Choke - Are some cases worst then others?

3Beasties

3Beasties

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Just had a call from the Yard Owner to say that Charlie has choke (now don't all jump on me because I haven't rushed over to him), not serious but is a little uncomfortable. He has had a couple of coughs, a bit of slobber and he keeps stretching his neck out.

Whilst I am worried I don't think at the moment there is any need for major alarm. I have told them to rub down his neck which he thinks has helped him a little as he then wondered up the field with the others.

This has happened a couple if times before (that I know off) and both times it seemed to clear without the need for a vet, it hasn't happened for a while though so not sure what has caused this.

Should all choke cases be seen by a vet or is it fine to do as I am doing, just seeing how they get on and let them clear it themselves. Would pouring a bit of oil down his throat help or make things worst?

I am on standby to rush over there if needed (30 minute drive away) but at the moment YO feels that there is no need.


ETA - YO just phoned to say that he is picking at grass so thinks it has cleared, he will check him once more before he turns in for the night but hopefully all is now well! When he had choke at home he wouldn't touch his feed or hay whilst he still had 'choke' so it should be a good sign that he is eating
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My horse had choke really bad a while ago, i panicked like mad as i had no clue what was wrong, i called the vet the first time and by the time she came it had cleared itself, he was bad, he had muscle spasms the works but i think the body does naturally sort the problem itself and it normally clears within an hour. The vet just told me that if it happens again just to keep an eye on him, it did happen a few more times and he cleared it himself. Needless to say he never learned and is still a pig when eating his dinner!!
 
my girl had choke never seen it before rush the vet out by the time she got there it was like nothing happened. my vet did say if she does it again put the hosepipe down her throat and if it has cleared in 20mins call them out. most horses sort themselves out
 
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my vet did say if she does it again put the hosepipe down her throat and if it has cleared in 20mins call them out. most horses sort themselves out

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My God that sounds horrendousd advice! You could end up with water in ther lungs.
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My horse was getting choke quite regularly the first winter that I had him - and I had some wonderful advice from here on how to manage it, especially from Kerilli. I changed my whole feeding regime through this advice.

No, not every instance needs a vet - and I didn't need one at any time. However, you do need to note the time the episode starts, monitor recovery time and remove all hay/hard feed for the night. My horse usually recovered after 20 mins. Longer than 40 and I would have had the vet.

And you should never, ever be tempted to put anything down their throat to 'help' clear the obstruction. You could end up doing terrible damage - or worse.
 
Agreed, sounds like daft advice. Especially when you think how careful a Vet has to be passing a stomach tube that it doesn't go the wrong way
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The advice I was given about choke is to take food away, offer water, try gently massaging the gullet in a downwards direction with the head up (gravity).

Regarding the Vet, mine says to call straight away, do the above and then call again 20 minutes later to update.
 
What changes did you make to his feeding regime?

The times that I know Charlie has had choke was when he had molasses added to his feed so I stopped feeding it (was only fed as a treat every so often really) so I really don't know what caused this.

I changed his feed last week to something that needs lots of water adding to it (3 jugs at least) so I am just wondering if they didn't add enough water to his feed tonight (I have fed him every night since the feed change).

They also fed him out on the yard tonight instead of in the field like he usually is, I know he wouldn't have been very happy about this and would have been quite un-settled. I could kick myself as when they phoned earlier about something else I was going to say that I would rather he wasn't fed at all rather then feeding him out on the yard, ah well we learn from our mistakes, will make sure they know for next time!
 
Well, as I said - it seemed a winter problem only for me. And probably because he was comming in hungry and stuffing his haylage down his throat.

So once we are in the grip of winter, and the grazing has deminished he gets a very thoroughly soaked feed first then hay.

His feed is soaked for 12 hours, and then fed pretty wet - with a swede in it. His haylage is fed in a small holed net as well to avoid him being able to stuff his face.

I would never feed mollasessed feed to a horse prone to choke, such as mollichaf.
 
My stallion got choke shorty after we bought him. We knew his teeth needed attention but he got choke before the dentist could get here. His was caused by teeth and bolting his food.

I called the vet immedietly who was having dinner with his family in a restaurant - he came immedietly - just as well it was difficult to clear. Since my boy has had his teeth done he is fine.

A friends horse nearly died after her mother fed him unsoaked sb thinking it was cubes.

All my horses get a wettish feed well mixed and my vet recommends oil for those prone to the problem.
 
Had pony on livery who was given large chunk (rather than properly cut sliver) of carrot and choked. Was in deep distress and no self help remedies at all effective. Vet had to make two visits to drench and clear obstruction. We nearly lost this little pony and I would never take any chances. Call a vet immediately.
 
my sis in law had a lad that had choke I was only one at yard too as was looking after him...I grabbed some oil and trickled a slight amount down his throat and massaged him too...it cleared in about 5/10 mins I had to remain calm for his sake even though deep down i was panicking like hell...not my horse!
He recovered and never had it again, I tend to feed slightly sloppier feeds on the just incase...
 
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