meet
AVERYAvery Jane
Name: Avery Jane
Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthday: unknown, she was found on the side of the road in 2005, possible 1-2 years old.
ME diagnosis date: May, 13, 2017, Mother's Day Eve... But we were at the emergency clinic until 4am.
Rainbow Bridge Date: June 8, 2018
With a heavy heart I write this post...
Our lovable pup, Avery Jane, crossed the rainbow bridge.
As some of you know, Avery had a condition called Megaesophagus (AKA Mega-E or ME), diagnosed May 13, 2017....which means basically her esophagus did not work, and she was highly susceptible to aspiration pneumonia.
Which meant she had to eat upright in a special chair. It also meant numerous vet visits, special diet food, daily pills, spoon-feeding 3-4 times a day, no treats or table food, trained dog-sitters, scooping up regurgitation, and throw-up 2-10 times a day 24/7, and eventually limited water intake.
This condition also led to her developing Myasthenia Gravis (MG), which caused the back leg to collapse. She had a neuromuscular disease that is rarely curable, and is progressive. We knew she would eventually succumb to the disease, but it was still heartbreaking none the less.
Avery was a sweet, lovable pup who was found on the side of the road 10 years ago who was heartworm+.
After a successful round of heartworm treatments she lived and loved for many years.
She had a rough start and a rough end, but I hope we provided as much good in the middle as possible.
Avery loved tennis balls and food about as much as I love Dr. Pepper, so I hope today she is chasing down all the tennis balls she can find on a full stomach without having to sit in her chair first.
♥
Special thanks go out to a few people who helped along the way:
- Dr. Dan Kirby at http://alamoheightspetclinic.com.
- David & Wendy Keller Gallardo for building Avery her chair.
- Elvira & Jen Wah for dog-sitting a special needs pup.
Support & Advice were greatly appreciated by these 2 groups:
As the universe would have it...June happens to be Megaesophagus Awareness Month.
All we ask is that you read this post and be educated on the condition in case the future calls on you. Megaesophagus In Dogs is a demanding condition.
If you are feeling like an over-achiever, here are some ways you can help:
- Canine Megaesophagus Website: http://caninemegaesophagusinfo.com
A non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization. EIN: 47-3892674
To Donate (tax deductible): http://caninemegaesophagusinfo.com/donate/
- You can help the UCB (Upright Canine Brigade) by purchasing your pet supplies from chewy. For every new referral, Chewy will give the UCB $20 when using this link: http://www.chewy.com/rp/3126
- When Shopping on Amazon, please use this link and Amazon Smile will give the UCB a donation!
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-3892674
- When buying a neck hug from Wagtail farms. Please select Upright Canine Brigade. (place UCB in the coupon code box) They will give the UCB a 10% donation and 5% off your order!
http://www.wagtailfarms.com/hahohu.html
- Benefit Wines. If you like wine and MegaE Animals, you will love visiting our Vineyard! For every bottle sold, Benefit Wines will give us $5!
http://www.Benefitwines.com/UCB
What is Canine Megaesophagus? Megaesophagus is an enlarged or stretched esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach). A normal esophagus moves food to the stomach with wave-like contractions called peristalsis. An ME dog's esophagus loses its muscle tone, becomes enlarged, and can develop pockets where food can become trapped. Since the esophagus does not function normally, food sits in the esophagus and doesn't make its way to the stomach. This can cause malnutrition and regurgitation of vast amounts of undigested materials. With upright feedings and nutritional modifications, an ME dog can live a normal life.
Rest In Peace Avery
