Jackson Storm Great Dane Bonneau, SC

Update: Jackson is doing very very well! He's a fantastic pup who loves everyone he meets and all creatures big and small. Jackson does have Mega esophagus, but only a mild case. It requires him to be fed blended food but he does not need to be fed upright or in a chair. Jackson is ready for adoption. Please do a little research on Mega E if you would like to adopt Jackson. If you think he would make the perfect addition to your family, please visit https://www.watersedgegreatdanerescue.com/adoption-process for more information about our adoption process. (DOB 8/15/19)

Meet Jackson Storm, the newest member of WEGDR. He just came to rescue yesterday evening as an emergency intake. This Great Dane baby is just 12 weeks old and starving because he couldn't keep any food down. His owners, of only 3 days, surrendered him to rescue after learning he would need a $6-8k surgery. You see, the breeder told his new parents that he did vomit a lot but it was just because he was a fast eater when in fact he has a serious medical condition known as PRAA, Persistent Right Aortic Arch. PRAA, or vascular ring anomaly, is a congenital anomaly of the blood vessels of the heart that result in constriction of the esophagus.

"In the fetus, there are blood vessels that at first may serve a function, but then naturally deteriorate as the embryo grows. Occasionally, vessels in the chest cavity, called the aortic arches, will fail to disappear. The right aortic arch passes near the esophagus. If this blood vessel persists in the newborn, the esophagus is trapped between it and the heart.
This inhibits the growth and function of the esophagus, thus restricting food passage to the stomach. In 95% of the cases of a vascular ring anomaly, a constricting band prevents solid foods from passing to the stomach which prevents the puppy from thriving well."

Jackson was able to keep a liquid diet down last night. The poor little guy was so hungry that he ate as much as he could until he had the biggest belly and then passed out for hours after. He had a Barium Study done today at the vet and it went well. Jackson will having surgery to correct the PRAA tomorrow. Best case senario is that the PRAA is all thats going on and the surgery goes forward without any hiccups. There is a chance his esophagus will probably never be completely normal, but hopefully he will grow strong and healthy after the surgery and have a normal life! We are hoping this is the case since the PRAA was caught very early and hopefully hasn't caused too much permanent damage. There is of course a chance he will have mega esophagus as a result of his condition. Only time will tell.