CONSTIPATION 569 



the animal to die from suffocation. In the intestinal cases, placing 

 the animals in a different feed lot, feeding with soft food, and giving 

 a dose of oil may produce good results in a number of cases. 



CONSTIPATION 



This is a condition in which there is a failure of the bowels 

 to empty themselves, and the feces are retained, to become hard 

 and dry. It is a condition which is rather uncommon in the hog, 

 being more frequent in horses and cattle. 



Causes. — The principal cause for constipation is improper feed- 

 ing, combined with lack of exercise. Overfeeding or feeding with 

 an exclusively dry diet is a very common cause for the condition, 

 and this is especially true where the animal is in close, poorly ven- 

 tilated quarters and does not get sufficient exercise. 



In animals that are aifected with intestinal worms the develop- 

 ment of constipation is not unusual. In chronic indigestion con- 

 stipation is a common symptom. Just before the development of 

 the diarrhea in acute inflammations of the stomach and bowels 

 constipation is the rule. 



In hog-cholera the condition early in the disease is that of con- 

 stipation. This may be followed a few hours or days later by 

 diarrhea of the characteristic black, fetid character. In some cases 

 of cholera the condition remains one of constipation throughout the 

 course of the disease. 



Fattening animals which are kept in close quarters and over- 

 crowded with feed for the purpose of rapid development of fat often 

 become severely constipated. This is especially likely to occur if 

 they are fed largely on dry food and given an insufficient amount of 

 water. In the winter months constipation is very common, as the 

 animals are likely to remain huddled together much of the time, 

 taking but little exercise, and they are also likely to drink but little 

 water. Especially is this true if the water which is provided for 

 them be ice cold, as is often the case. 



Symptoms. — The most prominent symptom is frequent strain- 

 ing attempts to defecate, with the passage of httle or no droppings. 

 The feces that are passed are usually very dry and hard, and are 

 often covered with a slimy mucus. As the condition is usually 

 accompanied by more or less indigestion, the appetite becomes 



