Choke!

[Alicat88]

My boy took choke this morning, and had green saliva dribbling out of his mouth (my apologies to anyone eating). I massaged his throat and let him eat a bit of grass and he seemed fine again. I put him back in his box and he ate most of his hay, but is now dribbling a bit more.

What started it this morning were some dogs yelping at a neighbouring farm, for some reason he gets agitated by stuff like this, plus he is very greedy so probably gulped down too much too quickly to get nosying over his door?

Is there anything else I can do for him?? I havn't called the vet as this morning it seemed to clear itself, but he's dribbling again a bit now.

He's not what I would call agitated. He's pretty perky apart from the dribbling. It seems to be in fits and starts. Or does this mean it hasn't cleared??! But then how could he eat grass and roughly a net full of hay??

I don't think my nerves can cope with much more. I was planning on relaxing today.

 

[Olliecp77]

Sometimes need intubated and flushed in case there is a blockage. Choke is horrible and can pass or be intermitent, perhaps best to get checked or you'll only be worried all day especially if it gets worse again as it can get very bad suddenly and nothing much you can do to help him. I found if my horse started whinnying for a pal when had choke it helped to clear!!!??!!

 

[merlins-mum]

Choke is horrible to watch, and not a bundle of laughs for the horse either. Mostly it clears itself, but there are some things you can do to help if it happens.

- if you can feel the blockage, massage downwards over that spot. This is the thing that usually clears it for me, particularly if you get onto it quickly.
- walk him around (it helps to take his mind off the pain) and encourage him to stretch out his neck downwards. This elongates the neck and relaxes the area.
- If the choke doesn't start clearing within 15 mins, phone the vet and 'warm them up'. You probably won't need them called out, but it helps if they know that it might be coming.
- if the choke hasn't cleared after 45 mins, call the vet out. They will probably start with an injection to relax the muscles, but after that they have other things they can do.

Choke USUALLY fixes itself. The best thing to do is stay calm, and keep your horse calm, so that they will relax.

My horse gets choke a couple of times a year - mostly because he's a total gut and gulps his food. The vet gave me the instructions above, and I've got to the 1st phonecall twice, and never the second (remember to phone the vet to say it's all clear though)
The best thing though is that there aren't really any after effects. The way I know my lad has shifted the blockage is that there are a couple of REALLY loud gurgles from his throat - and then he sticks his head in the grass again and starts hoovering!

 

[bex1984]

merlins-mum, I found that really helpful, thank you! My pony got choke a few weeks ago, he cleared it himself after a few minutes but as a novice owner it didn't half give me a scare and I'm now being ultra-careful about wetting his dinner and not letting him eat the dusty scraps of hay on the floor as that was what caused it last time.

 

[Alicat88]

Thank you all, esp merlins_mum, I did try massaging the area (though couldn't feel the blockage-just guessed) and walking him about and it did seem to help.

The thing is, he was so calm, didn't fret at all, didn't cough or retch or look panicky. Just stopped eating and dribbled and tried swallowing and then a while later it must have cleared as he started hoovering his hay again!

I really dampened his meal tonight and split it into small handfuls at a time. Touch wood he seems fine now and looks bright. No more dribbling.

Scared the pants off me too Bex1984! It's just as well he was so calm!

Thanks again guys!xo