• This is blockage of the oesophagus
• Saliva and food material is seen at the nostrils
• The horse is usually distressed, retching and coughing
• Usually food material such as rapidly eaten hard feed, unslaked sugar beet, large chunks ofcarrot cause the choke

What to do

• Take away all food and water
• Keep horse quiet and relaxed
• If not passed of own accord in 30-60 minutes or if the horse is too distressed, call the vet

The blockage often passes of its own accord with no intervention as the horse’s constant production of saliva softens the material that is stuck. In refractory cases we usually administer muscle relaxants and sedatives to try to relax any spasm of the oesophagus around the blockage. In stubborn cases we can also place a tube up through the nose and down into the oesophagus to flush the material away with water.

Once the obstruction has passed the horse will be instantly much brighter. It is now safe to return water to the stable but only introduce food once the animal is drinking normally.