There’s one last chance this weekend to take in a county fair.
The San Benito County Fair runs from this Friday through Sunday at
the fairgrounds at Bolado Park just south of Hollister. This is
traditionally one of the great events, with all the animals and
entertainment you expect at a fair. (Not to mention the corn dogs
and cotton candy!)
There’s one last chance this weekend to take in a county fair. The San Benito County Fair runs from this Friday through Sunday at the fairgrounds at Bolado Park just south of Hollister. This is traditionally one of the great events, with all the animals and entertainment you expect at a fair. (Not to mention the corn dogs and cotton candy!) Hope to see you there!
Q:
What can you tell me about megaesophagus? I think my dog, Millie, has this condition. She vomits right after eating her food almost every time. She feels good, but I think she is losing weight.
A:
There are a lot of different problems that can cause Millie’s symptoms. Megaesophagus is one, but it’s somewhat unusual. Megaesophagus is a descriptive term, referring to a dilation of the esophagus along its tract from the mouth to the stomach. The esophageal wall is weakened and doesn’t forcefully propel food down to the stomach. Trapped food remains in this structure until much of it is finally regurgitated.
Megaesophagus can result from an injury to the neck or throat, or from some specific metabolic disorders. (In humans, a disease called myasthenia gravis can predispose a patient to esophageal problems). Certain breeds are more likely to develop this condition, including shepherds, shar peis, French bulldogs and great Danes.
An important distinction in identifying megaesophagus is recognizing the symptoms. Regurgitating is a common symptom. When a patient regurgitates there is usually very little effort involved. Often, the dog will simply tip its head down and liquid or food will almost “spill out” of its throat. This is distinctly different from a dog that vomits due to a stomach or intestinal problem. Vomiting requires some effort and usually causes some apparent discomfort.
Whatever the case, Millie needs to be evaluated by her veterinarian. Her condition can easily be diagnosed with X-rays. Another simple test, checking for stomach acid in the vomitus, can also confirm if she has megaesophagus. Esophageal disorders are treatable, but the management requires special feeding and medication. In short, let’s hope Millie has a more simple stomach ailment.
Q:
I have a question about my two cats, Blake and Dinah. We adopted them from the animal shelter when they were 8 weeks old a little over a year ago. They are littermates. Dinah likes to groom Blake, sometimes licking him everywhere including under his tail. Blake clearly doesn’t like this and sits down to prevent her from licking there. Why does she want to do this?
A:
This is a tough question to answer, but Dinah’s behavior may be related to maternal instinct. You acquired the pair from the shelter, so we know that they have been spayed and neutered. But some females have a natural motherly instinct to care for their housemate. And licking around the perineum (the area under the tail) is part of this instinct. Queens actually stimulate their kittens to eliminate by licking their perineum.
It’s also possible that Blake might have a health problem that Dinah has identified. An infection or some other issue with Blake’s anal sacs could attract her attention to his rear end. Clearly, Dinah’s behavior is a little unusual. So I’d recommend that you have Blake checked to make sure he’s healthy. If so, I’ll bet that at some point Blake will “convince” Dinah to leave alone his private property.
SPECIAL NOTE
It’s been almost 20 years since the Keesling home was blessed with the birth of a special kitty-cat. Just this past week, we had to say goodbye to Rumpy after two decades of love, laughs and incredible naps. He left us quietly and peacefully. Our black-and-white guy is gone, but his memories fill the void he leaves. I’ll share some of those stories later on. But for now, as always, I’ll just remind you to give your furry friend a hug. And every day, celebrate your life together.
