Corn Flake

Updated 4/21/11

“Just wanted to make sure you guys know about this dog? His coat is short but he looks like a Golden to me.”

“Have you seen this one posted on the shelter website? His out date is coming up fast, just a couple days from now.”

“Can Golden rescue help this dog? I am worried he might be put down.”

“There’s a really good-looking Golden at a shelter in your area. I am sending you the link in hopes you can pull him.”

… Just as soon as Cornflake’s picture was posted on the shelter website, concerned Central Texas “Golden monitors” began contacting GRR to make certain we could help out the handsome 5-year-old. Volunteer Jeanae was already on the case: “The shelter’s rescue coordinator met him and said he’s really sweet. Definitely purebred, though he has been shaved down. She put our name on him. Monday April 4  is the end of his stray hold,  so we’ll need to grab him as soon as the doors open on Tuesday the 5th, to make sure he won’t be put to sleep.”

The transport team went into action &  the intake proceeded like clockwork. As he was handed off from one vehicle to the next, Cornflake stayed sweet and calm and friendly. He traveled like a pro, too—no accidents or carsickness! We figured on a quick & easy neuter and a speedy “slam dunk” adoption.

…but the vet was a little concerned at Cornflake’s post-neuter behavior; he seemed a bit too lethargic. “If the foster family has any troubles with him at all, please call me.” Sure enough, almost as soon as Cornflake arrived at his foster home, he began throwing up. Once or twice wouldn’t be cause for alarm, but poor Cornflake was regurgitating every single time he ate or drank. A bowl of food or a good drink of water went down, but pretty soon it came right back up again. What was going on?

An immediate return to the vet was in order.  A few tests later, we had our explanation: Cornflake has megaesophagus. In this condition, the esophagus doesn’t contract properly and move food and water down into the stomach as it should. Instead, whatever is ingested remains largely in the esophagus, for anywhere from minutes to hours (as in Cornflake’s case) or even days. Since food & water don’t really reach the stomach to tell the dog he’s full or his thirst is quenched, he may just continue to eat or drink, leading to an overstretched esophagus (hence the name of the condition) and the characteristic regurgitation. What’s the cause? In most cases, and that includes Cornflake’s, we just don’t know. We had no hint that anything was wrong during transport or his first overnight at the vet’s, and certainly we DO know he’s been managing to eat and swallow in the past—for one thing,  he pooped out a huge piece of nylon fabric, and who knows how long he’d been toting it around in his innards! (The vet says this wasn’t the source of the trouble, though.)

But there is some good news. For one thing, in one study of 53 dogs with megaesophagus, 88 percent of cases resolved on their own within 6 months. We sure hope Cornflake is one of the lucky dogs who resolve! Meanwhile, the condition CAN be managed. The trick is to feed smaller and more frequent meals, to limit water consumption to a cup or so at a time, and to ELEVATE food and water bowls to just below head level, so that the dog eats and swallows standing upright, letting gravity help propel food down into the stomach, where it should be. With these tactics in place, Cornflake is doing just great at his new foster home. “He’s hardly regurgitating at all,” is the happy report.

The further excellent news is that initial impressions of Cornflake’s personality were 100% correct. He is a peach! He doesn’t like silly in-your-face young male dogs, and as a Tennis Ball Fiend himself, he wouldn’t do well with another Tennis Ball Maniac—but he’s a prize. He’s old enough not to be “chewy” but young enough to frisk and romp; he’ll entertain himself by throwing toys in the air and then chasing them down. “He  leapt into our bed one night & was silly as a puppy.  Wiggle, cuddle, turn upside down... he was in Heaven.  Obviously, this guy was allowed to visit the bed in his previous home.  After 10 minutes of fun, we asked him to get down & he hopped back to his soft dog bed.”

He likes to keep you company, indoors and out, and is always ready for a pat or a scratch.

He loves car rides.

He loudly defended the front door from the evil lawn guys who were blowing leaves from the front porch.

Cornflake is a delight!

… and now all he needs is a very special home who is willing to deal with his medical issues in exchange for a handsome, clever, loving, and friendly Golden pal. Please contact us if you are interested, and we’ll give you all the details on managing his condition. Thank you!