SigMT

SIGNATURE MONTANA | 93 Monty was boled fed for a few weeks, and when it came time to wean him onto solid foods, something wasn't right. Every time he ate, the food would come back up. Liquids were all he could keep down. Monty began losing weight, and his new adoptive mom insisted something wasn't right. Aer a series of tests, including x-rays with contrast dye, the veterinarian diagnosed him with Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PA). In Monty's case, a small piece of his heart that was supposed to break down aer birth was pinching his esophagus, causing a stricture that impeded the flow of food down the esophagus to the stomach. Only liquids were able to pass. Monty's esophagus was stretched from solid food building up and not passing properly, a disorder commonly referred to as megaesophagus. Monty needed oracotomy surgery immediately to free the esophagus. Monty underwent his first surgery to remove tissue constricting his esophagus at seven weeks old. A feeding tube was inserted through the abdomen and led directly to the stomach. e procedure was successful, and the healing process of shrinking the esophagus to normal size began. Monty responded well to the feeding tube. He started gaining weight, was more energetic, and loved vacuuming up stray crumbs on the floor like any typical pup. ings were looking up for Monty. A prosthetic for his front leg was on its way, and soon he would try eating on his own. A week passed, and Monty began spiing up again. He underwent sedation, and more contrast dye x-rays revealed the dilated section of his esophagus was not shrinking, and scarring was developing at the stricture site. Monty endured ten more procedures requiring sedation to expand the scarred area over the next five weeks. A balloon catheter was inserted into his esophagus and expanded to mechanically dilate the narrowed tissue. Thanks to the care from Monty's and Molly's owners and treatment from veterinarians at Best Friends Animal Hospital, the two pups are well on their way to thriving after a not-so-happy beginning. In recent years, the technology used to fabricate prosthetic limbs for humans has been applied to animals and has progressed to a solid science called Veterinary Orthotics and Prosthetics (V-OP). A typical prosthesis requires an initial wearing-in period of two weeks to allow the skin to become accustomed. After this, the device can be worn all day and removed overnight to allow the skin to air. A feeding tube was inserted into Monty's abdomen to deliver food directly to his stomach while allowing the esophagus to heal and shrink to normal size.

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