Ellie has been rushed to the vets tonight and x-ray shows megaoesophagus and secondary aspiration pneumonia. Temp is 105...Ellie is very ill...

When I gave Ellie her supper tonight, the regurgitation was almost automatic, no heaving, just halfway down and straight back up.....she tried again, and the same thing happened, then she started to shy away from her food, raw lamb fed by hand.....I though she had just eaten too may treats...Ellie really is not food orientated (yes she is a Lab)But I had just spoken to friend by e-mail saying that Ellie was looking a bit on the thin side and I wasnt happy with her.....something wasnt right, but could not put my finger on it. There was no nausea, no visible signs of illness, nothing out of the ordinary except the weight loss.

It was when I was getting her groomed and brushed for her show tomorrow, kneeling in front of her, she placed her paws on my shoulders for a hug, I gave her a little hug and sqeeze and heard the most awful sound....the crackles and wheeze were coming from her thorax. At this point she literally collapsed in my arms

I stuck my fingers as far down her throat as I could, and found so much undigested food I came up with nearly 2 handfuls.....Straight on the phone to the vet!!!!!

She is now sedated and will not know anything until morning.....she is also soaking wet after being drenched in cold water to get her temp down...

My little girl has gone from tossing her duck (secret santa present) around the house, to deaths door within an hour.

I dont do tears. but I am sitting her howling, I just dont know what to do!!!!!

Does anyone have any experience on megaoesophagus and secondary aspiration pneumonia. Ellie is a 14month old Lab

OMG - Poor Ellie :(

I hope she recovers quickly - thinking of you.

:( Poor girl....hope she gets better soon, x

OMG! Will say a prayer or two for you both. {{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}

Kay I have no experience of this but just wanted to say that healing prayers being sent your way for Ellie and {{{{{hugs}}}}} for you aswell :(

KayC so sorry to hear about ellie , sorry don`t know anything about this illness but my thoughts are with you and hope she recovers soon .

hope she gets better soon,
sending healing thoughts to you too.

everything is also crossed
keep us posted

warm regards
Donna

Hi Kay really sorry to hear this, no I don`t know anything about it in dogs bbut my sister had it a few times :(

Done a quick google for you & heres some links

<a class='url' href='http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00133.htm'>http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00133.htm</a>
<a class='url' href='http://www.cvm.missouri.edu/neurology/Dysauton/DYSAUCVT.htm'>http://www.cvm.missouri.edu/neurology/Dysauton/DYSAUCVT.htm</a>
<a class='url' href='http://animalpetdoctor.homestead.com/Respiratory.html#anchor_12952'>http://animalpetdoctor.homestead.com/Respiratory.html#anchor_12952</a>

Really hope things turn round for her thru the night K, will be thinking of you & her

ps Kay the temp can come down, my young male as a pup had temp 105 for couple of days, it broke finally & he turned around, just believe Ellie can do it too

Christine, Spain.

OMG,how awful for you and her.
Loving wishes sent your way for her speedy recovery.

Jonelle

Kay,

Only just come on the forum and seen this :(  I'm praying hard for Ellie and you too - you'll be distraught I know.
At least you got things up and running pronto with your vet so pleased God that will be a major factor in her making a full and speedy recovery.

Thinking of you, and sending lots of hugs and healing thoughts your way.  
God Bless,

Teri xxx   

Keeping everything crossed for Ellie -have no experience I'm afraid.

Hope Ellie makes a speedy recovery......I'll be praying for her. xx

KayC, my thoughts are with you and Ellie.
She is young and strong, with you to care for her,
once she is over the worst.
All the best,
Karen

Thank you. your thoughts and prayers are what she needs right now....I know she is in the best place at the moment and I know she will pull through, she is my baby, but she is one tough little cookie

kay just logged on & saw your post, i am so sorry to hear ellie is so sick, sending my thougts out your way & pray ellie will be back home again soon...& yes she sure is in the bestest of places at present but dont stop us worrying
take care & sending ellie a huge hug xxxxxxxxxxxx
shirley

Oh Kay - how horrible for you - as you say, she is in the best place, and fingers crossed, she'll be be back with you soon.

