Attack of the MEGAESOPHAGUS

Pop Quiz:
What is Megaesophagus?

a. A long-necked dinosaur that lived during the Cretaceous period
b. A new R&B group made up of deep-voiced boy-band wannabes
c. A condition in which the esophagus muscles are enlarged & don't properly function

If you answered C, then you are correct!!

So... the next question... why does this matter?? Because my sweet baby Cricket has been diagnosed with the condition!! Basically, his esophagus is so large that it does not push the food down into his stomach. Instead, it stays in his esophagus and he eventually 'regurgitates' it. So yeah, we've been dealing with a dog that throws up ALL THE TIME. Fun times in the Robinson house. :)

Anyway, we will confirm the condition with X-rays some time this week. But until then, we have to feed Cricket soft food, watered down with about a cup of water. Then while he's eating, we have to hold him upright so 'gravity' pushes the food down into his stomach. THEN, for 30 minutes after he eats, we have to keep him upright. It looks something like this:






No, we're NOT feeding him at the table... this is after he eats. He's been doing better this week. He actually went all day yesterday (and so far today! fingers crossed!) without throwing up. I'm not really looking forward to the vet bill when we get the x-rays, and I'm still hoping his throwing up is something simpler (like doggie acid reflux??). I guess we'll see. I'll keep you posted.