Surgery on the esophagus is always difficult because of its location within the chest and its slow rate of healing. Megaesophagus describes a situation in which the esophagus has lost muscle tone. Most cases are congenital and probably caused by a faulty nerve supply. Shortly after eating, the dog tends to regurgitate its food. The diseased esophagus lacks the muscle tone to move food to the stomach.
Food is swallowed, but sits in the esophagus until regurgitated.
Some food, particularly liquids, may pass into the stomach. Megaesophagus is usually a permanent situation. An infection or irritation of the nerve supply may only cause temporary symptoms, but this is rare. Megaesophagus is generally a permanent condition that must be managed. Congenital megaesophagus has no known cure.