168 PRACTICE OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



PARROT MOUTH. 



What is understood by parrot mouth ? 



This is where the upper jaw and incisors are long and overlap 

 the lower. The incisors do not come together in the regular manner. 



It is often difficult for these animals to prehend their food, 

 especially if turned out to grass. If it be a pronounced case, feed 

 on cut hay, etc., to make it easier to take hold of their food. 



CKIBBING. 



Give the synonym. 



Crib-biting. 



What is the definition? 



By cribbing is understood a taking hold of or a gnawing of some 

 substance (usually wood), and characterized by a wearing away or 

 a bevelling of the front portions of the upper and lower incisors. 

 The animal is called a cribber. 



Give the causes. 



It is a habit in many cases, and can be acquired by standing in 

 the stable continually, and especially if near an animal that has this 

 habit. It may be due to something wanting in the system, or to 

 some digestive trouble. 



What can be done for these animals? 



There is no specific; keep the animal in a stall having no man- 

 ger nor anything to get hold of, and work regularly. 



Keep rock salt in the stall, unless this tends to increase the 

 habit of cribbing. 



WIND SUCKING. 



What is meant by this ? 



The animal is known as a wind sucker, and may take hold of 

 some hard substance with the incisor teeth, arch the neck, give 

 a grunt, and apparently swallow air; or, in other cases, the nose is 

 extended, the lips puckered, and the animal imbibes wind without 

 taking hold of anything with the teeth. 



Cribbing and sucking wind are usually associated, and are to 

 be considered an unsoundness. 



