Viagra promising as treatment for canine eating disorder

PULLMAN, Wash. — Sildenafil, the generic version of the drug known as Viagra, could be the long-awaited remedy for a group of dogs with a rare disorder called megaesophagus. The condition involves an enlargement of the esophagus and a loss of the organ's ability to move food to the stomach, which leaves food bottling up in the lower esophagus.

Version of Viagra—Yes, That Viagra—Could Help Dogs With Megaesophagus ...

Dogs with megaesophagus often have to eat in a "Bailey chair," an upright seat that keeps the dog 45-90 degrees to the ground, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. The pups have to remain in their chairs for at least 20 minutes after eating to allow gravity to do its work, and their food is often prepared to form either a gruel-like substance ...