546 DISEASES OF SWINE 



stretched out and the nose nearly to the ground. There is con- 

 siderable coughing, gagging, and there may even be vomiting. 

 The animal makes repeated efforts to swallow. The hog suffering 

 from choke will try again to eat and drink, but the food is unable 

 to pass by the obstruction in the gullet, and is returned either 

 through the mouth or the nose. 



The obstruction may be only temporary, and by the continued 

 efforts at swallowing and gagging the foreign body may be finally 

 carried down into the stomach or forced back through the gullet 

 into the mouth. In this way a large number of choke cases relieve 

 themselves. 



In other cases the choke remains permanent until removed by 

 aid from the owner or a veterinarian. In these continued cases the 

 animal bloats, stands around with the head down, mouth open, and 

 with saliva running from the mouth. The animal is continually 

 making efforts to swallow, frequently gags, and makes efforts as if 

 to vomit. Irritation of the air-passages causes the animal fre- 

 quently to have a fit of coughing. If the obstruction be in the 

 upper air-passages the hog makes a peculiar yelping sound, quite 

 unlike the usual grunt. Any effort at drinking water causes the 

 fluid to return again through the nose and mouth. 



The appetite of the animal is good and he is really hungry. As 

 a result, attempts will be made to eat. The food is taken into the 

 mouth and chewed, but attempts to swallow are followed by a fit 

 of gagging, and the food is thrown out either by way of the mouth 

 or through the nose. 



In severe cases there is considerable swelling, and the pressure 

 on the nearby air-tubes causes a great amount of difficulty in 

 breathing, and in very severe cases may cause death by shutting off 

 the air to the lungs. In other cases food passes down the air-tubes 

 instead of the food passages, and results later on in a mechanical 

 pneumonia, which ends the life of the animal. 



If the animal is caught, and a careful examination made of 

 the neck and throat, it is often possible to feel the apple, potato, 

 or other foreign body which is causing the trouble. This is pos- 

 sible only when the difficulty is located in the upper part of the 

 gullet. If the blocking is lower down near the stomach it is im- 

 possible to feel it by external examination. 



