06/24/2026
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What is Megaesophagus?
The esophagus loses its ability to actively transport food from the throat to the stomach.
The esophagus loses all tone and enlarges or dilates, creating an air-filled esophagus called megaesophagus.
Patients with megaesophagus regurgitates their food since the esophagus can not actively transport the food to the stomach. Instead, food rolls down the esophagus with the help of gravity.
Megaesophagus can be congenital (born with it) or acquired during adulthood. Breeds that are genetically predisposed include Great Danes, Irish Setters, Newfoundlands, German Shepherds, Shar Peis and Labrador Retrievers.
Treatment of megaesophagus includes food consistency and vertical feeding to help reduce regurgitation. Each patient is different, some do well with a solid diet while others do better with a liquid diet. Experimenting with different food consistencies can become challenging for some pet parents.
Vertical feeding can be accomplished in different ways. For small breeds, a front-pack baby carrier often works well. Bailey Chairs for medium to large dogs create a safe space for both vertical feeding and confinement.
Veterinarians may prescribe medications that target different aspects of managing the patients’ condition in order to keep them as comfortable as possible.
The photos below are taken from veterinarypartner.com. The first one shows a normal esophagus while the second photo shows a megaesophagus.
Megaesophagus in Dogs - Veterinary Partner - VIN
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951482&sx=318524617&n=1
