I know it's been a while since I've been here, but I came here to do some research in addition to what we've already done.

Kazak, our 9 month old GSD was diagnosed last Thursday with megaesophagus. He's always been a puker, but it was sporadic and chalked up to him just being a puppy. Last Wednesday night he started retching constantly for nearly 2 hours til we could get him seen. They gave him IV fluids and an injection of famotidine and we kept our appt the next morning with our vet. They ran x-rays which showed an area of suspsicious soft tissue near his heart. They then went on to do a barium study. This confirmed the megaespohagus.

Unfortunately, that's not the worst news. The dilation of his esophagus begins right at his heart. They believe it may be persistent right aortic arch, however, because it's gone on so long, they don't think surgery would be much help. The other possible diagnosis was congenital myasthenia gravis. Unfortunately, with the congenital form, the success rate of treatment is far below that of aquired MG.

We brought Kazak home and have been feeding him guel blended in the food processor, in an upright position, keeping him in that position for 20 minutes after eating while massaging his chest to help get it to his stomach. He had lost three pounds from the beginning of the month when we had him groomed to last Thursday. He lost another pound between then and yesterday.

We have made the decision to euthanize as we don't want him to suffer. My heart breaks a little more each time he regurgitates although I know we are doing everything we can and the vet has reassured us of that.

I just wanted to thank everyone on the board who helped us get through the rough puppy stage. He turned out to be a great dog, a fast learner and our 8 year old was showing him in 4-H obedience and the 3 year old loved playing hide and seek with him. He's going to be greatly missed by all of us.

http://forum.homefrontonline.com/eve/forums/a/ga/ul/2161060632/KAZ.jpg

I am so sorry for your pain. I glad you gave him a loving 9 months of life, some dogs live long and know no love.
Thank you for taking such good care of him.

I am so sorry. My heart aches for you.

Not only have you provided a good life for this little guy, but you have made the decision that's right for him (I strongly believe, from everything I have read and heard of his condition). He is so fortunate that he has you to decide this for him.

Your children will learn something rare and precious -- as hard as it is -- about putting the animal first no matter how it breaks our own hearts.

Our daughter was heartbroken, but she has asked to be at the vet's office with us on Thursday. He is still in good spirits and other than looking really thin, most wouldn't know he was sick.
We will be doing one final puppy class with him tomorrow night, so that our instructor can say goodbye, too. She's one of the 4 instructors and works handling GSD's and has been an awesome resource for us.
It just stinks that he's so young! We got to watch the agility kids last week and were looking forward to doing it next year with Kaz.

Our breeder has been notified and is having an autopsy done at K-State to check for the PRAA and MG to try to prevent this in any future breedings and will report the findings to the White Sheperd Genetic Project she works with. She has also offered us a refund or new pup, because she offers 5 year health guarantees on her pups. We'll likely be getting a new pup, as we just can't imagine life without the pitter patter of furry feet around and our daughter wants to continue with 4-H.

Danity and family,

I echo Connie's words " my heart aches for you" as well.
What a beautiful boy he is! What a wonderful family you have been to him, and what joy he has brought to your family.
Please know you are being thought of, during this terribly sad time for your family. May strength and love be with you now.

I hope that you can take comfort in knowing that you gave him the best in his short life, and he was lucky to have been in your care. Sometimes I feel like the measure of a life isn't always in how long it was, but how much it touched others. Your choice, I believe, is the right one. And he is luckier still to be given this last great gift--to pass without pain surrounded by those he loves and love him. I'm so sorry.

I too am sorry Danity. He is a very handsome boy- My thoughts are with you, what a very hard thing to go through at such a young age - Just remember you gave him lots of love and thats what counts the most at the end of the day - Take Care.
Kathy

He is a beautiful dog. I am so sorry. Welling up reading that.

What a happy little face he has! I am sure it reflects how he feels about the life he's led with your loving family.

I am so sorry for what you are going thru. It sounds like you have a very good breeder, and I hope the new little one will help to heal your hearts, when he/she comes into your life.

leih

Sorry to hear of this, Danity.