carrie final final

Coco, a dog with mega esophagus, was fostered by Carrie Rowland before being adopted. The exact cause of Coco's condition is unclear, but it may be related to trauma. Coco was found as a stray and was diagnosed with mega esophagus after tests ruled out Parvo. The Galveston Island Humane Society, where Coco was found, struggles with limited resources and overcrowding. Coco is a chocolate lab and takes medication called metoclopramide with each meal. His new mom is considering using Viagra as a treatment. Coco's case of mega esophagus is manageable compared to others, and he only requires one medication and short periods of upright time after eating. Carrie would foster or adopt another dog with mega esophagus, but it would depend on the fit with her current household and the dog's needs. Coco has been successfully adopted and is doing well in his new home with his new brother, River. Hello and welcome to Mega Eats Misfits, the podcast about pets with mega esophagus and the people who love and care for them. I'm Michelle Dweck and my co-hosts are Paula Jeffers, Jennifer Sandus, and Jessica Ramos. Our mission is to advocate for our pets while educating pet owners and caretakers. Today's special guest is Carrie Rowland, who until recently was fostering a gorgeous pup named Coco. Before we begin, here's our disclaimer. Always speak with your veterinarian about the care of your pet. We are not medically or formally educated. However, each of us have pups with mega esophagus and hope to make your journey easier by sharing our experiences. All right. So you were fostering sweet Coco until he was adopted. How long was he your foster? Seven months. So he was brought into our house early October and then just this last month was adopted. What kind of mega esophagus did he have? That's unclear. So the issue, I'm super thankful for the shelter, but resources are limited because it wasn't necessarily through a rescue. So he was diagnosed through a radiograph. So I'm told that the veterinarian's opinion that it was due to some kind of trauma. I know it's with Labradors, it can be more common. So that's pretty much all the diagnostic information that I have. Not much is known about him prior because he was just found as a stray. Yeah. And where was he found again? On the beach. So we're in Galveston, Texas. So he was found a stray on the beach, a very sick puppy. And when you find a sick, like vomiting in quotation mark puppy, you automatically think Parvo. So they brought him in, did a Parvo test, were really shocked. Like he would not keep anything down. Shocked when that was negative, but then eventually was diagnosed with ME. I don't know what the animal environment is where you guys are located. It's tragic everywhere. But especially in Texas, we struggle with spay, neuter issues and lack thereof. So yeah, absolutely. Galveston Island Humane Society is a highly populated city shelter that's open intake. So constantly taking in animals. And Coco in particular was one that they call a hallway dog. So they don't have enough kennel space for all of the dogs in their care. So he was in a crate in the hallway. So what breed is he? Oh, go ahead. He is a chocolate lab. Although several people have said that he looks kind of like a GSP, like a German short hair pointer, which I could see with his ears. He is a young and vibrant and energetic young boy at about a year and a half now. Does he take any medications? He does. Let me go pull that up. Okay. You guys can help me with pronunciation. Medoclopramide? Yep. You got it. Okay. He takes 10 milligrams with each meal. So he, with me and at the shelter, was eating twice daily and then eating that with his food. Does he take any other medications or was that it? Not at this time. I know that his new mom, Caitlin, is looking into Viagra as a treatment. Because as soon as she got on the Emmy group, there was an article posted about it. She was like, have you heard of this? I was like, I have. I know that she's talking to her veterinarian to see if he would benefit from that because he is having a little bit of regurg. But, you know, he's doing great. Yeah. I feel like for Coco, especially because on the Upright Canine Brigade group, which I cannot be more thankful for. I just lurked for such a long time. But I learned so much. But I would say that Coco's particular case is pretty manageable. Like, especially compared to other folks. So just with the one medication, yeah. And we were playing around with upright time. But it was right at like ten minutes is where we were when he left us of upright time after eating. Ten minutes was pretty manageable. So have you had any other problems with mega esophagus? No. And honestly, I was aware of ME because so just in the Galveston and especially Houston area, there are thankfully a lot. There's a lot of rescue work in response to the I don't want to be dramatic, but the crisis like just like street dogs and all kinds of things. And cats as well. We've done cat rescue. But there was a dog through Katie's Foster Fam Rescue in Houston that I also foster for. We have two of our cats are also adopted through CFF. But they had a dog named Ace. And he is a very small husky. And I remember meeting him at an event. And he, his particular case, he can drink water. Like he tolerates water well. And I remember being at the event. And she was like, just hold him up for a while. And that just was such an interesting concept to me. So I've been following his story really closely. I didn't foster him. He was fostered by a few other people. But and