{"id":1299,"date":"2020-05-08T01:38:46","date_gmt":"2020-05-08T01:38:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/caninemegaesophagusinfo.com\/staging\/?page_id=1299"},"modified":"2020-05-08T03:31:57","modified_gmt":"2020-05-08T03:31:57","slug":"feeding-tubes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/caninemegaesophagusinfo.com\/index.php\/feeding-tubes\/","title":{"rendered":"Feeding Tubes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Could they save your dog’s life?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

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Marley\u2019s Story<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Author: Emma Jane Hughes (Cornwall, UK),\u00a0 December 2017<\/h6>\n

Pet parent of Marley | Newfoundland | 9yrs old | Idiopathic Megaesophagus \u2013 diagnosis April 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

I found myself scouring the pages of this site\u00a0to try and learn all I could about my beautiful Newfoundland\u2019s condition and how I could help him. It felt like we had tried everything and, although some things worked for a time, Marley\u2019s condition seemed to be spiraling in the wrong direction. I was terrified and at my wits end.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Every time the vet would mention a feeding tube I would become very upset and I felt like I had failed my boy in some way. I resisted the tube for a very long time, fearing I would be doing the wrong thing and feeling completely overwhelmed. My partner James had even said that, by the time we needed to consider a feeding tube, it might be the right time to consider saying goodbye. Following our vet\u2019s expert advice, we went ahead with the tube after much soul searching, stalling, \u2018pros and cons lists\u2019 and second opinions and, now, I couldn\u2019t be happier. I wish we had done it sooner! With his feeding tube, Marley is now bright, lively and back to his old self \u2013 something I never thought possible after months of illness. After he had recovered from the surgery it seemed like Marley\u2019s whole face had changed \u2013 his furrowed brow was gone and he had his twinkle back. It was the most amazing thing. It has of course been a tough road with many emotional and financial challenges and lots of hard work, but it finally now feels that we have turned things around for the better. Although every situation is different, I hope our positive experience can help other ME pet parents in some way. I have made 7 videos on Youtube<\/a>\u00a0to show you what we do each day (links below) but let me tell you more about our story\u2026[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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Background and issues leading to our decision<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”1311″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]In April 2017, after years of trying to find out what was wrong, Marley was diagnosed with Idiopathic Megaesophagus (ME). Marley loved to swim and his diagnosis came after he woke us up in the night struggling to breathe. We later found out that this was because he had aspirated \u2013 the salt seawater had irritated his esophagus from swimming and caused him to regurgitate all night. We were encouraged to visit a specialist vet 2hrs drive from home who soon confirmed a diagnosis of ME through X-Rays and an endoscope. I was devastated. Our local vet at the time had very limited experience with ME and, it was only through seeking the regular help of the specialist vet that diagnosed him, as well as the help of others on the amazing Facebook Canine Megaesophagus Support Group<\/a>, that we found the support we really needed.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]or a while feeding Marley 3 meals of meatballs \u2018posturally\u2019 from a height whilst he ate in a sitting position worked ok, followed by 30 mins sitting time after each meal. We found that this, combined with antacids (Omeprazole and Zantac), a \u2018Super Neck Hug\u2019 from Wag Tail Farms<\/a> worn all the time, thickened water using \u201cThickit\u201d, and regular doses of Sucralfate given 1hr before meds and meals, reduced his regurgitation. It took us a long while to get to this point with trial and error and a lot of vet visits to ask about advice I had sought from other ME pet parents. Gradually this feeding method became less effective and Marley\u2019s regurgitation worsened. We built a huge Bailey Chair for our giant 67kg boy and gradually trained him how to use it to get him more upright. Nervous at first due to Marley\u2019s age (8.5yrs old at the time), size and his arthritis, we persevered and Marley did relatively well in his chair. On 12th<\/sup> July (our wedding day!) my boy became really sick and we rushed him to the specialist. Marley had Aspiration Pneumonia (AP), a kidney infection and was severely dehydrated. After being hospitalized for a week, Marley came home but didn\u2019t want to eat regularly. It was a battle to get the lifesaving antibiotics down him and Marley would only eat minced meatballs and picnic sausages which aggravated his Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), making his regurgitation more frequent (up to 14 times a day) and gave him regular diarrhea. Every time Marley sat in his chair I was terrified that he wouldn\u2019t eat. He was loosing weight fast and was weak and tired.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]After 6 weeks of this, our specialist suggested that a feeding tube would be an option to give Marley \u201ca break\u201d, but I was adamant that I wanted another week to see if I could try harder to make things work\u2026 and then another! In this time, we slowly managed to wean Marley off the food that was aggravating his IBD and back on to his normal kibble meatballs. After a huge uphill battle, we finally felt like things were moving in a positive direction again.<\/p>\n

