Megaesophagus & The Bailey Chair

I get so many visitors to the site looking for information on Megaesophagus & Bailey Chairs, I’m updating the post. If your dog has just been diagnosed, I want you to know there are lots of people out there who are dealing with the same thing and want to share what they’ve learned.

I recommend joining the Yahoo megaesophagus group—they’re active, responsive, & helpful.  Look under “Files” for years worth of invaluable information on everything to do with megaeshophagus.  There is now a Facebook support group for megaesophagus which is also active & growing.

Megaesophagus is a condition in which a dog’s esophagus is enlarged to the point that food remains in the esophagus and never makes it down to the stomach and is instead regurgitated. The muscle contraction and relaxation that normally takes place to move food down to the stomach doesn’t work. Megaesophagus can be present since birth or can develop in adult dogs. If left untreated, it can cause a range of problems, including starvation and aspiration pneumonia.

  • The Mar Vista Vet site has a crash course on megaesophagus, including:
    • how regurgitation differs from vomiting
    • x-rays comparing a normal esophagus to a megaesophagus
    • interactive videos demonstrating megaesophagus
    • plus information on cause, diagnosis, & treatment

The Bailey Chair was designed by, Donna & Joe Koch, the owners of a dog (Bailey) diagnosed with megaesophagus. The dog sits in a “begging” position to eat, drink, or take medication and gravity does the work to bring what’s ingested to the stomach. There are a few ways you can acquire a Bailey Chair:

  • The creators will send you a DVD or video of instructions for building your own Bailey Chair for $6.00 to cover costs. Send email to Matthew1@earthlink.net to inquire about the address.  (Find out more in the Yahoo Megaesophagus Group.)

This “highchair” for dogs can be made of different materials and in different sizes to accommodate small and large dogs.
smallbaileychair.jpg largebaileychair.jpg

With proper eating position, diet, and medication, these dogs can have almost normal lives. Like Roxie, Rocket, Jasmine, Mattie, Diyoji, and in particular Tobin, whose caretakers’ describe their trials, errors, and successes in ongoing journal entries.

310 Replies to “Megaesophagus & The Bailey Chair”

  1. I have a large Bailey chair I’d like to donate along with in inflatable collar (to sleep in). Near Denver Colorado

  2. Hi! Do you still have that Bailey’s chair? Our pup has just been diagnosed. How could we contact you? Thank you.

  3. our dog has just been diognosed and we are told that she needs a baily chair we live in lockwood ny. is your chair still availible. if so can you see what the shipping cost would be , we are very interested, thank you our dog is a german sharpard and is about 80 lbs, she is just a year old. let us know and thanks again

  4. I have a black lab that is a retired USMC war dog – he was a bomb dog and injured during 3 tours of Afganistan. . He now polyarthritis and has now come down with megaesophagus. Does anyone know of a Bailey chair that they would donate to this veteran. He weighs 80 lbs and I would pay for the shipping cost. We live in Tulsa, OK.

  5. Does anyone have a “Bailey’s Chair they would like to donate. I have a friend on FB who needs one for her dog, Calamity Jane. She was just diagnosed with mega esophgus. We live in Franklin, NC.

    Thank you and God bless!

    Kathi

  6. I have a Great Dane with Mega and in need of a Bailey chair for her. she is 3 years old and want to keep her alive? when born we did use all kinds of ways to feed her and keep her up right then she was fine after awhile now she is spitting her food up again and a bailey chair is needed for her if anyone can help please contact me at chuck30301966@hotmail.com I live in upstate NY Thank You!

  7. I have a 4 yr old, 65 lb German Shepherd who has just been diagnosed with mega e. I am doing all the research and heard of the bailey chair from my Vet. Does anyone have a chair they could donate? We are near Tampa Fl.
    my email is hvalentino4@gmail.com.

  8. I have a 8 week old puppy that has mega. We hold him right now but would like to get him trained in a baily chair. Anyone in the davenport iowa area with one to sell would be forever greatful. Contact cyndi billings at 1 563 289 3079.

  9. Hi, we have an english bulldog, Rudy, who has mega. He is 7 months old and getting way to heavy and active to hold up to eat. If anyone has a chair they don’t need or would like to sell we would be interested. Thank you so much!

  10. I have a Baily chair to donate that is for a medium sized dog (55-70 lbs) never been used my Pit Bull was too scared of it. Her MegaE was due to an allergy to whole proteins and is now back to normal (so grateful). Would love to help someone out with a very nice, hand-crafted chair my brother made who builds furniture. It is white with grey padding inside and an attached tray for food bowl. Cute rustic add ons for style. I live in San Diego, CA.

