A woman built a special high chair for her German Shepherd who's unable to swallow food

Alicia Motmans, 24, refused to give up on her beloved Ash, four, after the pooch was diagnosed with megaesophagus - an enlarged oesophagus.

Several vets suggested Ash be put down because of the condition.

But Alicia, from Hoeselt, Belgium, said no - and decided to explore other options instead.

She eventually hit upon using a special high chair, which allows Ash to spend 25 minutes after each meal in the vertical position so her food has time to digest.

Teacher Alicia said: "Since I built her this chair she's beeen so much better, and, without it, she wouldn't be with us today."

Ash was just a puppy when she started vomiting constantly after meal times.

Worried Alicia was back and forth from a total of ten different vets over the space of a year, most of whom put her illness down to stomach problems or allergies.

But, in October 2019, one vet identified that the problem was actually with her swallowing, and diagnosed her with megaesophagus.

Alicia said: "When we first got her, we knew something was up because of all the vomiting - but her breeder assured us nothing was wrong.

"The diagnosis was tough to hear, and it was suggested we put her down - but for us that was never an option.

"So instead, we explored ways to help her condition and one of them was this chair.