Choke!

[nicelittle]

Aaargh, I am looking after my friend's ponies whilst she is away for the week.
One of them is very old (30+) and doesn't have many teeth. When I fed her yesterday she choked, badly. I decided to put her back in the field, and watch her for half an hour( she was not comfortable tied up) She settled down again eventually.
Her food (Old Faithful) is soaked in hot water for 10-20 mins before she eats it, is there anything else I could do?
I would have called the vet if she needed it, but felt that she settled okay, I'm just anxious for feeding her again today!

 

[tedster]

Maybe try wettting more and maybe put a brick or salt block in the feed so she cant eat it too quickly, we had a pony that choke quite often and found putting a salt block in helped

 

[Echo Bravo]

She not having many teeth, makew the food sloppy and I mean sloopy as they can suck it up. But it sounds like you are doing a really good job

 

[Echo Bravo]

Sorry for the spelling mistakes on first reply, trying to type in the dark(saving energy What!!). But it sounds like she ate fast that is why she choked, many old horses have the same problem.

 

[kerilli]

add lots of water to the feed, warm if you can perhaps, so that it is like gruel/soup, she won't get choke if she has to slurp it! hope that helps.

 

[nicelittle]

Thanks all for your replies.
She ate much better this time. Its just such a responsibility looking after soemone elses very elderly but much adored pet!

 

[brucea]

If you do get into a choke situation - get some warm water and a syringe, hold the head up and trickle the warm water into the mouth and try to get them to keep swallowing it. Can often help shift it.