Everything changed the following week when we took Marley for an X-ray to make sure his AP had completely cleared. The X-ray confirmed this, however, to our astonishment, it revealed 13 meatballs stacked up in Marley\u2019s esophagus, one above the other, 3 hours after eating.\u00a0 I was devastated again, especially as Marley was perky that day and seemed quite happy. If Marley could withstand this, what else had he quietly endured? I knew it was time for the tube.<\/p>\n

Marley was still weak but coped with the surgery well. (I was a wreck of course after I had read and been advised about all the possible complications that could occur!) He had a temporary feeding tube fitted initially and later had a low profile PEG tube placed which we much prefer. Following surgery, Marley was at the specialists for a week whilst they checked his tube placement and gradually began introducing food and water through the tube.<\/p>\n

When we picked Marley up, much to our surprise, he raced around the grassy play area outside. I can\u2019t quite describe how much his face had changed. He was perky and had energy. His fur was smoother on his face and his ears relaxed. I was terrified again when I was shown his tube for the first time but this noticeable change had already made it worthwhile in my eyes. I instantly knew I had made the right decision for Marley and all I needed to do was get over my own anxiety about tube feeding. After several \u2018wobbly\u2019 weeks, and the helpful advice of another \u2018tuber\u2019 on the Facebook support group, I discovered that, in my experience, tube feeding is not the \u2018big deal\u2019 I had thought it might be and nothing went wrong with tube feeding overall despite my fears. The PEG tube port looks a bit like the toggle valve of a camping air mattress! The connecting tube from the body wall to the stomach is held in using a little doughnut shaped balloon filled with water \u2013 a bit like a \u2018butterfly back\u2019 on an ear piercing. It\u2019s a tidy piece of kit and it\u2019s very simple to use.<\/p>\n

Here is a video<\/a> showing how we prepare Marley\u2019s food and feed him using the feeding tube.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Initial feeding after the operation:<\/h6>\n

Marley needed to be fed in small meals 5 times a day after the operation to help his body get used to this new way of eating. After several weeks we reduced this to 4 meals and hope to reduce this again to 3 meals a day once Marley has regained a healthy weight. We feed Marley his regular kibble, ground in a Nutribullet, mixed with water. We grind Marley\u2019s medication (Omeprazole and painkillers for his arthritis) using a pestle and mortar and give this in his tube also. Marley has nothing by mouth except doses of liquid Sucralfate to help heal his esophagus when he needs it.<\/p>\n

Healing after surgery:<\/h6>\n

It is important that you clean and dry the tube area well each day to prevent infection (as directed by your vet). Marley\u2019s skin around the first temporary tube became infected but we treated this effectively using ointment and by ensuring the area was dry. Once the low profile PEG tube was fitted (to replace the temporary tube) the infection cleared up. I was worried about cleaning the tube site at first (I\u2019m not used to this kind of thing) but now it is second nature like cleaning your teeth or brushing your hair in the morning![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”1321″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”1322″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”1327″ img_size=”300×300″ alignment=”center”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Protecting the tube site and useful things you\u2019ll need:<\/strong><\/h6>\n