LECTURE L 

 CHOKE 



Choking, as ordinarily understood, is an obstruction in any 

 portion of the pharynx or esophagus. In horses it is more com- 

 monly caused by dry food, rapidly eaten. Cases in which a 

 long section of the esophagus is packed with soft, dry food are 

 especially difficult to handle successfully. Cows more frequently 

 choke on pieces of roots, pumpkins, and even old bones. 



Symptoms. — The horse or cow stops eating suddenly and 

 makes ineffectual efforts to swallow, then there are spasmodic 

 actions of the neck and belly muscles. When the animal at- 

 tempts to drink, some of the water returns through the nose. 

 If the obstruction is of considerable size and is located along 

 the neck portion of the esophagus, it may usually be seen or felt. 

 There is usually a profuse flow of saliva, and particularly in 

 the case of cattle an involuntary chewing action. If the chok- 

 ing occurs in the thoracic portion, then medicines or liquids are 

 swallowed in small quantities without difficulty until the 

 esophagus is full, when they return by the mouth, causing the 

 animal to cough. There is usually marked dejection and dis- 

 tress, with an appearance of anxiety, food and water are re- 

 fused. Cattle frequently bloat. 



Prevention. — Roots should be sliced or pulped unless they are 

 large. Cows often choke when eating hurriedly, especially when 

 attempting to swallow under threatened attack from some other 

 member of the herd. Hence individual feeding lessens this. 

 Horses choking on dry feed are almost invariably rapid eaters, 

 and for such horses it is well to avoid dry bran. Grain, espe- 

 cially oats or similar food, should be fed in such a way that the 

 horse gets it slowly; it may be scattered over the bottom of a 

 large manger, for instance — any device which forces the horse 

 to eat slowly lessens the difficulty. It should also be borne in 

 mind that an animal which has once choked is liable to a stric- 

 ture, with consequent recurrence of the same difficulty, during 

 the first week or two after the accident. 



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