Decrease or loss of appetite (inappetence; anorexia)

A temporary decrease in appetite may result from fear, excitement, violent exercise or even scarcely apparent changes in the character of the diet. More prolonged inappetence can result from emotional disturbance such as that caused by the housing or yarding of pastured sheep — especially hill-breeds of sheep. Cats may refuse to eat for long periods when con­fined away from their home environment.

Voluntary restriction of food intake occurs during lacta­tion in sows that were fed to appetite during pregnancy and considerable weight loss will result. A voluntary restriction in food intake of fat ewes occurs in the terminal part of pregnancy and this may initiate pregnancy toxemia.

A degree of inappetence varying to frank anorexia is present with most disease states and consequently its occur­rence is of little diagnostic value; however, the degree to which it is manifest, the speed of its onset and the selectiv­ity of its loss are of some value in differential diagnosis. In appetence may occur in such diverse conditions as specific amino acid or B-vitamin deficiencies and chronic infectious disease. A severe degree of inappetence is usually present with hepatic or renal disease and with any condition in which there is alimentary-tract stasis, severe pain, high fever, toxemia or septicemia, and dementia or stupor.

Increased Appetite

Increased appetite and thirst are seen in pancreatic fibrosis and diabetes mellitus in the dog although emacia­tion gradually develops. An increased appetite is some­times seen in chronic malabsorptive states and may accom­pany certain pituitary tumors and hypothalamic dysfunc­tions. Helminth infections are said to be accompanied by increased food intake, however in appetence is generally present in animals showing frank clinical signs of parasi­tism. An increase in appetite occurs following recovery from any disease in which in appetence has been manifested although this may be transient in remittent conditions such as equine infectious anemia. An increase in food intake above the normal occurs following periods of starvation or severe food restriction. Animals gaining access to palate feeds, especially animals on restricted food intake, will grossly overfeed, and this may be followed by severe diges­tive disturbances such as rumen overload in the cow and acute gastric impaction in the horse.

Foreign Bodies in the Esophagus

Foreign bodies, e. g. bones, needles and fishhooks, usual­ly lodge between the thoracic inlet and the base of the heart or between the base of the heart and the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm.

Clinical findings. Salivation, retching and extension of the neck are constant signs of cervical foreign bodies. When a complete obstruction exists, immediate vomiting follows the intake of food or water. The signs produced by a foreign body depend upon its location, its composition, the degree to which it obstructs the esophagus, and the duration of the condition. If the obstruction has existed for some time, anorexia and loss of weight may be the predominant signs.

Many foreign bodies can be demonstrated by radiography. The presence of a nonradiopaque object may necessitate the use of a barium suspension. Esophagoscopy is an important diagnostic procedure, since it permits direct examination of both the foreign body and the esophageal wall. Occasionally, large masses in the cervical portion of the esophagus can be localized by external palpation.

Treatment. If the object is in the upper portion of the esophagus, it sometimes is possible to grasp and remove it with forceps. All manipulations should be carried out with extreme care to avoid puncture or extensive laceration of the esophageal wall. Foreign bodies, particularly those with sharp edges, should never be pushed down the esophagus.

Surgery may be preferred approach. The choice of an esophagotomy or a gastrotomy will depend on the location and size of the foreign body.