Small article on cats who throw up after eating..

[LikeItOrNot]

I saw a few threads about that here so I thought I'd post it. I have 2 5 yrolds who have been doing it on and off since they were weaned. Quick Fix for them was to eat 3 times a day and canned food helps..They usually throw up when they eat too fast and/or miss a meal.

Megaesophagus:

The esophagus is a small hose-like tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach. From the mouth, it follows a straight path through the neck and chest, where it passes near the heart, then through the diaphragm muscle and finally enters into the stomach. The esophagus wall is composed of muscles that move in wave-like contractions to push food into the stomach. It takes about five seconds for a cat's food to move from the mouth to the stomach.
A megaesophagus occurs when the esophagus has lost its muscle tone. Rather than appearing like a muscular hose, it dilates into a thin, flacid, 'bag-like' tube. Most cases are congenital and are probably caused by an inadequate nerve function due to the improper development of the esophageal nerve supply.

What are the symptoms?

The cat tends to regurgitate or vomit food shortly after eating. The diseased esophagus lacks the muscular tone to move food to the stomach. Ingested food is swallowed, but sits within the esophagus until regurgitated back up. Some food, particularly liquids, may pass into the stomach.

What are the risks?

Usually, a megaesophagus is a permanent situation. Sometimes an infection or irritation of the nerve supply may cause temporary symptoms, but this is rare. Megaesophagus is generally a permanent condition that must be dealt with.

What is the treatment?

Congenital megaesophagus has no known cure. Cats affected must be fed liquid diets. The food is usually placed in an elevated position so the cats eat while standing on hind limbs. This elevated eating stance allows gravity to help the liquid food get to the stomach. With these methods, many cats can survive and do well.

Surgery to the esophagus is always difficult because of the location within the chest and its poor rate of healing.

I'm going to try elevativating the dishes now. Also I'm going to try solid canned instead of chunked.. hopefully I can find a kind they like.

Hope this helps someone. :D

[creativz]

Can you try some dry food ? Hypo-allergenic and free from unhealthy additives, great for digestion, teeth and breath too !

[brandy pup]

Actually canned food is better then dry food.

And smaller meals more often.

I do agree a better quaity kibble does help though, but it's not any better for teeth.

[creativz]

My 2 kitz had really bad allergic reaction at 5mths, within 24hrs they nearly lost ears, the tips had started burning away, all lab results were clear, we "presumed" along with vet, that it was possibly something in wet food we fed at the time, or the packaging cans/foil trays. We're very fearful of it returning and try to play it safe, vet advised we feed Hills and James Wellbeloved dry mix and to steer clear of dairy products and beef in particular. I saw your suggestion on pumpkin for digestion and furballs ? How much do you give and how do you prepare ? Have you got any more natural "safe" suggestions ?! Here's where my kitz fall back - they love the "posh" Felix wet food, but not fancy flavours, am really trying to wean them off it, they havn't reacted to anything again since yet, they also occasionally eat fish, but totally crave the Felix. I can't risk trying different wet food brands, but I'd welcome any suggestions for a better safer wet food alternative. They adore the dry mix, but I'm stuck trying to find the right balance and as yet havn't managed to cut out the Felix !
Hills bag reads...*Key Benefits Of Hills Science Diet Kitten*
Developed to meet the higher energy needs of kittens up to 12 months, and pregnant and nursing cats. Promotes a healthy immune system to give kittens a great start in life. Helps kittens develop strong muscles, bones and teeth. Enriched with taurine to help maintain good vision and a healthy heart.
*Product Characteristics*
High-Quality Protein: Critical in building strong bones and muscles. Contains all essential amino acids including taurine to help ensure optimal growth and development. Essential Fatty Acids: Help maintain proper function of nervous and immune systems as well as promote healthy skin and a shiny coat. Digestible Carbohydrates: Supply abundant energy for active kittens. Vitamins and Minerals: Provide an ideal balance of vitamins and minerals for growing kittens.JamesWellbeloved (http://www.wellbeloved.co.uk/)
"Q-Does James Wellbeloved contain undesirable 'animal derivatives' e.g. beaks and feathers? A-No, we do not conceal our ingredients by listing them in mysterious categories like "meat and animal derivatives" or "derivatives of vegetable origin". Our company believes that to make the best food you need the best ingredients. For example in our Lamb & Rice Kibble we use lamb meat meal and lamb bone meal, both from grass-fed New Zealand lamb and the Turkey & Rice Kibble uses purely turkey meat meal. We are very proud of the fact that we use only the highest quality ingredients and list them fully and clearly on our packs and literature. Q-Does James Wellbeloved contain any unhealthy artificial additives? A-No. As well as being a hypo-allergenic food, James Wellbeloved is natural and wholesome. Unlike some other brands, we do not add any artificial flavours, preservatives or colours. There is no added BHT, BHA or ethoxyquin. And the antioxidants that we use are natural Vitamin E and Vitamin C."I've also read... "Dry food is better than tinned food for tooth health, but won’t completely clean the teeth. However, new prescription diets are available from your vet that have a specially designed kibble that helps clean the tooth surface as the animal eats."Ref-Hills@http://www.petalia.com.au/Templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?specie=Dogs&story_no=68#ct-6
I appreciate cats with symptoms of "Megaesophagus" as in original post, have serious problems with solids and probably much more so with dry mix.