FOREIGN BODIES— OBSTRUCTION IN ESOPHAGUS 133 



needles and fish bones are often seen by this method. In cases 

 of small obstructions located in the thoracic portion of the 

 esophagus, the symptoms are not so pronounced. Loss of 

 appetite, emaciation and occasional vomiting are the most 

 prominent manifestations of the condition. However, when 

 sharp objects penetrate the walls at this point, various com- 

 plications of a serious nature may be produced. The passage 

 of a sound (horse catheter) is often a valuable aid in arriving 

 at a correct diagnosis. In valuable animals, Roentgen rays 

 may be used to assist in locating hard or metallic substances. 



Diagnosis.— This is made positive by a careful examination 

 together with the above mentioned symptoms. Care should 

 be taken to exclude rabies as the symptoms are similar. (See 

 Rabies.) Always beware of the dog with "bone in the 

 throat." 



Prognosis.— Foreign bodies located in the cervical portion 

 of the esophagus can usually be removed which is followed 

 by rapid recovery except in those cases where necrosis is 

 produced from pressure upon the walls, or extensive phleg- 

 monous inflammation from perforation. It sometimes 

 happens that needles and pins will penetrate the walls and 

 become encapsuled in the adjacent tissues without producing 

 any further disturbance to the animal. Foreign bodies 

 located in the thoracic portion of the esophagus should always 

 be considered unfavorable owing to their location and the 

 danger of injury to the organs in the thoracic cavity or a 

 purulent pleuritis resulting from perforation. 



Treatment.— Obstructions to the esophagus are removed 

 by: (a) Use of throat forceps; (b) by propulsion with the 

 sound into stomach; (c) by emesis; (d) by esophagotomy; 

 (e) by gastrotomy and sound forcing the foreign body out 

 via mouth. 



(a) The throat forceps can often be used to an advantage 

 when the object is located in the posterior part of the 

 pharynx or in the anterior part of the esophagus. The mouth 

 is held open with the speculum, the tongue pulled well for- 

 ward, and the object grasped with the forceps and removed. 

 Care should be taken to prevent laceration of the tissues in 

 case of a sharp object or one of an irregular shape. 



