Re: RC: Choking

[Trishmare@aol.com]

Dear Dolly,

<< I had a horse to get choked on feed last weedend.  He did get alright
 but it was scary. We did not know how to help.  If  I took him to the
 vet it would take 20 min. and if I called the vet  out it would probably
 take an hour. Can someone tell if there is anything that you can do to
 help your horse when it is choking.
 
 Dolly >>

     I am currently in the middle of writing an article on this very problem 
for Equus magazine right now.  I'm not a vet, and I'm sure Heidi or one of 
the other veterinarians on ridecamp can tell you more, but so far my research 
seems to indicate that the best thing a lay person can do if their horse 
chokes is remove feed and water, and keep the horse as calm as possible.  The 
more relaxed you can get your horse, the better a chance of the choke 
resolving itself on it's own.  That's why one of the first things a vet will 
often do after examining a choking horse is administer a tranquilizer . . . 
getting the horse to relax will often let the stuck mass pass.
     Though it may be tempting to try to stick a tube down the horse's throat 
and try and move the blockage yourself, especially if you can see it, this is 
VERY dangerous to the horse for many reasons.
     
Trish & pretty David,
Grand Blanc, Michigan



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