Gus eats bugs now, he loves ladybugs and flies if he can catch them.

Positive news on the nutrition/megaesophagus front, I’m making some real headway on eliminating Gus’s chronic diarrhea and much of his vomiting and regurgitation.

I’ve changed (for the fifth time) and simplified his diet, reducing the mix of medications and foods. We’re now down to Pro Plan turkey/sweet potato mixed with Royal Canin’s high calorie recovery food for veterinarians. And I’m stopping the recovery food tomorrow.

Also,I’m adding a tablespoon of raw pumpkin for fiber and two tablespoons of plain yoghurt for liquidity and smooth passage down the esophagus.

I’ve stopped the anti-acid medications and the motility medication, and stopped the EN gastroentric wet food.

Gus’s diarrhea is completely gone, he’s had it on and off for months. Some days he regurgitates some of his food, most days  there is no vomiting of food or spitting ups in any significant amount. His stools are now solid and healthy. That is important, because the killing thing about megaesophagus is that the food doesn’t make it down to the digestive tract, the dog sicks, gets malnutrition, weakens and dies.

The stools – it is hard for me to believe how much time I spend consider vomit, stools, diarrhea and spit-up – tell us the food is getting through. Gus’s astonishing energy level tells us the same thing.

That is one of the shared values of the dog world, whoever we are, wherever we are, whatever the dog, the dog lover will soon or later come to know diarrhea, vomit and stools. That’s the price we pay for love and joy.

Meagesophagus is hard to get your head around. It will eventually catch up to him, sooner or later, and  little is known about it. The megaesophagus dog owner is pretty much alone in many ways. We are all driving blind.

But I’ve learned a lot and changed a lot, and I am grateful for that.

Gus is active, affectionate, energetic and full of trouble. A dog in high spirits, we have great fun with him if he is not spitting up on us. Which is often.

This new stretch is a substantial breakthrough for me, as I think I am edging closer to a permanent diet, one that is stabilizing  Gus to the greatest degree since he was diagnosed.

Diarrhea can’t be healthy for him, and there was considerable acid reflux. Through a lot of trial and error, we’re coming to a better place.

It is always important to remember that there is no cure for megaesophagus, and we are constantly re-jiggling our expectations, as his condition changes frequently. It’s so much better than it was, and I am convinced nutrition can play a great role in stabilizing him, but not curing him.

My expectations need constant monitoring and adjusting. Still, I feel good about this diet. We are making headway, and Gus is having a full and active life.