A brighter morning for Gus, and for us.
When they say megaesophagus is an up and down disease, they weren’t kidding. Yesterday was a low, today looks to be a high. We changed the daily feeding program dramatically. Gus eats four times a day now, and smaller amounts each time.
He already seems to have gained some weight, there have no regurgitations or other episodes, he is active, full of himself and he is all over Fate and even Red, to play. The hi-protein concentrate is helping him, I think, it is very soft and may be helping all of his food to go down more easily.
We had a very rocky start to Thursday, but the last 24 hours are looking good, we are buoyed. I just walked with Robin Gibbons, Gus’s breeder, and I reassured her again that this is not a breeding issue, Gus’s mother and father don’t have it, neither do his siblings.
She loves her dogs dearly and is very upset about Gus, but I told her it has nothing to do with her breeding, the experts all say the same thing: this disease occurs randomly, there is no pattern, rhyme or reason to it.
I told Robin Gus is an amazing dog, I would get another dog from her in a heartbeat, and our vet, who knows all of the dogs involved, couldn’t agree more.
So we are feeling good and hopeful today. This will be a long slog, and we are not going to ride up and down on each wave. Today is, so far, a very good day.
So happy to hear that Gus is having a good day. Life with animals is very fulfilling even with the ups and downs, to me there is definitely more goodness to having animals. The sad parts just come with the territory.
Nice to hear that Gus is doing better. I have watched this saga and have a comment — which I expect you will try to characterize as unwanted advice — but be that as it may— you have backed yourself into a corner over that silly chair and now you would find it impossible to get one even if it might help for fear of appearing weak. I have no advice on whether you should or should not get the chair — but I would suspect that anything that might help should be given a try. It would free you and Maria from having to spend time holding Gus in an upright position. You share a trait with my sister — any advice is seen not as a suggestion or advice but somehow an attack on you and you respond like a wounded bear.
Do you think that the acupuncture helped him?
So. Leroy is an Americanized of le roi (maybe?) I am thinking of Gus as Agustus (Ceasar). Silly, I know. But meant to be a little endearment.
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I am glad Gus feels better today, just a question do you make his food into a gruel mix so it slides down easier?
Glad to hear that today is an up day for Gus, Maria and you. I watch with great appreciation the love you both have for all your animals.
My only experience with ME is watching a precious kitten almost die from it – but then, after months of the same kind of interventions as you are doing with Gus, grow out of the disease. She is now a happy, healthy 5-yr old cat. Its my most sincere prayer that Gus outgrows it too.
poor baby Gus, get well soon, you are the best hands with these lovely people