{{hugs}}

Margot

Kay, I hope the news this am is a bit better for you ......thinking of you all

Mel

Hi Kay it must have been an awful long night for you, hope there`s good news about Ellie this morning

Many thanks everyone, had a really bad night. :(

Vet has phoned this morning. Ellie has had a 'comfortable' night.  They have managed to get a tube down into her stomach and has been given a liquid feed this morning.... Vet apparently did some more x-rays last night as 'something' showed up on the original x-ray but was more concerned about the original diagnosis.....It appears that Ellie also has a large tumour in her esophegus. He is not sure what the tumour is, but does say that it may be in such a delicate place that they will have to refer her for surgery.. vet will phone me later after doing a needle aspiration on the tumour to determine type.

Will be thinking of you both Kay, hope there`ll be positive news later

Sending positive thoughts to you this morning. Thinking of you :(

So sorry to hear that Kayc but at least now that gives a better reason why she has megaoesophagus and not the worrying hereditary reasons for it.

Working as a secretary in the ENT Department, of course my feelongs are with yoi at the moment.  (sorry butn ot changong my typo errors unfortunately one of my dogs went for a finger instead of a ball this morning!). 

I don't want to upset you and don't know whether the dogs anatomy is similar but these cancers (if it is cancer) of the oesophagus are much harder to deal with than other cancers.  I've also had a Rough Collie pts with oesophageal cancer.

I hope that the FNA gives a definitive answer to what kind of tumour it is.  Thinking of you

Diane

Your kind words make me feel a little better :)  It is so hard just waiting :(

Diane, you wont upset me, the vet has pretty much confirmed what you have said, I really just gave a general synopsis of conversation.. Vet has said that the risk of it being cancer is very high, the tumour is quite large and has also made things more difficult, it is not simply attached to the organ, but has twisted itself around making any operation very difficult, hence the referral to specialists...

Ellie has obviously had this tumour for quite a while, but because it has spread around the organs rather than ballooning it went undetected (as a lump).  And, although she has has the megaesophegus for a little while because of the tumour, the food has been sliding down into a pouch which has left her airway open, therefore no detection in breathing problems. The loving little squeeze I gave her last night is what nearly killed her....apparently the pressure on the ribs shoved the food in the pouch back up the easophegus and stopped her breathing, hence the collapse, shoving my hand down her throat and removing two handfuls of food opened the airway again, enough for her to breath...I literally choked her by cuddling her...(Just an hour earlier, she and Tia were playing tug with a duck (the stuffed fluffy kind)

I think what is really making me so upset and angry about all of this, is that I did not see it at all, and I should have.....My Megan, who I lost last June, was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis when she was 18 months, and I know that secondary MG can rear its head with this, and although I changed Megans diet AND the way she was fed, I watched her every single day for signs of MG and it never happened...I did all the research and knew what to watch for....and I missed ALL of this in Ellie....and yes I feel so guilty.

I brought Ellie into this life and somehow I feel I have let her down

Hi Kay,

Just catching up on events this morning - I'm so upset for you.  Don't feel guilty!  You haven't let this precious girl down and you've got lots of us out here praying for you both.  There are none of us super human - you're doing all that you can.

Bless you, luv Teri xxx

Having gone through a (thank goodness) nowhere near as serious episode last year with Tara and suffered mega-guilt for not spotting anything was wrong, I can sympathise deeply with you, Kay. However, you have always come over on here as being deeply dedicated to your dogs and I'm sure that you are the last person that would ever let your dogs down :) Life is a bitch sometimes, there is so little that we can do :(

Keep strong !

Daisy

so sorry kay to read your update this morning, please do not feel guilty over this, reading your post i can totally understand how you must be feeling & knowing ellie is in the best place at the moment is the best you can do for her, i really feel for you at this moment send you lots more of mega hugs from us all, & having all your friends on here must be of some comfort to you
keep strong & praying for a positive outcome for ellie
shirley
xxxxxx

Kay there is no way ever that you would let any of your dogs down. Ellie has had and will have the very best from you. More{{{{{ Hugs}}}}} and prayers coming yours and Ellie's way.