  11. Melissa- I am in Northern CA and just got a German Shepherd 1 year old who was diagnosed yesterday. I would love to get your chair. I can drive down to get it in a few weeks. If it is still available would you contact me at sdallyglass@yahoo.com. She is a 50 pound dog when she is well I am told, but now is just 39. I believe that would be mid size even when she reaches 50.

  12. Red Stick German Shepherd Rescue received a donation of a Bailey Chair. Oskar is doing great!

  13. My 10 yr old 16 lb. mini poodle Dave recently developed megaeosophagus. We have been spoon feeding him for a while to slow down his gulping down food. A CT scan finally diagnosed him. We will be building his Bailey chair ourselves, just getting ideas for ensuring his comfort while sitting inside it. Looks like good idea to give it a wipe clean surface. Looking for construction plans. Any ideas?

  14. we have a sweet 2 year old waterdog newly diagnosed with MG and ME, I cant afford a new chair, but would love to buy one used or get one free. Our pup weighs about 35 lb.

    also, Melissa in San Diego…how did you find out about your dog’s allergies?

  15. I have a wonderful 7 year old black lab just diagnosed with ME. She weighs a75-80 pounds. Need info .where I can buy a Bailey chair and any info. regarding water dispensing when we are away from her for work. Please help.

  16. I have a 6 year old Australian shepherd that has been diagnosed with megaeosophagus. I just learned of the bailey chair.She weighs 60 pounds. Where can I locate one.

  17. Hello there my dog just got diagnosed with megaesophagus and was wondering on any links to less expensive Bailey chairs ? Or donations ? Please ? I am stationed in Germany and it cost around 600+ dollars and living in Europe is expensive already . Please help … I’m
    Trying to make him live longer

  18. My name is Jen and I am a nursing manager at an emergency and specialty animal hospital named CARES in Langhorne, PA. We have a brand new Bailey chair that we would like to sell. Anyone interested or know someone who would be? Thanks!

  19. We have a Rotty that has developed megE. Has lost 13 pounds so far. I just had neck surgery (fused C5/C6) so I can not build one for a while. Do you still have chair? What size? Jake is 104 lbs. Please let me know if your chair is compatible with the Jakster. Thanks Richard and Rebecca. Oh we live in Beaumont, Texas.

  20. My 6 year old yorkshire terrier has just been diagnoisd after a month of not being able to digest any food correctly, she’s now seriously malnouished and after many vetinatary trearments and i would be so grateful if some one can give me any directions to getting one or anything? Thank you

  21. My dog Maci was just diagnosed with mayasthenia gravis which is affecting her ability to keep food down, I was wondering if there is a sight where I can buy a used chair,

  22. We have a 14 year old Rottie-Shepherd mix who has recently been diagnosed with M.E. We are in Miami, and really want to make our good boy comfortable in his senior years. if anyone can donate a Bailey chair large enough for him, we would be most grateful.

  23. I have a really nice Bailey chair to donate. I live in Miami in Coconut Grove. It was for my GSD mix Phoebe. She was about 50 lbs.text me at 305.992.2211

  24. My 11 1/2 yr old Landseer Newfie was just diagnosed with megasophogus and I’m looking for a used Bailey Chair. He’s 125 lbs. Thank you.

  25. I have a German Shepherd puppy Muffin she is 3 months old, she has just been diagnosed with megasophogus she is 18 pounds. Looking for a Bailey chair, right now I am holding her while trying to feed her and some of you who have tried this know it’s not easy.
    My family and I are going into this very positive and would like all the help any one has to offer. Thanks for reading…..

  26. Hi all! Just found out our 1 1/2 yr old Catahoula leopard dog (shepherd mix) has been diagnosed with Mega E . I too am looking for a bailey chair if anyone happens to have one for cheap or to donate. He is about 55 lbs now from losing weigh. Also, if anyone has good plans for one, id appreciate those and mabe could make a decent one or him. THANKS 🙂

  27. hello my name is Desiree i have a 8 week old puppy a lady gave him to me and i need a baleys chair if someones willing to donatei will pay shipping fees and all i live in Hamilton ON my number is 2899338184 if you do thank you for reading

  28. Just made my catahoula his own bailey chair. BUT he refuses to use it! Wants to stand fully up rather than sit and cannot get him to stay in it etc.. Any hints how to coax him into using it??

  29. I have a Englush bulldog that normally weighs 50 pounds but down to 43. I don’t really understand her weight loss since she only Spurs up white foam which were diagnosed as allergies for almost a year. After trying every toe of dog food, rice and eggs and having her statist my sons to see if the problem was environmental, it was determined her esophagus is both deviated and mega. I was hoping one of the chairs would help with her condition.

