Pumpkin's Page

Pumpkin's Page

Me at about 6 weeks Hi, my name is Pumpkin. I am a four year old Golden Retriever. I acquired my megaesophagus from vaccine induced distemper when I was about ten weeks old. When I was a pup with distemper my sister Pinky and I were quarantined for a month from our litter mates. It was during this month my sister and I had long bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. Pinky and I lost so much weight in spite of having all the dog and baby food we wanted plus special high protein food and special water with balanced electrolytes. As the distemper virus ran its course the diarrhea and vomiting slowed and my sister Pinky started to gain weight, my symptoms improved except for the vomiting. While Pinky was getting fatter and fatter I was getting skinnier and skinnier.
At this point, my veterinarians made me swallow barium mixed with baby food before taking an x-ray of my esophagus. This procedure confirmed their diagnoses that I had a megaesophagus. In the next few weeks I lost more and more weight and became dehydrated. At one point I had lost more than half my body weight, which is a lot for a puppy who should be gaining weight. All the old text book procedures were tried, liquid food, dry food, canned food, eating standing, eating sitting. I tried all kinds of medicines, even Reglan injections. I also had IV fluids. I was so hungry back then I would eat anything, dirt, grass, cardboard, plastic, paper, even Styrofoam. Things were not looking good for me when my human mom (who is an R.N.) decided to try feeding me through a tube.

I like to lick the inside of the food bag Consequently, I had a P.E.G. tube placed through my side into my stomach. The first thing I got through my tube was water, lots of water. Next was a special liquid dog food. Within days there was improvement, no more dehydration. Careful attention was given to make sure what was going in was also coming out. The next good news was I gained some weight for the first time in months. I was fed all kinds of special foods, mostly expensive liquid or canned foods to help me gain weight. In the end what worked best for me was having the same high quality dry dog food the other dogs in the family eat, soaked in water over night and mixed in the blender with water until it looks like a milk shake. I was fed as many a six times a day at first, until my stomach grew larger and could hold lots of food and water. Before long I was gaining ounces and then pounds, in a short time I had doubled my weight.
The P.E.G. tube was working fine, but I was still having some problems with reflux after I was fed. My veterinarians tried a few different medicines and found that Propulsid work best for me. I take the Propulsid about a half and hour or so before I'm fed, my veterinarians said the medicine helps my sphincter stay closed while I have a full stomach. The combination of the feeding tube and the Propulsid have reduced the number of times I have to regurgitate by about 98%. This in turn has helped my irritated esophagus heal and lessened my chances of having pneumonia. My only real problem is, I'm a dog, and dogs love to chew. I'm especially fond of sticks that fall off the trees in my back yard.

This is my second P.E.G. Tube In any case, the P.E.G. tube was working fine for several months when all of a sudden it fell out. There is a lot of wear and tear on a P.E.G. tube in a puppy. The P.E.G. tube has a large end inside the stomach and about six inches of tubing on the outside of the stomach. My tube was usually held against my side with an ace bandage. This allowed me to run and play with my litter mates. I had the first P.E.G. tube replaced with another just like the first one, while the humans in the family searched for something better. My "button" closed My "button" opened
Next, my human mom contact the representative from Bard Interventional Products at her people hospital about a low profile feeding tube people use. The rep sent us the technical information so we could take it to one of our veterinarians who has an endoscope. Shortly thereafter, I was the first puppy in my area with a Bard Button feeding device. My new "button" was a vast improvement from the old P.E.G. tube. Now my feeding tube fits flush against my skin, you can hardly see it. It is also much easier to keep clean and since it doesn't have a long tube attach all the time I do not have to wear an ace bandage or anything else for that matter.
My friend Casey helping with breakfast Even adults can feed me

In addition, " the button" allows me to be just like the other dogs in the family, except for the way I am fed. I have all my food and water through my "button". All my medicines are received via my "button", liquid medicines are very easy to use. My pills are crushed and put into a syringe with a little water and fed to me through my "button". So far I have use the "button" for about three and a half years.
Finally, my megaesophagus will never get better so I will have to be fed through a tube for the rest of my life. But, what a life, I get lots of attention all the time. I play and roughhouse with the other dogs in the family, I go for rides, I get in trouble just like everybody else. They even make me take a bath when I'm dirty. The only thing different about me is the way I'm fed.
Love, Pumpkin
E-mail Pumpkin

The family with me in front 02-05-99