a sick labradoodle pup-any ideas?UPDATE!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Hi everyone--I have a friend who just got an F1 labradoodle from a "backyard breeder"--my daughter is familiar with the breeder and she has had very healthy pups in the past and has shown herself to be a good person who cares about her pups and raises them in her home where they get lots of love--so that made us feel secure about suggesting this litter to my friend --who could not afford to pay a lot for a pup.
So, there were 12 pups--one died right away and one, that my friends has chosen as theirs early on from a photo, has some vomiting issues--he was very small and had trouble eating--but then he seemed to improve, so they got him anyway (the breeder had offered them another pup). Now, he is home with them and at 8 weeks old, he weighs 6 1/2 pounds--he is small but also quite skinny. (Parents are a full size lab and standard poodle, so he could be much bigger). He is also adorable, with an apricot cream coat, a brown nose and green eyes!
Here comes the hard part--two days ago, one of his brothers had pnuemonia from aspirating food and the vet determined that he had megaesophagus. The people did not want to deal with that incurable condition, which requires you to feed the pup in a special chair for the rest of his life and they put him down.
Of course, this made us all very nervous about my friend's pup--but despite his small size, he was acting normally otherwise--until last night. I got a call to come over quickly to see if I could help my friend because the pup was vomiting his dinner for over 40 minutes. By the time I got there, he was sleeping, but a bit raspy and uncomfortable. We are hoping it is not the megaesophagus issue. He had been playing hard just before dinner and maybe he ate too fast, or maybe he ate something when they took him outside, we just don't know and we are hoping it is nothing serious--but he was really having trouble swallowing. I gave him a bit of water with a syringe and he threw up another little blob of kibble--then after i left, he vomited a few more times about an hour later. The he slept well thru the night.

This morning, he is acting normal and ate his breakfast just fine--he played and did his business with out issues. I advised them to feed him just half of his meal at a time since, being the smallest in his litter, he gobbles the food like it is an eating contest.

My question is--can megaesophagus come and go? Can a pup have episodes of it (especially if they eat after hard playing) and be normal otherwise? Has anyone had experience with it? I told my friend that if they had another night like last night, they should have it checked out--I think you just have to do an X-ray. I sure hope this little cutie (who will hopefully be joining DK soon) is OK!!!

UPDATE:  The pup went to a vet today at the best facility around here--they said his lungs were clear, no fever (so he didn't aspirate any food) and they saw no obvious signs of Megaesophagus, but if there is another vomiting episode, they should bring the pup in for an Xray. He did not think it was necessary to do it today (That doesn't seem very helpful to me, but that is what happened.)

THEN, the breeder called and said that 9 out of 11 pups have it so far--OMD!!! I think she must have gotten the message to not repeat that breeding--if she didn't learn from that statistic, nothing is going to convince her! So sad to think that all those pups are sick--her family must be very upset as they kids help raise the pups and they are very sweet people.

I will see the puppy now and then and I hope I see him gain some weight--he is so thin, but he eats well, so hopefully he will gain now.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Are you saying that all the pups in the litter have this problem? This is all very strange. Bizarre in fact that the breeder didn't see this. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

9 pups out of the 11 have it.  There were originally 12 pups but one died earlier--yes, that is what the breeder said-- that is sooo bizarre and she is returning EVERYONE'S money. I do not get it. I am thinking that something must have been happening all along that the vet did not know about, because this was found in those 9 pups within a few days of them going home. I have a call in to my daughter to see if she knows anything about it--since the vet is a colleague. 

So far, today the puppy my friend owns is having a good day-so that is two days in a row--they are feeding him several smaller meals and he is getting some prescription canned food (naturally, right? The vet prescribed food...let's not get started on that one) but the only thing I heard today that was odd was that the pup was not drinking--so I recommended that she mix a little chicken broth in with the water.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That is an incredible incidence of a genetic condition. Did the sire and bitch have a previous litter?

[Ginny Nightingale]

I think so and yes, it makes no sense--my daughter and I were thinking that maybe when the breeder called everyone to tell them that the one pup died and had ME and that if their pup had it they could get their money back, everyone lied about it to get the money--would people really do that????? I know my friend did not want her money back, but she is getting it anyway. I saw the pup today and he looks great--even though he was the smallest pup by far, he is a little spitfire and a survivor--hope he has a clean bill of health!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I just can't believe people would actually do that. But if nobody else raised the issue before the announcement...hmm, strange. Why would you admit to the disease if you puppy is completely fine? Personally, I was (and still am) in touch with our breeder. And when Monty (my first) got sick, she was the one to know. But who knows. I certainly hope all the puppies are okay.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

This is such a sad story for everyone involved.  We can only hope now, that the families will give the best possible care for their puppies.  I truly hope this breeder will not breed again..it it just not fair.

And in defense of any response that may have offended you...you know we are all some of the biggest dog lovers..ever...and it just hurts seeing situations like this pan out...  lets hope for a positive, healthy life for the pups. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

I agree--I am very upset about having suggested this litter to my very good friend so that she could have a nice dog--in the past, she has ended up with a 120 pound shelter dog that was a real love but shed like a horse all over the house, so she really wanted a doodle...let's hope this one has a nice long life.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I your friend's pup has a clean bill of health too. Not that I know a lot about the genetics of ME but I never heard of so many pups in a litter having it. It would have to be an autosomal dominant or something, with nearly complete penetrance. And yes people might want the money even if the pup is sick but perhaps they feel a bit justified because their pup might get sick? Who knows?

[Ginny Nightingale]

It is a pretty rare occurrence so i don't THINK it is dominant--but there must be something to this story that is missing--I feel like we don't know something....the woman will NOT be breeding again--she has had some lovely dogs in the past and one was in the local news because he was donated to a group home for the mentally disabled and was doing really well there....

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree, I don't think it's that at all but this story makes it seem so. It's probably a complex inheritance. Maybe these other dogs, as you suggested, don't have ME and there really isn't such a pervasive incidence.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

The update is so sad.  So many sick puppies.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Maybe not--see my theory above...quite a mystery, huh?