choke again!

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smellsofhorse

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Ive had my warmblood over 6 years in that time he has had choke 6 times.
The first 3 times were separate occasions, well spread out. vet saw him first 2 times and he just had an injection.
3rd time he needed tubing to clear the blockage.

Last Wednesday, over a year since the last episode he did it again.
the person that rides him was with him, i gave her instructions but she had been there last year too so we were confident it was under control.
By the time i got there he had cleared it, but it was a good hour or more.
he then did it again on Friday, this time cleared it with in about 15 minutes.

Then yesterday again!
It wasnt any worse than before but i called the vets anyway, they said in roughly 30 minutes he should clear it or he should had vet attention.

He did it when eating haylage from a net on Wednesday.
Then we didnt let him have any.
Except on Friday it was a couple of stolen mouthfuls off the floor when he choked again.

Then yesterday, i gave him some chaff then watched him eat a couple of mouth fulls from a small holed haynet.
He was fine and calm,not scoffing it!
Then it was over 5 minutes later that he choked.

Is it just being a pig, not chewing properly, he does sometimes eat quickly to begin with.
of could there be something else going on?

The vet did says Wednesdays episode could have irritated his throat so it was more likely to happen again until recovered.

Sorry that got so long.
So greedy or more going on?
 
I have a WB that has nearly choked twice. His seems to be when he is allowed to get a bit hungry. he then scoffs it down and if there are only bits of haylage on the floor it is when it is worst.

So now I don't allow him to get too hungry also one day when I wasn't there the choking caused a mild colic too. When I did get there I managed to calm him down and he was ok.

Luckily it has never been bad enough to have to call the vet, but scary anyway
 
soulfull said:
I have a WB that has nearly choked twice. His seems to be when he is allowed to get a bit hungry. he then scoffs it down and if there are only bits of haylage on the floor it is when it is worst.

So now I don't allow him to get too hungry also one day when I wasn't there the choking caused a mild colic too. When I did get there I managed to calm him down and he was ok.

Luckily it has never been bad enough to have to call the vet, but scary anyway
Click to expand...


Mr P is living out at the moment with 2 feed a day. He is looking well.
But its when he comes in to be groomed, tacked up etc.
He gets a haynet.
Yes he can be greedy to start of with but like yesterday doesnt seem to be always that. But it could be that his throat was sore and inflamed from the previews 2 episodes.
 
I know it is more work (and I do usually like horses to have something to eat if they are tied up for any length of time) but can you sweep an area, get all tack, grooming kit etc ready and then bring him into that, do what you need and turn back out/ride/whatever without feeding at all?

Wish you all the best with him.
 
One of mine does this, but it almost seems to be a "get out" tactic. Like your horse, he will choke on haylage from a net when in to be shod or ridden. He knows that if I am around, I will turn him back out in his field and he will mooch off, settle down and graze. The worst thing that I can do is get worked up about it, as he worries, stresses and the choke gets worse and worse.

My boy had choke the other evening when I brought him in to ride. Instead, I took him for a walk out in hand, then turned him out. Amazingly, the moment he realised he wasn't being ridden, the bug eyed contorted expression went and he was absolutely fine.
 
Ive spoken to vet again and she thinks its just him being piggy!
Even tough he doesnt always scoff his food!

Its unlikely to be anything else, but will keep an eye on him.

Little devils!
 
Jen_Cots said:
Are you feeding those convenient small bales of haylage?
Click to expand...

No its large round bales.

Some of the strand are very long so think if he doesnt chew it properly it has trouble going down.
He was having it from a smalled holes net but it still happened.
I think even with the small holes once he grips some he still get a s
long stand of it.(if you know what i mean!)
 
I asked as I have had a bale of the small stuff and everything choked on it - I think haylage is more prone to this problem than hay (plus it tastes better)
 
Do you need to feed him the haylage?

My own pony used to do this quite often and that was when he's eaten hay most of the time as he was/is a pig! However, he lives out 24/7 now and I don't see him choke much although eh did a couple of years ago after eating some hard feed with alfa a in. It was pretty gross!

I would maybe not feed him the haylage to be honest or soak it like suggested. If he doesn't like it like that/won't eat in then tough!
 
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