Choking

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OrionDuca

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Hi everyone
This morning after my pony ate his feed (he has one scoop of spillers happy hoof) he started choking, i rubbed his neck and he stopped and seemed fine, he's been checked on during the day and he seems fine. He's eating the grass happily, drinking well, running around like a loon as per usual.
My worry is i don't want it to happen again, would wetting his feed help reduce the risk? Or would a feed change be better, i've never had a horse choke before so any advise would be brilliant.

Thanks everyone!
Have a lovely day
 
I don't know what is in Happy Hoof, but isn't it chop? I do know people who just fed concentrates with no fibre and horses did get it stuck in their throats, the answer is normally add fibre in the form of chop (chaff). Basically they need some fibre to encourage them to properly chew and create saliva - either chop or I have used beet, which as it is soaked, damps the feed anyway.
 
I have never seen a horse choke but I am very paranoid. I feed soaked feeds only, but used to feed chaff type feeds and I always dampened them. Does he rush his feed?
 
Yeah it is chaff. I have never seen it before, and i'm a big worrier! He's a rescue case i helped look after when he was a baby so he means a lot to me. He does rush it sometimes, but i don't know how i could stop him from doing so? Does dampening help then?
Thank you both of you :)
 
I suspect it could be just one of those things, but yes, damp it to help him swallow it. I have horses who have never done it, and one who has choked twice last winter. Normally they free it themselves in a few hours but if it is still causing a problem after 12 hours it is a job for the vet, to stomach tube and clear it out. Don't stress, give him a few hours to see if it clears - and it may never ever happen to him again.
 
Please, always damp a feed, its good practice & prevents choke.
To contradict JillA above, choke can come on rapidly - it can also go rapidly, but never ever leave them 'a few hours' !! :eek:
At best if it has not cleared within a few minutes, you do need to consult veterinary opinion.
If you have never encountered choke, call your vet - they will be better placed to ask questions & give advice on the phone.

Glad all resolved this time, but always best to add water to a feed - particulrly a chaff based one
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Please, always damp a feed, its good practice & prevents choke.
To contradict JillA above, choke can come on rapidly - it can also go rapidly, but never ever leave them 'a few hours' !! :eek:
At best if it has not cleared within a few minutes, you do need to consult veterinary opinion.
If you have never encountered choke, call your vet - they will be better placed to ask questions & give advice on the phone.

Glad all resolved this time, but always best to add water to a feed - particulrly a chaff based one
Click to expand...

That's odd - my vet advises a "wait and see" policy. And I have, with no ill effects - so, FF, what has happened to yours that was dangerous if left?
 
JillA said:
I suspect it could be just one of those things, but yes, damp it to help him swallow it. I have horses who have never done it, and one who has choked twice last winter. Normally they free it themselves in a few hours but if it is still causing a problem after 12 hours it is a job for the vet, to stomach tube and clear it out. Don't stress, give him a few hours to see if it clears - and it may never ever happen to him again.
Click to expand...

This is dangerous advice for the horse. There is a MASSIVE risk of pneumonia if choke is left untreated due to fluids/foodstuff entering the lungs. Prompt veterinary attention is always indicated, if the choke clears while the vet is on the way then you can always cancel them.
 
JillA said:
That's odd - my vet advises a "wait and see" policy. And I have, with no ill effects - so, FF, what has happened to yours that was dangerous if left?
Click to expand...

See post below

Allover said:
This is dangerous advice for the horse. There is a MASSIVE risk of pneumonia if choke is left untreated due to fluids/foodstuff entering the lungs. Prompt veterinary attention is always indicated, if the choke clears while the vet is on the way then you can always cancel them.
Click to expand...


Thank you.
JillA, I was away from my desk & could not add similar to the above, posted by Allover.

Yes, they may go on coughing for a while, but they are certainly not fine to be left for 12 hours with choke :(
 
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