(Question) About seven days ago my 14-week-old black Lab puppy started throwing up her food. It was slimy and not digested.  She has done this about four times during these seven days, each time the same, until yesterday when she decided to stop eating.

She plays normally but tires quickly.  Her stool is on the softer side but not diarrhea.  I took her to the vet today.  They found a high number of white blood cells in her stool and put her on Metronidazole 250mg once daily for seven days. The vet also mentioned mega esophagus as something to consider. They put her on a bland diet and gave her fluids.

Once she was home we did find a small amount of bloody mucus in her stool and she obviously vomited as opposed to just spitting out some dog food.  She weighs 25 pounds, three of which she gained in the last 10 days.  In regard to the mega esophagus, how serious is this condition, what should we be watching for and what are the long-term results?

We are planning to train her for upland and waterfowl hunting; is this still possible? Any information you can give us will be much appreciated. --C

(Answer) Most of the cases of mega esophagus I've seen have been in German shepherds but the disease has also been reported in Labs and Irish setters. The most common clinical sign is regurgitation of undigested food from a few minutes to a few hours after eating.

The disease usually presents when the puppy is weaned and started on solid food, as liquids can pass by gravity down the esophagus and into the stomach. Mega esophagus is diagnosed by a history of regurgitation and barium studies of the esophagus. I've seen some pups that you could just lower their head and fluid would run out their mouths.

Barium studies are used to confirm the diagnosis and to differentiate the disease from persistent right aortic arch. Attempts are made to treat affected pups but are usually not very rewarding. These pups are susceptible to secondary pneumonias from inhalation of regurgitated materials.

Some try liquid diets and feeding dogs from raised pans but most are eventually euthanized. It sounds to me like your dog has a GI upset that should respond to the metranidazole. I would suggest a barium x-ray of the esophagus after the dog feels better to rule mega esophagus in or out.

(Question) What is the truth about rabies shots? I live in a state where you have to give the shot every year. The latest Gun Dog indicates this is too much and could cause numerous side effects. The article states the shot is good for 5-7 years. If so, then why and who--WHY a shot every year and WHO is getting rich and WHO is getting ripped off?

(Answer) In the August, 2008 issue I commented on current studies of long-term immunity studies following rabies vaccination. This study will test dogs at five and seven years following vaccination to see if they are still immune to challenge with rabies virus. We hope that, should the hypothesis prove out, we will someday have laws that recognize rabies vaccination for 5-7 years.

In the meantime as practicing veterinarians we will continue to obey the laws of the governmental regions in which we practice and vaccinate the dogs accordingly. I don't know who is making all the money. What do you think? The ones getting ripped off are the dogs.