Prognosis. The animal’s life is rarely in immediate danger, but from the economic point of view the prognosis is extremely grave, and it is in the owner’s interest to slaughter the animal as soon as possible in order to avoid loss. Even in cases of dilatation in the cervical region, surgical interference is not advisable.
Treatment. As foreshadowed by what has been said, there is no rational economic treatment. When the dilatation is in the cervical region, one might in exceptional cases attempt to restore the regular calibre of the œsophagus by removing an elliptical portion of mucous membrane, and bringing the muscular tissue together with sutures; that is to say, when the rupture or fissuring of the muscular coat has been accidental. But as one is usually unable to remove the primary cause, to which the change in the muscular tissue is essentially due, the dilatation would recur without the operation having conferred any benefit.
When an exact diagnosis has been made, the only useful indication is to confine the animal to very fluid food, which will not obstruct the œsophagus. Ordinary forage should be withheld.
ŒSOPHAGEAL OBSTRUCTIONS.
In this chapter we shall only consider such obstructions as occur in consequence of the animal having attempted to swallow without sufficiently chewing objects which become arrested in the œsophagus.
Obstruction is termed “total” or “partial,” according as the obstructing body fills the entire calibre of the œsophagus at the point of obstruction, or only occupies a part of the space. Partial obstructions produced by beet and turnip tops, etc., are usually but momentary; liquids and saliva are still able to pass between the obstruction and the walls of the tube, and as soon as the arrested food becomes a little softened it is displaced and the œsophagus again becomes patent.
Causation. The circumstances under which this accident occurs are extremely easy to understand. Obstructions are produced by apples, potatoes, turnips, carrots, cabbage-stalks, beetroots, etc., which, whether sliced or not, are swallowed gluttonously. Not having been sufficiently comminuted, and being of larger size than the œsophagus can readily accommodate, they become arrested at some point between the commencement of the œsophagus or a few inches behind the pharynx, or just in front of the point of entry of the gullet into the stomach. The latter is the commonest position, though not infrequently the obstruction occurs in the intra-thoracic portion.
It may occur in the stable, but is commoner in animals which, having broken loose, have entered orchards, gardens or potato or turnip fields and attempted to swallow apples, cabbages, potatoes, etc., found there.
In sheep, obstruction of the œsophagus is due to similar causes, but in their case the above-mentioned objects are replaced by small wild apples, turnip shells, Jerusalem artichokes, horse-chestnuts, carrots, etc.
The symptoms may be divided into general and local.