My senior dog has megaesophagus. Why did it suddenly appear?

Hello, I am so sorry Brandi has been struggling. Based on the information you provided, I suspect Brandi has megaesophagus which occurs secondary to neoplasia, myasthenia gravis, hypothyroidism or its idiopathic. Independent of the underlying cause, a permanently dilated esophagus carries a poor prognosis and often leads to pneumonia. Some medications such as metoclopramide, cerenia and sildenafil may be helpful. Additionally, you should research a Bailey’s chair which forces the pet to eat in an upright position to prevent choking. I hope this information helps.

With regurgitation secondary to megaesophagus dogs usually can’t keep any solid food down and continually regurgitate shortly after eating. I would guess that the episode is unrelated to hypothyroidism or the medications- although I’m not entirely sure why cimetidine was prescribed. It is also very rare for hypothyroidism to cause megaesophagus. The good news is that if megaesophagus does occur secondary to hypothyroidism supplementation with thyroid hormone should reverse the disease.

If your vet has not performed a chest x-ray looking for a condition called megaesophagus, this needs to be done immediately. You don't mention Sadie's age, but this can be a condition that's present from birth or one that is acquired later in life. I would recommend you seek a second opinion immediately, as these dogs are prone to developing aspiration pneumonia.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. From your description, it sounds as though Dee may have an oral tumor that may be extending into her esophagus with it's sausage shaped appearance. Unfortunately there is not much you can do at home apart from offering soft food or liquified food to make it easier for her to swallow. Once the vet opens up, I would get her seen right away so that you can get an answer on what this could be sooner rather than later. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi you are correct with Czar that his could be megaesophagus (ME) and less likely choking from something stuck in his throat. Choking would be a very acute and violent episode. ME is something that would continue to happen at most meals. There are some other medical reasons for Czar's clinical signs as well like a hiatal hernia (abnormal position of the stomach) and other defects he could have been born with. Regardless it is extremely important that he been seen by his veterinarian for a diagnosis. They can take an X-ray to look for ME, something stuck in the throat, or a congenital defect. Also, the doctor can get him on medication to help with the vomiting/regurgitation. Best of luck with Czar

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Rooney has been diagnosed with megaesophagus. This means that the esophagus is abnormally enlarged/dilated, and does not move food down toward the stomach appropriately. This can make dogs more prone to regurgitating their food or water, meaning the food or water falls from their mouth after eating/drinking. Dogs with megaesophagus are more likely to develop aspiration pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. The type of food is not as important as how you feed Rooney. It will be important to feed Rooney in an upright position, and offer him meatballs of wet dog food one at a time. There are specific dog feeding chairs, called Bailey chairs, that you can purchase online, that help dogs with megaesophagus eat upright. I hope this is helpful!

They can happen suddenly. Pets that have a weakened trachea will instantly start coughing. However most pets with this condition will start with symptoms in their early adult years and not when they are of senior age (<7 years) in most cases. In an older dog with sudden coughing we are suspicious of bronchitis, heart disease, neoplasia or infection. I hope that this helps. Best wishes and take care.