The mucus is usually produced in order to protect an irritated esophagus due to either regurgitation or acid reflux. Liquid sucralfate or carafate will help by sort of forming a bandage on the irritated esophagus thus helping it to heal. It does generally help most ME dogs to decrease the mucus and slime produced. You will probably get a big pill which you will need to dissolve in about 5-6 cc’s of warm water. It won’t do any good if given in pill form–needs to be liquid form to coat and soothe the esophagus. It needs to be given either 1 hour before food or other meds or 2 hours after, because it will bind with the food or meds instead of the esophagus and won’t do its intended job. Most of our ME dogs are on an acid inhibitor like pepcid or prilosec (or both.) Those are the 2 most common ones used by our dogs in the group, though some use Zantac and a few nexium. If your german shepherd is not on an acid inhibitor, it would probably be a good idea to add that to her treatment program.
Where is all of this mucus coming from and how does an enlarged esophagus equate to excessive mucus production that seemed to never be there before:
If the esophagus is irritated, lots of mucous is produced as the body’s way of dealing. This mucous gets stuck in the esophagus when the dog is horizontal . An inflamed irritated esophagus is very painful and can be treated with sucralfate to soothe it. Many of us use this when we see those strings of saliva and hear the gurgling.
What to try for relief:
1) Guaifenesin product such as Mucinex or Robitussin for chest congestion which has only guaifenesin as the active ingredient because Guaifenesin is an expectorant and helps to break up the mucus.
NOTE: Not a good idea to use products that contain a cough suppressant as you want them to bring the gunk up and out.
2) Carafate/sucrafate helps and so does prilosec (omeprazole).
3) Might try using Tussin to help break up the mucous. What you don’t want to do is get something with a cough suppressant in it. You want them to be able to cough any mucous up.
4) Chest “thumping” might help also to help break it up.
5) Coupage or also called percussion therapy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjPMjlhluQ4