Hi

We were just about to collect our new westie puppy up this Sunday from our Breeder, everything has been ready at home for our new arrival but unfortunately I received a phone call on Friday evening to tell me that the little pup had not been very well.  Our Breeder is on holiday at the moment and has a very good friend also a breeder looking after her litter.

She advised me that she had to take the little one to the vets and they had said that there was a possibility that he may have Megaoesophagus.  My breeder is back on Sat and she will be taking him to the vets so that he can have a xray to see if it is the above.  I was very sad to hear this news and of course I have been really worried about him all weekend since hearing this news.  I have called today just to check on how he was over the weekend and found out that hes only been sick on his morning food but manages to keep his lunch and dinner down.  He is putting on weight so maybe thats a good sign.

I have looked on the internet to find out all I can about this Megaoesophagus.   We have another westie we have purchased from the same breeder and she is very healthy.  My breeder has said that she wouldnt want to sell me a sick puppy who wasnt healty but I feel so sad about this little dog.

Does anyone know anything about this??? Do dogs lead normal lives with this??? Please help me with any advise i would really appreciate any help anyone could give me.  I really want to help this little one if I could but not having heard of this or not knowing what is ahead I do not know what to expect.

Please help

Suzie

http://www.berner.org/temp_pages/mega.htm

Hi suzie

We had one of our pups diagnosed last week with this condition.  Unfortunately whilst you will find lots of information on the condition there is not a great deal about how to live with it.  What we have found out is there is varying degrees.  Our one has only been sick about 3 times but he is very small.  He has gained weight and we are hopeful he is not a particularly bad case.  I have a friend who feeds his one ordinary dry food and another who feeds his on mush.  One is 6 years old the other 18 months.  The main risk appears to be pneumonia.  You have to train them to eat so the food is up high I place Snodlys on two phone directories so it is the correct height for the rest but he has to stand up to feed.  At the moment he is four weeks and doing quite well but long term who knows.

Karen

Hi Karen

Many thanks for replying to my message and thank you to the other poster who sent me the information on the lots of web address I could contact regarding this.

It does appear that the pneumonia seems to be the main risk as you say.....I have been told not to take this puppy if it is diagnoised with this problem.  But I doubt very much that the breeder would sell him to me anyway.

My breeder is back on Sat so I wont have any news on the situation until the little one has an xray and they can confirm then if this is his problem.

I will keep you posted.

Thanks again

Suzie

Well if it were me I would never take on a puppy with this condition........

I have just found out that the puppy seems to be eating and holding down dry food and the problem seemed to be the baby wet food that he brought up (which was only in the morning).

The person looking after him has watched him this week and he has been improving he is a bit smaller than his others in the litter but he is putting on weight and still full of life.  

Again I have to wait until a proper diganoise has been established until I can be sure that this is what he has got.

But maybe he had or has something else than this if he now seems to be eating dry food and keeping it down????? I no im only hoping but I will let you no.

Suzie

Suzie,

I can understand your situation but I would advice not buying the puppy. I think on reading about it , it would be best to find another one.

Pam