Meet Chimichanga22
Chimichanga almost lost her life in the shelter because no one knew what was wrong with her. She was doing lots of vomiting and just was not growing, but she loved life, and the shelter did not want to euthanize her, so they contacted us. When we got her, we took her in to our vet to see what was going on, and it was discovered that Chimi has megaesophagus. At the time, she had aspiration pneumonia which can be common with kitties with megaesophagus. However, since those first few weeks, we have gotten this sweet girl on a regimen that has made all the difference in the world for her, and for the past months, she has never developed pneumonia again.
Chimi is a sweetheart of a girl with lots of energy, loves toys and playing and loves watching birds and squirrels! She gives kisses and face rubs, and along with the funny esophageal sounds, she has a big purr. She is agile and athletic like any kitten her age, and loves nothing better than attention - unless it's her food!
Megaesophagus is a congenital abnormality where the esophagus is greatly distended and pretty much flaccid. There are two types, and through a CAT scan, we found Chimi has the kind that cannot be fixed through surgery. That kind is called a vascular anomaly, and had she had that form, we would have had the surgery. Alas, she has the kind that cannot be surgically repaired.
Chimi is a perfectly normal kitten in every way as long as she follows the regimen we have established for her. There are several MUSTS and several MUST NOTS. Seriously, she is very easy to manage- especially if she is the only animal, or even if she is not and the humans are vigilant. The goal is to let gravity help the food move down the esophagus and into her stomach - and then it's all normal from there!
The NO-NO's are:
1. No dry food ever
2. No human food or treats
3. No overeating or gorging (even though she would love to!)
What must happen:
1. Her food is blended into a smoothie that is fed four times a day
2. She needs to eat with her head and neck elevated
3. She must be held upright for 10-15 minutes after each meal
4. Meds are given in her meals