Acute Gastric Dilatation in Other Domestic Animals. Etiology. 307 



(b) Acute Gastric Dilatation in Other Domestic Animals. 



Occurrence. Among carnivora, especially among dogs 

 and liogs, acute dilatation of the stomach is often observed ; it is 

 rare in rabbits, and in ruminants, particularly in cattle. 



Etiology. In carnivora, in hogs and also in rabbits acute 

 dilatation of the stomach is causetl by overloading the stomach, 

 particularly by the ingestion of large amounts of indigestible, 

 dry or of easily fermentable feed. Potatoes, bread, dog bis- 

 cuits, blood, bran, withered green feed, leaves of beets, legumi- 

 nosas, are in this respect dangerous. (Bruckmiiller found 

 whole pigeons with large masses of claws, feathers, skin and 

 bones in the stomach of dogs which had died of starvation in 

 consequence [Kitt]). 



In cattle acute dilatation of the abomasum occurs rarely as a 

 primary affection after the accumulation of masses of dry feed 

 in the abomasum (Harms, Lindenberg, observation of the 

 authors) if the feed gets into the omasum or abomasum without 

 rumination, or if it has not been broken up sufficiently, in spite 

 of a double mastication. Exceptionally the condition may de- 

 velop secondarily, for instance in the course of gastric atony 

 (Koch, Frasch) which gives insufficiently prepared feed a 

 chance to enter the abomasum. In both cases the coarse condition 

 of the feed prevents the pylorus from opening and hinders the 

 entrance of the feed mash into the intestines. 



Anatomical Changes. The stomach is enlarged, its wall 

 drumlike, or the stomach may be stuffed with dense masses 

 of feed. In hogs and rabbits rupture of the stomach is occasion- 

 ally observed at the large curvature, which has taken place intra- 

 vitam (Micucci, Joest). In cattle the abomasum filled with 

 masses of feed may be enlarged to the size of the rumen. (In a 

 case observed by Harms the abomasum contained forty-five 

 quarts of dried feed.) Exceptionally a rupture of the aboma- 

 sum may be found either confined to the serosa and muscularis 

 or it may be complete; in either case, it may lead to partial or 

 general peritonitis (Harms, Lindenberg, Giickel). 



Symptoms. Overloading of the stomach comparatively 

 rarely leads to grave disturbances in carnivora, in hogs or rab- 

 bits, "because these animals can vomit easily and can thus clear 

 their stomach of excessive contents. If, however, an equilibrium 

 cannot be brought about in this manner and if vomiting of very 

 dry coarse feed becomes impossible, there occur gagging, sali- 

 vation, bloating, first of the left side later on also of the right 

 side, in the region of the lower ribs and finally of the whole ab- 

 domen, with a frequent pulse beat, forced respiration, anxious 

 expression, whining, howling, groaning, sighing and restless- 



