Equine Choke By Dr. Joanna Bronson | http://bronsonvetservices.com/ Choke (Espophageal obstruction) is a common equine emergency. Unlike choking in humans, where choking obstructions occur in the trachea or windpipe, choke in horses involves an obstruction of the esophagus. This is the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. The symptoms of choke can mimic those of colic. Choke should be suspected if the horse stops eating and has an alarmed, confused expression, coughs, gags, retches, stretches his neck or shakes his head, drools heavily and expels discharge that includes bits of food from his nostrils, or shows signs of discomfort, such as sweating or pawing Choke is a very serious condition and necessitates a call to your veterinarian. While waiting for your vet to arrive, keep your horse from eating. Immediately remove all hay, feed, and water. Do not let him graze. Try to keep him calm. Hand walking may help as well as having a buddy nearby to help him relax. Do not administer any oral medications or use a garden hose to try to flush his throat. These can lead to serious complications such as aspiration pneumonia. Use your cell phone to take photos of any nasal or throat discharge, noting the color and consistency to report to your vet. Also document if you spot blood or an expelled foreign object. Treating choke begins with anti-inflammatory medication and sedation to relax him to lower his head below his chest. The caught food particles can then flow back out the mouth and nose and not down the trachea. Choking horses are sensitive to esophageal palpation, therefore minor chokes might be visible by feel. Some other causes may be attributed to a tumor or growth. These will be found upon examination by your veterinarian. The usual treatment is to sedate the horse and flush the obstruction with small volumes of water through a nasogastric tube. This procedure is done slowly to avoid an esophageal rupture. Another technique is based on the theory that most chokes selfcure and just need to be supported with sedation, medications to relax the esophageal muscles, and intravenous fluids to keep the horse hydrated. If the case is deemed severe, an endoscopic examination with a tiny camera may be performed, if the obstruction is suspected to be caused by a foreign object or hard blockage of food particles. This examination can reveal any abnormalities in the esophagus that may have contributed to the problem. This technique can also locate any possible tears or other injuries within the esophagus. Aftercare is extremely important as any choke can predispose a horse to aspiration pneumonia when food may have passed into the lungs and cause a secondary bacterial infection. An affected horse should be kept off grain for several days, and his hay should be moistened. He may also be placed on preventative antibiotics. Monitoring his temperature is crucial to watch for signs of infection or pneumonia. Temp twice daily, morning and night. Other signs to watch for include coughing, nasal discharge, an increased respiratory rate or effort to breathe. If an anti-inflammatory medication such as Banamine has been prescribed, it's important to take his temperature prior to dosage, as the medication will mask a fever. JULY 2021 • C & C PUBLISHING, INC. ©2021
Horses tend to choke on their food. Coarse hay, grain, and feed containing beet pulp swell when mixed with saliva and can cause an obstruction. Horses who gobble their food or don't chew thoroughly are most at risk for choke. Hard treats or chewing on non-food objects can trigger a choke incident. Horses with anatomical problems such as poor dentition and abnormal esophageal anatomy can be predisposed to choke. As for continual feeding, a wet mash made of his grain, especially if it contains beet pulp, will help with his digestion. If he is overdue for a dental examination, it's a good idea to schedule one when he has sufficiently recovered and is eating well. Removing sharp points on dental ridges will help prevent choke. Methods to help prevent choke: · Soak feed in lots of water a minimum of 30 minutes prior to feeding to form a mash · Offer plenty of clean drinking water at all times · Slow intake of forage and feed by using slow feeders or hay bags · Reduce anxiety and competition for resources by isolating each horse’s food source · Give small horse treats – no larger than the size of a thumb Once horses have experienced choke, new management techniques should help prevent a reoccurrence. Dr. Joanna Bronson graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000 at the top of her class. Following graduation, she worked as an intern at a large equine referral practice in Cleveland, Ohio specializing in lameness, surgery, and racetrack medicine. In 2005, she opened Bronson Veterinary Services in Coldwater, Michigan, a full-service equine, small animal hospital and surgical center.
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