I wanted to give you an update on Gus, and thanks so much for caring about him., your good wishes are much appreciated.

I feel like we’ve turned a corner in some ways, even as I am acutely aware that megaesophagus is unpredictable and takes its own form and shape. I think one new stop – dropping some olive oil in his food has helped.

The food seems to be going down easily and staying down. Gus’s feces look strong and firm, another indication his digestion is working.

Maria and I hold him for 10 to 15 minutes, and we are serious about that. Gus loves sitting in laps, and his time with Maria especially looks like a healing meditation to me.

He eats his food one small chunk at a time, while standing on his hind legs and swallowing with his head up. He is a circus dog, he can do that easily. I think that has helped.

Dr. Fariello has prescribed two small doses of daily medication – an antacid before eating, and an anti-nausea pill before sleeping. I can’t say if those are helping or not.

Two other big changes: no more running freely in the pasture, we are sure some of the stuff he was eating out there is bad for megaesophagus, which is all about texture. Only soft, wet  foods get through the esophagus easily.

Dr. Fariello has requested that we give Gus some pumpkin mash from a can, and I gave him too much the other day, and he regurgitated his food  twice. I decreased the amount sharply,

I’ve also cut out all treats – Fate, Red and Gus, and nobody seems to be suffering. My bank account is pleased. Once in awhile, if Gus is sleeping or in his crate, I slip some rawhide to Fate or Red, and when those bags are used up, there will be no more.

This trial and error approach – in league with a good vet that I can talk to – works for us, and I think, for Gus. We generally stay offline and a way from amateur diagnosticians, it it too easy to lose focus.

The bottom line is good this week, I think. Gus’s care has changed our schedules and routines, but not radically. We spentd all together about one additional hour (between the two of us) taking care of Gus – holding him, preparing special foods, etc, administering medications.

In the last three days, he has regurgitated twice, both times within a few minutes of each other. Otherwise, no spit-ups at all.  In the past week, he’s has two additional episodes. That is very manageable for us, and I think for him.

And a drastic improvement. He looks and appears healthy, alert, affectionate and playful. Dr. Fariello says he is in great health.

Instead of running around outside eating junk, he is spending a lot of time sleeping on Lenore’s couch, Red dozing beneath him. That is nice for me too.

So far, there is no need for a custom-made feeding chair or special collar. If it stays the way it is, this would be a good outcome. If he grows out of the disease, which sometimes happens, that would be great. If it worsens, we will go back to square one and strategize again.

That’s where we are, if Gus worsens dramatically, or he shows any signs of suffering continuously, that would be something we will deal with directly.

For now, things have stabilized and Gus is doing well.