Kay,

I know coming on to CD will be the last thing on your mind at the moment but when you do come for a look, I just want to say I will keep my fingers crossed and positive thoughts for Ellie - she is young & fit which helps an awful lot.  Take care.

Christine

So sorry to hear your news, Kay, I trust and pray for a positive outcome.

Kay - you know you have all our thoughts and good wishes  - Ellie is a strong, healthy young dog with good stamina - I'm praying for a positive outcome.  Keep us posted when you can, love.

Margot

Ellie's in my thoughts and prayers - everyones willing her back to full health. Your vet sounds fantastic and Ellie appears to be in very good hands. Take care.

Hayley xx

Thinking of you and Ellie, everything crossed here for you.

Sandra

Kay

Only just caught up on this thread - so sorry for you :( Sending love and hugs as I don't know what else may help :(

Daisy

Sending more big {{{HUGS}}} to you & Ellie, Kay.......I'm praying so hard for this little one, and everythings crossed here xx

Vet just off phone. Ellie has cancer of the esophegus....they are not prepared to operate, and have referred to Royal Dick in Ediburgh... We will be going up there on Thursday morning....On the brighter side, she has had another liquidised feed and has kept in down...her temperature is dropping, so the AB's are working on the pneumonia and she is showing no outward signs of being in pain.....They are however, keeping her in until she goes to The Royal Dick....

Keeping up the prayers ;)  I'm so glad Ellie's taking nourishment and they'e helping her become stronger with her meds - God willing the great folks at the Vet hospital will help her through this Kay - they probably deal with similar cases regularly and will know exactly what to do for the best and although I know you'd rather she was with you at least she's getting the best medical attention they can provide for now.

Try and stay brave and strong - not easy I know.  Sending still more hugs to you and your precious Ellie.

lots & lots of love,  Teri xxx 

thinking of you and Ellie.  Every time I have had my dog at the Royal Dick they have been excellent and you can be confident that she really is in the right place with the best skills and most up to date knowledge.  Wishing you both positive outcomes at this difficult time.

thinking of you both,
but im no help what so ever,sorry

Just caught up with this post.

Oh Kay I'm so sorry to hear about Ellie she is in the best place she can be ...we are all praying for her recovery ....dont beat yourself up its not your fault you need to keep positive .

{{{{HUGS }}}}  from my Ellie to Your Ellie sloppy licks...

Roni

Sending positive thoughts your way, fingers and paws crossed here too

Kay stop beating yourself up about it.  by the sounds of it she has been well and happy previously.

Think of all the great things.  You are there for her and doing everything that you can for her.

Take care and I hope that all of your other dogs are well.

Thinking of you.

Diane

thinking of you at this time

hope things go ok a the vet hospitail

terri

Sorry to hear such dreadful news Kayc.  Praying that Ellie can make a good recovery from this.  Sending {{{hugs}}} to you and yours at this very difficuly time xxx

So sorry Kay, I am thinking of you and little Ellie.

Love Sheila.x

Not a good prognosis - but she is going to the best place where they deal with this sort of thing every day.    We're thinking of you all.

Lotsaluv
Margot

Kay,

I'm so sorry to hear about poor Ellie, I'm praying for a good and speedy recovery for her.

Denise  xxxxxxxx
             xxxx

So sorry to hear about Ellie :( We'll be keeping everything crossed here for a good recovery.

Jules

Kay I'm so sorry to hear about poor Ellie and I know you have and will continue to do your utmost for her.  I am thinking of you both at this time and hope things go well in Edinburgh.

Love
Andrea

Keeping everything crossed for Ellie and sending love and prayers.

Jonelle

So sorry about Ellie, Kaye, sending you lots of prayers and positive thoughts.  I hope things go well and she gets better soon.