Vet Connect

By Steve VanWagner, D.V.M.

Is Your Horse Choking?

Esophageal obstruction, or “choke,” is a common equine emergency that many experienced horse owners have never encountered. In human medicine, choke refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction--whereas in horses, it refers to an obstruction of the esophagus. the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. The most common sign of choke in horses is feed coming from the nostrils; however, others signs are hypersalivating, retching, not eating, acting colicky, or coughing. Horses are still able to breathe, unlike humans. Chokes can have serious consequences, so it is important to have your veterinarian evaluate your horse as soon as you see any of these signs.

Choke tends to occur when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing appropriately. The feed does not get softened with saliva and creates a bolus that gets lodged in the esophagus. Choke can also occure with straw, hay, hard treats, carrots, apples, or non-food objects. Also, horses and can have poor dentition or abnormal esophageal anatomy predisposing them to choking.

While waiting for the veterinarian, it is important to keep your horse from eating. Hand-walking or muzzling can prevent further food intake. Do not administer any oral medications. DO NOT shove a garden hose into your horse’s mouth, this will only increase the risk of serious complications, especially aspiration pneumonia.

Upon arrival, your veterinarian will conduct a physical exam, administer some sedation, pain medication, and pass a nasogastric tube to the site of the blockage. Sometimes a smooth muscle contractor may be administered. The blockage is treated with water locally through the nasogastric tube until the blockage is resolved. This could possibly take up to an hour.

If your veterinarian is unable to resolve the obstruction or if the horse is showing signs of pneumonia, then the horse needs to be transported to a referral hospital for further diagnostics and treatment. Endoscopy can be performed to identify the type of object causing the obstruction, which is especially important if dealing with a solid object. This will also allow for the veterinarian to diagnose any anatomical abnormalities of the esophagus.

Once the choke is resolved, the horse will still need continued care. Food should be withheld for a short period of time, then avoid feeding dry feeds and hay and instead offer a soupy mash of a complete feed. Aspiration of feed material or water going down the trachea into the lungs can cause the horse to develop bacterial pneumonia. Many veterinarians will place horses on antibiotics help prevent this. The horse’s temperature should be monitored for several days. Also make note of any coughing, nasal discharge, or increased respiratory rate, as these can also be signs of pneumonia.

Horses that are repeat chokers on certain feeds may need to stay on soupy mashes indefinitely and placed on soaked alfalfa cubes instead of hay. Horses that are ravenous eaters should have large smooth rocks placed in their feed tubes. Poor dentition also can contribute to choking, so have your veterinarian perform a complete dental exam following a choking episode.