CHOKE IN HORSE

Dr. Stephen Angelos, DVM, DACVIM

Choke in horses is one of the most common emergencies large animal veterinarians encounter. While in humans choke is immediately life threatening, this is not the case in horses. Unlike humans, in horses the condition refers to an obstruction (usually feed material) in the esophagus–the animal can still breath, despite being uncomfortable.

There are several common causes of choke in horses. Failure to chew feed material properly because of dental problems (sharp points, missing teeth, excessively worn teeth in geriatric horses) may predispose to not grinding feed properly and is the most common cause of choke in older horses. Some horses have a tendency to “bolt” their feed and by eating too quickly they do not chew properly. Sometimes the consistency of feed may predispose to choke—dry feed when adequate water is not present, or unsoaked dry beet pulp is a common culprit which many horse owners are aware of. Foreign objects are another common cause (wood particles especially in cribbers can lead to obstuction of the esophagus), but still much less common than the first two causes.

Common signs include: coughing, depression, disinterest in eating, and green feed material oozing from one or both nostrils. Oftentimes the patient will extend the neck and head or arch and spasm the neck. Excessive drooling is sometimes observed.

Although not immediately life threatening, it is important that a veterinarian address a choke within 1 to 2 hours of its occurrence. One of the reasons for this is that the longer a choke is unresolved, the greater the chance that there will be some irriation or damage to the esophagus, or that the patient will inhale some of the feed material into the lungs. This can lead to an extremely serious type of lung infection called aspiration pneumonia.

In all cases where the horse does not resolve the problem on his own, it is necessary to pass a tube into the esophagus and determine if it is reaching the stomach in a normal way and without meeting resistance. Horses need to be sedated for this procedure. If an obstruction is met, it is relieved with gentle lavage using a stomach pump and warm water. In addition to sedation, the patient may be given medication to help relax the esophagus and to help reduce inflammation and discomfort. Rarely, these cases require multiple attempts and visits to relieve the obstruction. One of the most common complications after a choke episode is aspiration pneumonia caused by inhalation of bacteria and feed material into the lungs. Your veterinarian will determine if antibiotics are necessary based on the severity of the episode and its duration. Antiinflammatory medications may also be used for several days to reduce inflammation at the obstruction site, depending on the severity and duration of the choke episode. It is always important to assess the patient’s teeth, as any predisposing dental problems need to be resolved.

There are several things you can do to help prevent choke in your horse:

1. have yearly dental checks done during a yearly vet visit

2. if a horse is prone to choke, always feed grains softened first in water and feed the grain from a corner feeder that is raised above the ground

3. always have fresh clean (not ice cold) water available at all times

4. take steps to prevent your horse from eating too quickly—place large stones in the feed bucket that your horse must eat around to slow them down, or feed small meals more frequently. The stones must be large enough that they are not eaten or swallowed.

5. if your horse is sedated for a procedure, withhold feed until he or she is completely awake…usually about an hour

6. if vegetable or fruit treats are fed, they should be cut up into smaller pieces before feeding

If your horse chokes, do not panic! Remember to stay calm and call your veterinarian for guidance and advice. We are always available and will help guide you through the steps needed to have a happy outcome.