Emma -
I have been following your trials and tribulations with Tatiana with fervent prayers and was so thrilled when it looked like she was in the clear. In a recent message, you said that Tatiana had thrown up about 6 hours after eating, and that sparked something in me. While he did not have diarrhea, my Jake started regurgitating a few hours after eating when he was about 3 months old. Two of his littermates did the same thing and were diagnosed with megaesophagus, which is an enlargement of the esophagus. The muscles along the esophagus cannot work the food (or sometimes water) down to the stomach, and the dog will regurgitate, often just saliva with a couple of bits of kibble. Is that what you mean by throwing up? Megaesophagus is difficult to diagnose on its own, with the dog usually having to undergo a number of tests to eliminate causes. However, if you specifically ask your vet to check for it, a barium x-ray is all that's required. If diagnosed, the two drugs of choice are cisapride and metaclopramide. Both drugs stimulate the muscles along the esophagus and should be given 20 or 30 minutes before the dog eats. The dog should sit after eating for 10 minutes or so, and no exercise - not even a walk - for an hour after eating. There are literally thousands of pages on the internet that discuss megaesophagus. Most pages say that an afflicted will most likely not survive past the age of two. Megaesophagus itself is not fatal but, if the dog inhales while it's regurgitating, it could get pneumonia which must be treated immediately. Let me stress: do not believe all the horror stories on the internet. It is often a case of hearing the worst case scenarios. Jake was diagnosed with megaesophagus at 6 months; he is now 21 months and going strong. It is definitely manageable. I hope this helps and please continue to keep us informed. Maureen Barry Montreal, Quebec (Canada) __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More http://faith.yahoo.com
