. The weight loss is another of the symptoms of megaesophagus in dogs, as are repeated attempts to swallow. The dog may regurgitate even several hours after ingestion. It is necessary to find the cause of the megaesophagus in order to treat it and, meanwhile, it is very important to know how to feed a dog with megaesophagus, since this disease makes swallowing difficult and, with regurgitation, complicates the correct nutrition of our dog.
Congenital megaesophagus in dogs
A puppy can suffer from congenital megaesophagus, that is, it will be born already suffering from this condition, of which we will be able to observe symptomatology during its first months of lifeThe esophagus cannot contract normally, its motility is reduced, so it does not fulfill the function of pushing the food bolus to the stomach. It is usually a fragment of the esophagus that suffers from this lack of activity and, above it, the rest of the esophagus dilates as if it were a balloon. One cause of congenital megaesophagus in dogs is the hereditary myopathies , genetic diseases in which there is a progressive degeneration of the muscles. Weakness is the main sign. From weaning we will see that the puppy tries to eat but soon gets discouraged, regurgitates and may also present respiratory symptoms if aspiration pneumonia occurs (fever, respiratory distress, cough). They can regurgitate small amounts of food that are eaten again and thus, repeating the process, the more liquid food ends up reaching the stomach. The puppy may have trouble taking in both solid and liquid food, or both. If we observe any of these signs, we should go to the veterinarian, who will be in charge of prescribing the appropriate treatment, for which the way of offering food is very important. In the following sections we will see how to feed a dog with megaesophagus.
Causes of megaesophagus in dogs
Adult dogs can also suffer from acquired megaesophagus, which occurs when some cause (foreign body or myasthenia) affects the motility of the esophagus, so that this, without its characteristic movements, ends up dilating, which makes swallowing difficult and favors regurgitation. Depending on the cause of this mechanism, the veterinarian will establish the appropriate treatment, also paying attention to how to feed a dog with megaesophagus, as this is going to be an important pillar, as we will see in the next section, since it is essential to maintain the correct nutrition. In adult animals, aspiration pneumonia can also occur.
You should know that acquired megaesophagus in dogs is difficult to resolve because it is not easy to discover the cause that originates it. We have talked about foreign bodies and myasthenia, but megaesophagus could also be caused by neuropathy, esophagitis, Addison's disease, tumors, hypothyroidism, etc., and in many cases the cause is unknown (idiopathic megaesophagus). The megaesophagus that appears in adult dogs is irreversible, although some animals are capable of surviving for many years with proper care, being careful with their diet and paying attention to the early detection of possible respiratory complications.
Diagnosis and treatment of megaesophagus in dogs
If our dog presents symptoms like the one we have described, we must take him to the vet. Megaesophagus can be diagnosed with a plain x-ray or barium contrastThe presence of pneumonia can also be assessed. The treatment will depend on the cause that is originating it. Pneumonia, if present, is treated with antibiotics.
Puppies born with congenital megaesophagus can lead a normal life. In addition to the treatment prescribed by the veterinarian, at home we will have to take care of getting our dog to eat, since maintaining nutrition is essential. If we want to know how to feed a dog with megaesophagus, these are the guidelines to follow:
- We must know that the degree of dilation of the esophagus does not determine the severity of the condition and there will be dogs with difficulties in digesting solid food, while others will not be able to consume liquid food. We have to test which texture isbest for our dog.
- Both the feeder and the drinker must be placed high up, since by keeping the esophagus as stretched as possible, it is possible to take advantage of the force of gravity when it comes to lowering the food from the oral cavity to the digestive system.
- After eating, it is recommended that the dog maintain the vertical posture for about 15-30 minutes to ensure that the food reaches the stomach. For this, the use of a chair for dogs with megaesophagus is recommended.
- It is a good idea to distribute the daily ration in several feedings, 3-4, so that the dog consumes small amounts more times a day.
- Regarding the type of food for a dog with megaesophagus, as we said, you can follow a normal diet, but paying attention to the texture to offer the one that is best tolerated.
