Homer being sick

[JES72]

Megaesophagus in Dogs

Do you know the difference between vomiting and regurgitation? If your pet has megaesophagus you probably know all too well. Read about the latest in treatment and testing (and see a graphic interactive demonstration).

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I could adjust the top step at an angle and some way of holding his bowl. A lick mat would help keep him occupied while keeping him upright.

 

[Atemas]

I could adjust the top step at an angle and some way of holding his bowl. A lick mat would help keep him occupied while keeping him upright.

Well done - you are thinking ‘outside of the box’ - there has to be solutions to him being able to eat more upright

 

[M.F.]

The step stool looks good. Or even feeding him on a staircase for now while you’re working out options. Put the bowl of food on the 3rd step and get him to put his front paws on the 2nd step?

 

[JES72]

I had a chat to a lady who has had some experience of mega oesophagus in puppies (its usually congenital)

She and I felt that getting a larger, older, strong willed, anxcious dog used to the Bailey Chair would be a challenge. We have come up with some ideas of how we could modify some sort of box that he walks into with his front paws on a raised step rather than him backing into the "chair". Also a lick mat after eating to keep him busy while waiting for the food to settle in his stomach.

It takes a village to take care of a dog like Homer. (It takes a village to raise a child)

 

[Lab_adore]

It really sounds like some good ideas. I hope poor Homer improves quickly . Maxx is incredibly strong willed too and if he doesn't want to do something he will dig his heels in completely. It's always better to go the more gentle route where possible

 

[MellowYellow]

Good for you for thinking on how best to find a solution that Homer can accept and use comfortably.

 

[JES72]

Good for you for thinking on how best to find a solution that Homer can accept and use comfortably.

We need to try it first. Stool arrives this evening.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Lilly has her dinna off a small stool and didn't bat an eyelid.
Only suggestion is ensure bowl is not going to slip off. That happened once and alarmes Lilly a bit (she got over it because....well....food....)

 

[JES72]

 

[JES72]

I am defeated. Homers steps arrived in pieces so I built them. Made his food. Got him to stand on the top step and held his bowl for him. He was eating quickly so I slowed him down by spoon feeding him with his feet up and his head reaching up to the spoon so a straight line of about 60 degrees from nose to stomach. I let him lick the spoon between spoonfuls. This gives him half an our in a as vertical as I can make it possible for him, slowing down so that the first lot of food can enter the stomach. Hold up the bowl for him to give a good lick so he’s upright for another few minutes. Well done Homer, well done me.
...
He promptly goes outside in the rain and pukes up all his dinner. All of the dinner I just spent over half an hour hand feeding him. So he puts his head down and eats it all up again. Well I just stood there letting him eat up his own vomit standing in the rain. It will just have to do because somehow that food needs to get into him and stay there.

 

[Parodius]

How frustrating for you both, so sorry the plan didn’t work as intended this time. Keeping everything crossed you have more success in subsequent attempts

 

[SwampDonkey]

Get some big syringes? I mean horse sized ones and slow him down that way? It's only your first go he'll get an understanding of it. Eating it back up won't hurt him and if it stays in his tummy it's a win. You're both new to this, both tired and been through so much. Don't loose heart, we're all here for you and Homer.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Feed in wobbler, puzzles, licky mats, several meals a day? Sounds like hard work, but may be worth a trial?

 

[Cath]

We had to slow down Annie when she was eating. I got her this and it works for her. Could you put this on his stool. Watch the video

https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Company-Animals-NGG-Interactive/dp/B009CKHXYU?th=1

 

[SwampDonkey]

It's not just slowing down. The dog has to be lower than the food delivery and the neck in a certain position. The food almost has to flow down the oesophagus into the tummy because Homer can't get it down and keep it down now. It's just finding the best position Homer.

 

[Beanwood]

I am defeated. Homers steps arrived in pieces so I built them. Made his food. Got him to stand on the top step and held his bowl for him. He was eating quickly so I slowed him down by spoon feeding him with his feet up and his head reaching up to the spoon so a straight line of about 60 degrees from nose to stomach. I let him lick the spoon between spoonfuls. This gives him half an our in a as vertical as I can make it possible for him, slowing down so that the first lot of food can enter the stomach. Hold up the bowl for him to give a good lick so he’s upright for another few minutes. Well done Homer, well done me.
...
He promptly goes outside in the rain and pukes up all his dinner. All of the dinner I just spent over half an hour hand feeding him. So he puts his head down and eats it all up again. Well I just stood there letting him eat up his own vomit standing in the rain. It will just have to do because somehow that food needs to get into him and stay there.

What happened next? Did he puke it up again? Is it regurgitation or full on vomit? Sorry just catching up. Casper has megaeososphagus he is in the later stages so a bugger to manage

 

[JES72]

It was more like vomit but seconds from finishing eating, and didn’t have any bile , just mucus. It stayed down.

He is still having reflux at 2am -4am. This is mostly when he brings up mucus or bile sometimes some bits of food. I’m getting in contact with the vet to see if medication needs adjusting. He brings up some or all his food once or twice a week.
But I don’t know how often or how much food gets stuck in his oesophagus or long it stays there. I presume if it stays down it’s eventually getting to his stomach.

I have a slow feeder and a lick at for him to help him slow down and stay upright for longer.

 

[Jacqui-S]

It was more like vomit but seconds from finishing eating, and didn’t have any bile , just mucus. It stayed down.

He is still having reflux at 2am -4am. This is mostly when he brings up mucus or bile sometimes some bits of food. I’m getting in contact with the vet to see if medication needs adjusting. He brings up some or all his food once or twice a week.
But I don’t know how often or how much food gets stuck in his oesophagus or long it stays there. I presume if it stays down it’s eventually getting to his stomach.

I have a slow feeder and a lick at for him to help him slow down and stay upright for longer.

Is he losing weight?

 

[JES72]

Is he losing weight?

Over the last three months he’s lost 3kg 33kg to 30kg. But he has had two tots of major surgery. I do find it hard make sure he gets down and keeps down the correct amount of food. 300g kibble and one tin of wet food. On a good day we get most of that down but can loose 10/30% of that.

 

[Lisa]

What an ordeal for you both. I’m sorry you are dealing with this. Does the failure at having the food stay down even when you kept him in the right position mean that will always be the case, or is it a matter of persevering and eventually the muscles will work better, like a retraining?