Doogie having problems keeping food down

Brenda and Daniel are the proud "parents" of Doogie.

Their 15-week-old mutt is full of spunk. Doogie is into everything, including the landscaping of their Modesto, Calif., home. Unfortunately, his landscaping ideas do not always jive with those of Daniel and Brenda's. Doogie is partial to open space with a preponderance of small craters. Doogie also seems to have eaten several plants.

Brenda and Daniel are concerned because Doogie has been vomiting within 30 minutes or so of eating. There were times the couple noted plant material in the pup's vomit.

The "vomiting" started around 9 weeks of age and was infrequent; now it seems to occur almost daily. Brenda and Daniel have already taken Doogie to the veterinarian, but their letter was sent before that visit.

I suspect Doogie's problem is congenital, meaning that he was born with it.

One thing I want to point out is that what we are calling vomiting in Doogie's case is more likely regurgitation. By definition, when this symptom occurs shortly after eating, it is termed regurgitation.

In Doogie's case, three possibilities come to mind.

The first is persistent right aortic arch, a blood vessel abnormality left over from the fetus stage. This vessel disappears once a puppy is born but if it does not, it can cause problems with the esophagus. The vessel loops over the top of the esophagus and can constrict the esophagus and block food from the stomach.

A set of radiographs of the chest area taken as the puppy is swallowing food that contains barium will illuminate this lesion. The barium makes the food visible on the radiograph, and if there is a persistent right aortic arch, an obvious stricture will be seen in the esophagus.

This condition can be corrected through surgery; if left untreated for too long, the esophagus can become permanently dilated and therefore not function normally in moving food down its length into the stomach.

A second possibility is megaesophagus, which involves an esophagus that is neurologically incompetent. It simply does not function properly and instead becomes dilated and flaccid. Food is swallowed and sits in the esophagus without passing into the stomach. There are degrees of severity associated with this disease. In these cases, liquefied food is required; also, an elevated bowl allows gravity to help move the food into the stomach. Generally, this disease carries a poor prognosis.

The third possibility is pyloric stenosis. This problem occurs because the area of outflow from the stomach into the small intestine, a muscular structure called the pylorus, is abnormally narrow and does not allow normal emptying of the stomach. Instead of going down the digestive tract, partially digested food comes up the other way. Of the three scenarios, this is the most likely. This condition is correctable with surgery.

I hope I am privy to the final outcome of Doogie's condition but, more important, I hope it is a good one. I will let you know if I hear anything.

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(Jeff Kahler is a veterinarian in Modesto, Calif. Questions can be submitted to Your Pet in care of LifeStyles, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352.)

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© 2008, The Modesto Bee (Modesto, Calif.).

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