Aussie Genetics Fact Sheet: Megaesophagus by C.A. Sharp Occasionally an Aussie will have megaesophagus, a abnormally enlarged esophagus. Affected dogs cannot swallow or keep food or water down normally. Megaesophagus can be an inherited congenital condition. However, it can also be secondary to other health problems. Dogs with certaiain heart or neuromuscular diseases may develop megaesophagus. There is no surgical correction for this conditon. Affected dogs must be fed with their forequarters elevated and must be kept in that position for 10-15 minutes after eating. Feeding gruel rather than solid food will reduce risk of regurgitation. Prognosis is poor for dogs with megaesophagus, due to a high risk of aspiration pneumonia, caused by vomited material entering the lungs and malnutrition. We do not know if this is an inherited problem in Aussies. Thankfully, it is rare in the breed.