Synonyms

No known synonym; sometimes "pumped cow"

Name of the disease in English

Esophageal obstruction, choke

The disease in brief

Cattle are fond of apples, peaches, turnips, beets, potatoes, tomatoes, mangoes, etc.; but a plug of corn silage, plugs of concentrates or spent grains, or even a toy left in the grass can cause an obstruction! These obstructions can be located in 3 places: the exit of the oral cavity, the entrance of the chest, and the cardia. They are favored by functional defects of the esophagus.

The obstruction can also be linked to an external cause: tumor, fibropapilloma, lymph node hypertrophy, or abscess at the entrance to the chest...

Clinic & diagnosis

In its acute form, the bovine is restless, drools, makes efforts to swallow/regurgitate and bloats (more or less, at the level of the hollow of the left flank). In the chronic form, there is slight ptyalism and bloating which is sometimes discreet but persistent; ruminal hypermotricity accompanies the local signs of the acute phase which are sometimes discreet.

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

-Tumor or abscess at the entrance to the chest (or lymph node, etc.) N62                                                                                                      

-Pharyngitis RS19.1

-DG22 foamy meteorization

-Acute gaseous meteorization DG24

– Reticulorumen actinobacillosis DG20

-Papular stomatitis, DG10

-Stomatitis due to foreign body or burn by caustic or other GD16

Confirm a suspicion?

X-ray is the method of choice, but is not available.

Prognosis and treatment

–In case of cervical obstruction, manual extraction is a preferred method when the object can be reached; light sedation/tranquilization is sometimes useful. The object must be brought up along the esophagus by pressure-taxis, held in a high position, before attempting to extract it. If the object cannot be extracted manually, if it is deep - in the thoracic position - an attempt can be made to push it back towards the rumen with an esophageal probe and great caution; oil can be administered to lubricate the probe. Administration of an antispasmodic can help push the foreign body back. Placing a trocar in the hollow of the left flank can relieve the animal if the foreign body remains stuck.

In the event of an obstruction that persists in the cervical position, we reach a chronic stage; the obstruction may be complicated by a diverticulum or megaesophagus. The treatment then relies on the permanent placement of a ruminal trocar; vinegar can be administered to disintegrate the foreign body; finally, as a last resort, an esophagotomy can be attempted but by emphasizing the reservations relating to complete functional recovery (difficult healing, scar retraction, etc.).

Prevention

-Avoid letting cattle graze in orchards, cut beets or potatoes from the ration, etc.

References

Blackwell's five-minute veterinary consult-Ruminant; Haskell SRR Ed Wiley-Blackwell p338

Memo written by G Argenté, DVM, Y. Millemann, Professor at the ENV de Maisons -Alfort-2019