What is a choke?

In horses, this means there is an obstruction of the esophagus (food pipe).  This most often occurs when partially chewed food gets stuck in the esophagus.

Clinical signs:

Signs include coughing, saliva and food particles exiting both nostrils and mouth, anxiousness and inappetance. Attempts at ingestion (eating) often are followed by repeated extension of the head and other signs of distress.

Causes of choke:

A number of factors can lead to a choke.  Dental problems can cause a horse to have difficulties chewing his feed.  Therefore the partially chewed food is more likely to cause an esophageal impaction.  Horses that tend to eat very quickly are also predisposed to this condition.  Less commonly, obstruction of the esophagus due to a tumor, esophageal dilation or stricture can also lead to this problem.

Treatments:

As soon as you suspect your horse is choking, remove all feed.  Call your veterinarian.  A veterinarian’s objective when treating a choke is to clear the obstruction from the esophagus.  In order to do so, a nasogastric tube (stomach tube) is passed up the nose and into the esophagus.  The nasogastric tube is carefully advanced until the obstruction is reached.  Most feed impactions will require the veterinarian to lavage the affected area in order to flush out and/or loosen feed material.  Care has to be taken that the esophagus is not damaged or ruptured during this procedure.  There are also certain drugs that can be used to aid in esophageal relaxation.  It is also important that the horse is tranquilized during this process so that its head hangs down and therefore feed material flows out and is not aspirated into the lungs.  After resolution, horses are slowly reintroduced to feed.  Antibiotics are recommended in some cases due to the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Anti-inflammatories are also often given for several days.

Prevention:

 It is important to schedule yearly dental exams.  In the older horse, wetting the feed down will help with chewing and digestion.  If your horse tends to eat his grain/pellets very quickly then placing a couple large rocks in his feeder will slow him down.  Also keeping a horse busy with multiple smaller meals instead of two large feedings can help the voracious eater.  Endoscopic examination of the entire esophagus is usually indicated in the repeat offender.

TAGS     choke,  equine,  cough

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