then we saw Coco's story and like post on Galveston Humane. I had a close relationship with Katrina Ross, who at the time was the the head tech, the veterinary manager at the shelter. And it's also our dog trainer. So I started like kind of texting her and being like, tell me about Coco. Like, tell me what that takes. So that's that's how we got connected with Coco. And I'm one like of us, like we've never done ME, but we've had a variety of other kind of special needs. Our big project of 2021 was a going into 2022 was a diabetic senior cat that we had for seven months. So we, you know, no shortage of different kinds of fosters. But we're always eager to learn about medical conditions and learn about new things we can we can serve animals with. So that's awesome. So would you foster or potentially adopt another ME pup? Oh, absolutely. And even when considering like we got especially when you have like a long term foster, a really frustrating common question that we would get is, well, why don't you just it looks like he's home already, like he's so happy with you. And I was like, I mean, he is happy. My health is great. Like, but making the decision to adopt Coco would mean that, you know, we're at our max. Like my husband and I have to make decisions on, like, how many animals are feasible for our home. And it would feel more selfish to, like, give up fostering. And also Coco is a very energetic dog. And our other two dogs are livestock guardian breeds that are lumbering and lazy and just can't be more different. So Coco deserved a household that fits his lifestyle as well as his medical needs. So absolutely. I'd foster another ME dog. I would adopt one. It was very manageable, even with a mixed household of non ME dogs and ME dogs. And I do feel bad for that because I know we've had a couple of the featured fosters and there's several comments about, oh, I think this pup is home. And I'm like, oh, I feel so bad because they foster for a reason. And that's not to discredit any, like, foster fails because it just kind of depends on the culture of the organization. One of the organizations I foster for is very, like, anti-foster fail and, like, really leans on the failure part. Like, oh, so you're going to foster less. But, no, I mean, it's a win. Like, at the end of the day, the animal has a beautiful home. So not to discredit anybody that's foster failed. Their ME pups in particular, like, they're super lucky to have you. But he just wasn't the right dog for our home. And, you know, we were at our max. So, yeah, either way. But absolutely, I agree. Like, don't shame folks for adopting out dogs because that's evil. I can't believe that you – see, I could never foster because I would just keep them. So, you know, it's awesome that you're going into this and you're like, nope, this is a foster. I'm going to find the right home. And everybody's going to live happily ever after. Yeah. No, it's like – After 24 hours, you're like, mine. So I think it's, you know, good for everybody, right? No, I always tell people that it's all fun and – like, I don't know. One, it's just such a rush to get an animal adopted. And Coco, oh, my gosh. Like, we're still celebrating that. Like, we still – like, I'll look at my spouse and be like, man, Coco's adopted. That's pretty cool. So, no, we just get – not just. Like, every animal that we've ever adopted out, like, we probably still have a relationship with that adopter. And we love them very much. And we love every animal that's ever been in our home. But, man, we just get another foster. So we're 82 animals in. Like, we're going to keep the train going. So I love when you get those random photographs by text. Oh, absolutely. And I don't like to bother people. But when I randomly get them, I'm like, oh, yes. And then I share them on Instagram and Facebook. Because people kind of have this parasocial relationship with Coco. Like, people that I, like, went to high school with or whatever, like, they'll message me. I'm like, but how is Coco in his new home? And I'm like, no, he's great. Like, no news is good news as far as I'm concerned. Although I talk to Caitlin all the time. He looks so happy with River. They look like two peas in a pod. Let me plug their Instagram. Because if you're wanting to follow Coco and his new life, they just changed the name. But it's at Life with River and Coco. Man, they are two peas in a pod. So she made an Instagram for Coco and his new brother, River. Yeah, I can't say enough about his new family. They're incredible people. Okay. Plug that one more time. Because I just typed then and I didn't get it. Oh, sorry. Life with River and Coco. Oh, there it is. Okay. Thank you. Isn't he just grinning? Oh, we're going to have a cat join us as well. I love it. Certified Rod and Pups. They literally are. They have a lovely yard. Yeah. They do such great enrichment with him. Yeah, those pups just look so happy together. Like they were, you know, they look like they're brothers. And it's so awesome. No, it was well worth the wait. Like, that's everybody's response. I get a lot of like, how's Coco doing? I'm like, fabulous. I show him the Instagram. I'm like, yeah, worth the wait? I'm like, totally worth the wait. And he, in his seven months, had three prior to Caitlin local meet and greets. And one trial. Okay. That didn't come out for not any reasons. Like there were other reasons. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 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Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Go foster something, everyone.