What is Type 1 vagal indigestion?

• A. Free gas bloat = failure to eructate
• B. Omasal transport failure
• C. Abomasal/pyloric outflow obstruction
• D. Intestinal ileus

Answer: (A)

Type I vagal indigestion is free gas bloat resulting from a failure to eructate. When gas produced in the rumen cannot escape through eructation, it accumulates and the rumen becomes distended with gas, causing left‑side abdominal distension and labored breathing. The key feature is gas buildup in the rumen due to blocked or impaired eructation, not a problem with moving ingesta or outflow of digesta.

The other forms involve different problems: transport of ingesta from the reticulorumen to the omasum is impaired (omasal transport failure) leading to distension from feed ingesta rather than a primary gas bloat; outflow from the abomasum or pylorus is obstructed (abomasal/pyloric outflow obstruction); or the intestines lose motility (ileus), causing distension but not a failure of eructation in the rumen.