Not colic!

Dogstar

Dogstar

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Brought my 16.2hh 9 year old IDx in this evening and was alarmed to note that after he had eaten his token 1/2 scoop of speedibeet, he didn't go straight for his hay: Instead, he was going round and round and nearly going down to roll, pressing himself against the stable walls and raising his top lip. I immediately thought colic- as you would- and 'phoned the vet for advice. She is a brilliant vet and said straight away that it sounded as though he could have bolted the speedibeet and had a form of choke. She said to give him his hay back and see if he started eating it shortly. Went back out and within a short while he was back to normal and eating hay, so it looks like she was right. He is a very greedy horse. Checked him at 8pm and he was fine. Just thought I would post this as I have not come across this before!
 
Snap my boy did exactly the same thing last wk
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However he has choked before so i waited for the neck convulsions that usually come when he chokes,nothing...he pawed and pawed,laid down,rolled, laid down and was looking at his flank,i panicked,called out vet..bugger me by time vet came out,he was nibbling his hay very slowly..Conclusion,choke...awww well better to be safe eh,greedy little bugger
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That's interesting hadfos. My vet asked if he had any neck convulsions and I said 'no'. I have never seen choke before but I thought I would know it if I saw it! Glad your horse was OK. I figure the the vets would much rather being told too soon about a possible colic than too late especially at night! THE-carthorse, I will go and check him before I go to bed just to be sure thanks!
 
All i can think is it balled up alot lower down(he dived straight into his bed when he came in,pillock
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he just laid down closing his eyes and looking very subdued which concerned me alot!However he was fine,i checked him later that night and he was eating well and looked settled!Am sure your fella will be fine,just check on him and if he eating and drinking well he be ok
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choke is a bloody nightmare,but even worse when the symptons changed
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,wht should have given it away was my lad was curling his lip which he does when he chokes,still rather a vet bill than a seriously ill boy x
 
Aw your poor lad! Funny they both did the curly lip thing! My boy always lunges at his feed with a HUGE greedy, open mouth so it's a wonder he hasn't had it before I guess!! I have just been out to check him and he is fine, eaten his hay and/or shoved it all in his water buckets (normal) and passed droppings, also acting totally normally. Thanks for your input!
 
Your boy will be fine now
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classic sign of choke when they curl the lip,sounds like they both got choke but lower down,H's neck convulses when he gets something stuck higher up,lesson learnt for me though,i now know the symptons of choke lower down,lol!
 
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Aw your poor lad! Funny they both did the curly lip thing! My boy always lunges at his feed with a HUGE greedy, open mouth so it's a wonder he hasn't had it before I guess!! I have just been out to check him and he is fine, eaten his hay and/or shoved it all in his water buckets (normal) and passed droppings, also acting totally normally. Thanks for your input!

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Have you tried putting a brick on the top of his feed??Obviously in a big bucket,he wont be able to lunge and get a huge 1st mouthful then,he will either have to shuffle bucket about or eat around it!Just a thought to stop him gobbing it
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That's a good idea! Or I might just stop feeding him as he's not doing any work right now! I have certainly learnt about choke today, I never researched it before because I thought they just...choked and it would be obvious!!
 
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That's a good idea! Or I might just stop feeding him as he's not doing any work right now! I have certainly learnt about choke today, I never researched it before because I thought they just...choked and it would be obvious!!

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My boy does it on hay and straw not hard feed,lol...they are just greedy beggars and never learn
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,when it happens again i promise you you will be a little calmer as you will recognise the symptons,fortunately mostly you can see the blockage in the neck,and they almost always clear it themselves
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,as my vet said most chokes occur overnight and most owners wouldnt even know their horse had choked,some panic more than others,mine did,but after having it a few times he was alot calmer this time!
 
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