If your dog or cat is having trouble swallowing, it's possible that he or she has a muscle in his/her throat that isn't relaxing at the right time to let the food pass. It's a condition known as cricopharyngeal achalasia (try passing that one down your throat!).
I just read an excellent blog entry discussing a real case study of a daschund with this problem and how it was cured - pictures and all. Check it out here.
BTW, the Pet Peeves blog the article came from is about life in an animal ER and is very interesting. Check it out.
