From Jennifer

This is Brewski. One of his favorite things is going for a car ride. He was diagnosed six months ago with megaesophagus and subsequently we learned he has myasthenia gravis. It was very up-and-down for the first four months and he had to be hospitalized several times. He had aspiration pneumonia twice, but he has bounced back beautifully. He takes pyridostigmine for the MG  and omeprazole before bed. About six weeks ago we added Leflunomide (an immune suppressant) to help control the MG. It really seems to be working! He eats meatballs we make from Hill’s prescription wet food in his Bailey chair, but if you didn’t know that you would never know there is anything different about him. Although these conditions can be very challenging, and I’ve always had  a special bond with him, the extra care has only made that stronger. He is the bestest boy!

From Julie

This is Tully; she’s a month shy of her 4th birthday. We adopted her from a rescue when she was a little over 7 months old. We noticed that she started regurgitating water occasionally back in December 2024. We were back and forth to two different vets and then finally (LIVS)Long Island Veterinary Specialists diagnosed her with ME on December 13th. She had a very mild case of AP at that time. On December 19th, I had our regular vet draw blood to check for MG, and we were lucky enough to get in with a specialist at LIVS the next day due to a cancellation. He spent over an hour and a half with us and said Tully had idiopathic ME and that she could live a good life, but it was up to us to be on top of her care. I asked about her possibly having MG, and he said based on her exam and spending all that time with her, he felt she didn’t have it. Then on January 10th, Tully’s bloodwork results came in. She did, in fact, have MG. Her specialist was actually happy because he said he could treat that. She had focal MG. Tully went into spontaneous remission 5 months later. She’s still doing great; she still eats upright, and she eats Knox Blox but will sip water on occasion. We keep a silicone bowl of frozen water in the freezer that she loves to lick on really hot days. She doesn’t take any medication, except on occasion she needs a Pepcid. Tully is still a funny, fun-loving girl who loves life and makes our lives so much better. We love her so much and are so grateful we were lucky enough to be the ones to adopt her.

From Julie

My pup was a humane society rescue, and they had no idea she had ME. I thought she was just “barfing” a lot due to the antibiotics she was on for a stomach parasite, and that she was skinny because she’s been dumped. Our vet was great – knew about ME and suspected it from the start, so she prescribed metoclopromide for motility, famotidine for acid reduction, thick-it in her water, and upright feeding. She eats soaked kibble and freshpet in her Bailey chair twice a day. She’s been rocking in the free world ever since – hardly ever regurgitates (like a couple times a year – same as any other dog) and if she has inflammation from it, we do sucralfate and she is back to normal in no time. She’s a lovely little pumpkin girl and I wouldn’t trade her for a “typical” dog for any amount of money. Once you find your new normal, you can’t imagine any other way.

From Ashley

From Karie

From Rebecca

Buck was dx with PRAA at 5 weeks old weighing 4.5 pounds. He had the surgery. He has mild ME. He is now 4 years 8 months old weighing 80 pounds. Buck eats ice chips for water. He is fed 2 times a day. His kibbles are soaked overnight in water in the refrigerator. It is puréed while adding warm water to a malt consistency.

From Dawn

Welcome. I got my girl, Zena, a German Shepherd, when she was 5 weeks and 6 days old. At 11 weeks old she was diagnosed with megaesophagus. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs. Good days bad days. She has to do things a little bit differently than other dogs, but she is 3 From DawnFrom Dawn old now. She’s the love of my life I don’t know what I would do without her. It’s not easy but the bond you have is worth every single minute.

From Caitlin

The first year, before we connected with Upright Canine, was rough- 3 bouts of AP. But he’s over 5 years old now and hasn’t had AP in over 4 years! No urgent vet trips in all that time- just regular appointments. He is a healthy weight- and our vet is thrilled. He touts Zyler as one of his proudest success stories. Zyler seems to be able to drink regular water in the last couple of years, which makes things easier. We still give it to him upright and in small amounts, and only as needed. Zyler has travelled with us across Canada, through the US (including Alaska), and Mexico in our RV, so he is living the good life.

From Claudia

Indy came into our rescue weighing only five pounds and suffering from severe complications related to megaesophagus. Many didn’t believe she would survive, but on 9/4/26-she will turn two years old—another amazing milestone for our little fighter.

Indy has had multiple surgeries, procedures, hospitalizations, and currently has a PEG tube for feeding and an esophageal tube in her neck for suctioning. These tubes have saved her life. Although we’ve faced many challenges, we work through them because Indy keeps fighting.

Her diagnosis, tubes, and daily care may seem overwhelming, and people sometimes question her quality of life. But to know Indy is to see that she doesn’t know anything is wrong. She is thriving, happy, loving, and the most rambunctious little girl who continues to defy the odds every day.

From Mary

This is Tito hrs 5.5 years old and is a Chiweenie. We adopted him when he was a little over a year old as he came to a rescue here in MN from South Dakota where he was found wandering the streets there. His foster Mom didnt notice anything wrong with him. We got him in May of 2022 and didnt notice anything was wrong until August of that year. He started to have a change in his bark and had fallen down our carpeting stairs and spotted when I took him outside to potty. Our vet had suspected MG and sent out a blood timer to check his levels. They of course came back off the charts. It took us some time to find the right meds and dosages that work for him but now we have him on a good regime. He doesn’t reguritate daily which is good and hes playful with his fur brother. He eats 2 meals a day in a bailey chair and takes his meds twice daily. AM and PM. He takes omprezole, pyridostigmine and reconcile. His kibble is soaked in warm water. Hes a great dog I wouldn’t change a thing. I truly believe these precious souls are given to us because we are able to care for them.

From Madelyn

This is Chance! He was born with ME. He was only four pounds at 8 weeks!!! I had him on reglan and Sildenafil but he doesn’t need it anymore. He just turned one and he’s doing fabulous!!! 💙🐾