Is he choking?

Question
Hello Pat! :)
I just gave Twix a little slice of bananna and when he was eatting it he started making movements almost like he was gagging or like when a cat tries to throw up a hairball. I quickly went to him and pet him. It didn't stop so I picked him up and right when I did he stopped. Was he choking? Your answers are very appreciated!
-Elyse

Answer
I get this same question frequently. I don't belive this is actual choking because I see some of mine doing the same thing when they're not eating. The vets call this a type of sneeze, much like the reverse sneezing that dogs will do on occasion.

I suppose he could have been trying to cough up a bit of the banana although it seemed to resolve spontaneously. As I said I've seen mine do this before so I know how easily it can be interpreted as choking.

Oddly enough my pigs prefer the banana peel to the white meat of the banana. That works out fine for me because I love bananas and don't want to share, so giving them a piece of the peel satisfies all of us.