GH deficiency in a Dalmatian puppy with megaesophagus.

An 8 wk old female Dalmatian weighing .56 kg presented with growth retardation. The puppy exhibited no abnormalities during physical examination other than significantly reduced growth compared with her littermates. Endocrine results suggested pituitary dwarfism. Two wk later, the puppy returned due to the onset of megaesophagus, but the puppy unfortunately died the following morning. This case report describes the diagnosis of dwarfism in a Dalmatian puppy that was caused by growth hormone (GH) deficiency and describes its early clinical manifestations.