  30. I have a 1 1/2 year old 55 pound Golden Retriever and am looking to see if anyone has a chair to donate. We live near Buffalo, NY. She was diagnosed with ME. Please email me at chaundah@gmail.com. Thank you so much!

  31. Hi. My name is Cathy and my sweet Gunner , who is an 8 year old rescued blue tick hound, was just diagnosed with megasophogus. Acually we are still waiting at the Auburn Veterinary Clinic as I am typing this. I do not know anything about this and would love to talk to others. In reading a little on this page, I do know that we will need to buy a Baileys Chair. So if anyone should have one for sale. Thanks much

  32. We have a Bailey Chair that we would like to donate. Our golden weighed about 60lbs. If anyone is interested please call or email me. You would need to just pay for the shipping. Thank you!

    (952) 300-8863

    We live in Minnesota

  33. Hi, my 7 1/2 year old Pug/Yorkie mix has just been diagnosed with ME and I am struggling to figure out how to help him keep food & water down. I would appreciate any suggestions. He regurgitates every time he goes outside and during the night. I’ve been trying to hold him upright to keep it from happening, but he still can’t keep everything down. It is breaking my heart that I can’t take him for walks or play hard with him. He is only 30 lbs so I am looking for a smaller Bailey Chair or similar alternative. Will that stop the regurgitation?? Can anyone help? I would be so grateful. I’m in Michigan.

  34. We recently adopted a german sheperd that came from a bad situation and had to have her right front leg amputated and now we found out she also has mega esophagus really bad. We have been told unless we get her in a Bailey chair to eat we could lose her since she asperated recently and got real sick. Does anyone have a chair they no longer use to help us out please! Thank you!

  35. I have a Rhodesian Ridgeback in need of a Bailey chair. Anyone in the Midwest have one to donate? He is about 105 pounds. Text 678-815-3020.

  36. My pomeranian was just diagnosed. We are trying to treat his pneumonia. Praying we can recover from that and manage this! If anyone has a chair for a 20lbs dog please let me know! I am in Kissimmee, Florida until Aug 15th then I am going to the Summerville, SC area. 407-353-9193 Thanks so much!

  37. Our golden retriever pup was just diagnosed with megaesphogus and right persistent aortic arch. We are in need of a Bailey chair and if anyone one has one available (we are in Dallas area) to donate or we purchase. Or perhaps instructions to make one , it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you .

  38. What we all need is a real solution to heal or best cope with Megasophagus.

    It seems to be everywhere these days, and I never heard of it in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s or 2000’s.

    I have been dealing with my mini Schnauzer’s Megasophagus for 3 years, and it does not get better with time. It is not just a problem to keep food down. Now, after just a few hours swallowing saliva, she will have the saliva, and anything else that was still in her esophagus coming up through her nose as soon as she lowers her head.

    What about treatment of the esophagus via mild electostimulation to regain muscle tone and contraction?

    What about a flexible small plunger that could be used to gently push the food or saliva down into the stomach?

    There has got to be an answer. Lets find it.

    Michael

  39. We are looking for a Bailey chair for our 7 year old, 50 pound Collie who has just been diagnosed with Mega E and recovering from aspiration pneumonia. We live in the DC metro area. ustearns@yahoo.com. Thank you!

  40. My 40 pound lab/border collie 21 month old who is my medical alert dog was just diagnosed. Does anyone have a Bailey chair to donate? I would pay shipping. Text me plz 321-243-5609

  41. My 3 year old shepherd (approx. 65 lbs) is in need of a Baily Chair. Is there any one that is willing to donate one for her. Unfortunately, her symptoms have come on quick, we have tried numerous ways of feeding her that no longer work, and she is not doing well.

  42. Hi,
    Our 7 1/2 year old black lab mix rescue Zeus,down from 95lbs to 75lbs, which is actually a better weight for him, was just diagnosed with mega and a bladder issue. If anyone has a Bailey chair to donate or sell please contact me. I live in the Denver area. Thank you so much. My email is benbhanson@gmail.com or phone number 303 396 2771

  43. Hi all,

    My 3 year old Rough Collie (Nimble) was diagnosed with ME/MG this weekend and have contacted Susan&Gigi for any Bailey chairs available for donation. Nimble is currently 58 pound and we live in San Diego, CA.

    Although it was from Feb’15, Melissa, would you still happen to have your Bailey Chair?

    I’m so thankful for this group/FB group and can be contacted via email lee.jeane@gmail.com.

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