Megaesophagus

The following article was composed by Rachel Peeples.

Megaesophagus is a condition in which the esophagus becomes paralyzed or has inhibited motion.  This results in food building up in the esophagus since normal motility of the esophagus is required to move solid food into the stomach.  The built-up food has no place to go, and, thus, the dog experiences frequent regurgitation of this food.   This condition can affect all or part of the esophagus.  It has been associated with a variety of neuromuscular disorders like myasthenia gravis and also with hormonal conditions such as hypothyroidism.  There is also a congenital form (ie a puppy born with the problem) which is usually missed until the age the pup starts to eat solid food and an idiopathic form (ie no one knows what causes it). 

Most dogs affected with megaesophagus are at high risk for developing aspiration pneumonia from regurgitation of food and from difficulty swallowing the semi or completely liquid diet that they have to be fed.  Swimming with the high risk of swallowing water would put a dog with megaesophagus at an even higher risk of aspirating and subsequently developing pneumonia.

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