Choke
Choke is a condition in which food material gets stuck somewhere in a horses oesophagus before it reaches the stomach.
Although called ‘choke’ it does not mean the same thing as in humans when it is used to describe a blockage of the windpipe.
There are several reasons why a horse might get choke. For example; bolting feed, swallowing a large piece of carrot or apple or not chewing food properly. The result can be quite dramatic.
Common signs include:
- Discharge from the nose containing bits of feed
- Excessive salivation
- Retching
- Arching and stretching forward of the neck
- Coughing
What to do:
First, remove all food from the horse as eating will only make the problem worse. In the majority of cases the choke will clear on its own. Leading the horse around and leaving it in a quiet stable will often help.
If the choke persists or if you are concerned please call for advice.
If the vet has to attend; he or she will initially inject the horse with drugs to help relax the muscles of the oesophagus and to sedate the horse. In some instances this will be enough and the obstruction will clear.
The vet will then pass a tube up into the horses nose and down into the oesophagus. This provides information on where the blockage is and also if it has cleared.
If the obstruction is still present the vet will begin to clear it manually. This can be a lengthy process and involves flushing water in and out of the tube down into the oesophagus to help break up the blockage. The horse is sedated throughout this process to make sure the head is held low down to avoid aspiration of any fluid.
It is advisable to withhold food from the horse for several hours after the choke has cleared as the lining of the oesophagus is likely to be inflamed and the horse may be at increased risk of choking again. When food is re introduced, making it wet and sloppy will help.
Prevention:
- Damping feed down properly before feeding
- Cut carrots long ways and thin. Never chop into rounds
- Slice apple thinly
- Be watchful of horses known to bolt food
