A Mega Mission for Canine Megaesophagus Awareness Week

July 19th-25th is Megaesophagus Awareness Week and Oakland Veterinary Referral Services is on a mission to raise understanding about this condition. Keep reading to help us achieve our goal and learn about canine megaesophagus.

Mega What? Understanding Canine Megaesophagus

The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth into the stomach. It is made up of muscle tissue. Normally the muscle of the esophagus helps to ease food and water into the stomach and prevent it from going the wrong way.

In dogs with megaesophagus, the muscle of the esophagus does not do its job. Food and water sit and often never quite make it into the stomach.

Canine megaesophagus can have several underlying causes. The most common of these include:

• A genetic problem
• A condition called Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA)
• A neurological problem (Myasthenia Gravis, hypothyroidism, Addison’s disease)
• Idiopathic (a fancy way of saying “unknown”)

Signs of Megaesophagus

Canine megaesophagus can result in some serious consequences for the affected pet. Signs of a problem may include:

• Regurgitation (can be difficult to differentiate from vomiting)
• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hacking
• Bad breath

While megaesophagus can lead to some serious problems resulting from the inability of the body to obtain nutrients efficiently, there is another big concern: aspiration pneumonia.

When food and water pool or head the wrong way up the esophagus, there is a chance that the ingesta can accidentally get into the pet’s airway. When this happens, the foreign material can result in a condition called aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia can result in a very sick dog and is one of the most serious complications of canine megaesophagus.

What We Can Do

Pets who suffer from megaesophagus have challenges, but many can live relatively normal, full lives with a little help.

If there is an underlying condition that can be treated, such as a PRAA or Myasthenia Gravis, it should be treated.

In many situations, however, megaesophagus must be managed rather than treated. In these situations, it is important to help the esophagus do its job as best we can. This can be accomplished through:

• Feeding small, frequent meals
• Finding a food consistency that works best for your individual pet
• Feeding the pet vertically to use gravity to your advantage (many dogs do well with a Bailey chair)
• The use of medication to help empty the stomach and minimize reflux

When canine megaesophagus is first diagnosed, many pet owners are quick to consider euthanasia. In many situations, however, that is simply not necessary and there are alternatives. With a little bit of effort and a lot of awareness, many pets with megaesophagus can go on to live many quality years.

We hope that Megaesophagus Awareness Week will be successful in educating more pet owners that megaesophagus is not a death sentence and can be successfully managed.