Choke
Choke is common in horses and a lot of people don't realise that. The reason horses get choke is due to swallowing food that is to dry or coarse or it is due to dental problems.
This is one reason that I like the hay to have a good watering and it also takes away the dust.
When I have a big bale of hay delivered, I water it or leave it in the rain to take the dust and the dryness out of it.
Another very good reason for horses to always have access to water.
Sugar beet can be a problem for horses. Horses can die from eating sugar beet if the owners do not soak it long enough or do not read the instructions on how long to soak it and then feed it to the horse not knowing it will expand while the horse is eating it and can get stuck in the throat of the horse and then choke or colic follows!
Usually it is through the horse being greedy that is the problem. Try putting a brick in the bottom of the feed bucket to slow the horse down or chop some carrots up and put into feed
Greedy horses will swallow (bolt) their food or hay without first chewing it and this is one reason horses get choke.
Horses that chew on wood, Cribbers, are prone to choke. While they are cribbing, chewing wood, pieces can get stuck in their gullet (Oesophagus)
The Oesophagus is a muscular tube and is around 4/5 feet that leads to the stomach of the horse. Horses cannot vomit!
So the main reasons for choke is down to the horse not chewing their food properly, dry/coarse, food/hay, cribbers and dental problems.
The signs of choke in horses are;
Difficulty swallowing. The horse will try to swallow but cannot. Also coughing and gagging as if trying to clear the blockage at the back of the throat.
Watch for the horse extending her neck and head in a downward direction also. This is due the blockage and trying to move it. The horse will start to have discharge running from the nostrils.This can be greenish to yellow colouring. The horse will also have increased salivation drooling from the mouth.
Look for a lump on the left side of the neck (Most obvious side) If there is no lump it doesn't mean it is not choke. It does not appear in some cases.
In some cases the blockage clears itself and this could be due to the saliva that is being produced allowing the blockage to pass into the stomach.
The horse can start to panic when they have the blockage and their heart rate increases due to the stress.
Please call your vet if you suspect your horse as choke. You could save the horses life.
Your vet will sedate the horse and put a stomach tube into the nostril and pass it into the gullet (Oesophagus) and the blockage will be found.
They will use a spasmolytic drug to help relax the horses muscles. When the oesophagus is relaxed the blockage may slip down freely. If this does not happen then the vet will apply gentle pressure onto the blockage with the stomach tube to release the blockage into the stomach. They will gently pass warm water and lubricant slowly through the stomach tube to soften the food that is blocked for it to pass easily.
When you feed food that needs soaking to your horse, always make such you allow the time it needs to swell before they eat it and keep an eye on your horse eating.
Keep your horses dental up to date for sharp teeth or loose ones.
Always have clean water for your horse to drink. Dirty water may stop the horse from drinking. Water should always be available to horses.
Stop your horse from bolting their food. Try slowing down the bolting by placing a large brick or give smaller quantity of food at a time.
When I am feeding, Pip, I cut up carrots to help slow her down eating her feed. It does the trick with her!
I always say, if in doubt please call your vet. It can be life saving. I am NOT a vet and do not pretend to know all there is about horses health, but I have seen so many horses go through pain and stress because people think their horse will be OK and not call in the vet to deal with the problem.
It could be down to money or just waiting thinking that the horse will be fine in an hour or two, but believe me, it isn't worth the risk.
If you are not sure what to do, why not just call the vet and ask their advice.
The Oesophagus is a muscular tube and is around 4/5 feet that leads to the stomach of the horse.
This is one reason that I like the hay to have a good watering and it also takes away the dust.
When I have a big bale of hay delivered, I water it or leave it in the rain to take the dust and the dryness out of it.
Another very good reason for horses to always have access to water.
Sugar beet can be a problem for horses. Horses can die from eating sugar beet if the owners do not soak it long enough or do not read the instructions on how long to soak it and then feed it to the horse not knowing it will expand while the horse is eating it and can get stuck in the throat of the horse and then choke or colic follows!
Usually it is through the horse being greedy that is the problem. Try putting a brick in the bottom of the feed bucket to slow the horse down or chop some carrots up and put into feed
Greedy horses will swallow (bolt) their food or hay without first chewing it and this is one reason horses get choke.
Horses that chew on wood, Cribbers, are prone to choke. While they are cribbing, chewing wood, pieces can get stuck in their gullet (Oesophagus)
The Oesophagus is a muscular tube and is around 4/5 feet that leads to the stomach of the horse. Horses cannot vomit!
So the main reasons for choke is down to the horse not chewing their food properly, dry/coarse, food/hay, cribbers and dental problems.
The signs of choke in horses are;
Difficulty swallowing. The horse will try to swallow but cannot. Also coughing and gagging as if trying to clear the blockage at the back of the throat.
Watch for the horse extending her neck and head in a downward direction also. This is due the blockage and trying to move it. The horse will start to have discharge running from the nostrils.This can be greenish to yellow colouring. The horse will also have increased salivation drooling from the mouth.
Look for a lump on the left side of the neck (Most obvious side) If there is no lump it doesn't mean it is not choke. It does not appear in some cases.
In some cases the blockage clears itself and this could be due to the saliva that is being produced allowing the blockage to pass into the stomach.
The horse can start to panic when they have the blockage and their heart rate increases due to the stress.
Please call your vet if you suspect your horse as choke. You could save the horses life.
Your vet will sedate the horse and put a stomach tube into the nostril and pass it into the gullet (Oesophagus) and the blockage will be found.
They will use a spasmolytic drug to help relax the horses muscles. When the oesophagus is relaxed the blockage may slip down freely. If this does not happen then the vet will apply gentle pressure onto the blockage with the stomach tube to release the blockage into the stomach. They will gently pass warm water and lubricant slowly through the stomach tube to soften the food that is blocked for it to pass easily.
When you feed food that needs soaking to your horse, always make such you allow the time it needs to swell before they eat it and keep an eye on your horse eating.
Keep your horses dental up to date for sharp teeth or loose ones.
Always have clean water for your horse to drink. Dirty water may stop the horse from drinking. Water should always be available to horses.
Stop your horse from bolting their food. Try slowing down the bolting by placing a large brick or give smaller quantity of food at a time.
When I am feeding, Pip, I cut up carrots to help slow her down eating her feed. It does the trick with her!
I always say, if in doubt please call your vet. It can be life saving. I am NOT a vet and do not pretend to know all there is about horses health, but I have seen so many horses go through pain and stress because people think their horse will be OK and not call in the vet to deal with the problem.
It could be down to money or just waiting thinking that the horse will be fine in an hour or two, but believe me, it isn't worth the risk.
If you are not sure what to do, why not just call the vet and ask their advice.
The Oesophagus is a muscular tube and is around 4/5 feet that leads to the stomach of the horse.