Checking Facts On Choke, A Condition In Horses

The condition known as choke afflicts many horses. Do not be confused-this is not the sort of choking that we humans have to worry about, although it is a potentially serious condition.

As you probably know, choking in humans involves the windpipe becoming completely obstructed, thus limiting one's ability to breathe. However, the condition of choke in horses is not quite the same thing. In a horse, the choke afflicts the esophagus and not the windpipe. Most often, a horse's choke may be afflicted while eating. Many horses have the tendency to eat too fast. When a horse eats too fast without completely chewing its food, there is always the potential to choke. There are certain foods that have gained a reputation for precipitating a choke episode. These foods may include pellet feeds and hay cubes. The foods are now gaining in popularity because of the ease of transporting them. Other culprits include supplements such as beet pulp. Beet pulp is particularly dangerous if it is not properly soaked before feeding. There is always the threat that if beet should come into contact with the saliva in a horse's mouth, it can absorb the liquid and expand.



One of the most difficult aspects of dealing with horse choke is that it can be a difficult problem to spot. Many times, the only indications that you may get that your horse is suffering from choke is that it's not eating or drinking. Another symptom of choke is discharge from the nose that contains food particles.

If you suspect that your horse is suffering from choke, it is very important that you remove all the foodstuffs from the area. Make sure that your horse has plenty of clean fresh water at all times, and prepare to inspect your horse carefully. What should you look for? Sometimes you may be able to feel a lump on the side of the horse's neck from the food that is causing obstruction. Very carefully, you may be able work it loose from outside the horse's body. However, if your horse is still demonstrating signs of choke after an hour, it is time to call your vet. When the food cannot be worked loose from the outside, your horse may need surgery to remove the obstruction in its esophagus. Fortunately, surgery can often be avoided required if the problem is caught early enough. Your vet may opt to give your horse a sedative. This can help relax the horse enough to allow for the blockage to be swallowed and passed down his throat.

If you aren't sure if choke is what's causing your horse trouble, your best bet is to always consult your vet. Your vet has the expertise to deal with these confusing situations, and may opt to pass a deforming tube into his esophagus with water or mineral oil poured into it. This can help loosen, break up, and move the blockage. It is imperative that all horse owners learn about choke, a condition in horses that can often be confusing because it may resemble colic or other stomach ailments.

Unfortunately, since your horse can't speak and tell you what's wrong, it's up to you as the owner to watch its feeding closely and monitor any problems before they escalate. If you suspect that your horse is suffering from choke, the first 72 hours are crucial. This is due to the swelling and stretching of the esophagus muscles that can occur during this period, and the stress a horse is under when it's spamming.

If you suspect choke in your horse, there are many steps you can take to prevent choke in the critical hours that follow a choke episode. Your vet may give you an anti-inflammatory to administer to your horse to reduce the swelling of the esophagus and help reduce the likelihood of a recurrence of choke. You may also have to augment your horse's diet as well. Many vets instruct owners to feed horse bran mashes or other softened foods in the first 72 of a choke episode.

When dealing with a horse choke episode, be sure to check with your vet to determine whether or not to offer the horse water. There are many opinions on this subject. Some people feel that with a horse with symptoms of choke should not have access to water. If the blockage is severe enough, your horse may take water into his lungs, which could result in pneumonia or a lung infection. However, this only occurs on rare occasions and water may help soften the blockage if it is not too serious, thus the controversy.

There are many ways to prevent choke, although it can be difficult since horses are curious by nature and can get hurt in a padded stall. When learning the facts on choke, it is advisable to discourage the horse from gobbling his food. If you have a horse that tends to swallow more than it can chew, try putting softball size rocks in his feed tub to slow down his eating. This will cause the horse to push the rocks out of the way with his nose to reach the feed pellets, thus slowing down his eating pace. Even placing a mineral or salt block in his feeder can help slow down a feed-wolfing horse.

You may also want to consider making gradual changes in the type of feed you serve. Another easy precaution is to check your fences for loose pieces of wood. Horses are sometimes tempted to chew on wooden fences, and these pieces of wood may become lodged in his esophagus. When feeding treats to him, make sure to cut or break them into small pieces. Corncobs, although a popular treat, is a potentially bad food that can cause choke. If your horse is prone to choke, take a walk around your horse's paddock or pasture. Anything smaller than softballs should be removed from the vicinity to keep the horse safe.