Jake's Journey with Megaesophagus

Jake, a German Shepherd puppy, was born on August 6th, 2017, along with his brothers and sisters. I immediately fell in love with Jake but I also noticed that something was different about him. When he was just 6 weeks old, he was diagnosed with a congenital disease - Megaesophagus (ME). We need your help to make sure Jake can live the happy and healthy life he deserves! ME is a genetic disease that affects the way that Jake's body handles food and is becoming a more common condition in dogs. It means that their esophagus expands unnaturally and doesn’t have the ability to move food down into their stomachs, putting them at risk of choking and aspiration. Jake’s greatest danger is aspiration pneumonia - accidentally inhaling food particles into his lungs causing an infection.  I knew his life wouldn’t be easy, but I couldn’t part ways with this sweet boy. There isn’t a cure for ME, but we do our best to help Jake manage the symptoms so he can enjoy his life. Jake always has to eat small, semi-solid meals throughout the day. He needs to be sitting upright so that gravity can help pull the food down to his stomach. This also helps reduce indigestion and any acid reflux burning and damage that may occur. When Jake was little, we could prop him up in bins to help him eat, but he has quickly outgrown them as he’s gotten older and it’s very hard to get him to fit into a bin, and to lift him in and out. I turned to the online community and found other owners of “Mega E” dogs. It was there that we were introduced to the Bailey Chair which has saved Jake's life by helping with his physically and emotionally demanding feeding routine. Bailey chairs are custom made to fit each dog and can be adjustable for growing puppies like Jake. We got him his chair in December, and his weight doubled. We’re able to feed him double the amount that we used to, and he keeps almost everything down now. It’s so much easier to keep him in the proper position. Jake’s chair has helped so much, but having a Mega E dog means constant medicines and worries. Even with the Bailey Chair, his special foods and medications cost around $200 per month. And he continues to be at risk for aspiration pneumonia, which is life-threatening and requires expensive treatment. I recently learned about a special treatment that scientists have found helps treat - and maybe even cure - ME, but it comes at a price. We need your help to pay for Jake’s daily expenses and give him the chance to try this treatment! Jake has become the center of my family’s life. His diagnosis turned our world upside-down, and there were times we lost hope. Jake is such a fighter, and has an unbreakable spirit. He doesn't give up, so we don’t give up either. He has inspired us to give 100% everyday and love without holding back. We are so grateful to you all for your love and support on Jake's journey with ME. Your kindness will help give Jake the chance at the best life he can live. We hope to give him many years of happiness and love. Thank you so much!