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Miniature horse choke vs. miniature horse choking
Research indicates that miniature horse choke is is not the same as miniature choking. Choke is often the direct result of a blocked esophagus while miniature horse choking is a block windpipe, a dangerous condition:
According to an article in Equus Magazine:
"Two sound-alike conditions—equine “choke” and choking—occur in the same general location but pose distinctly different threats to horses. Choke is the lesser danger of the two because it is the esophagus, the channel that relays chewed food from the throat to the stomach, that’s blocked, often by feed but sometimes by foreign objects. A choking horse, on the other hand, has an obstruction in his windpipe, an extremely rare and desperate situation that rarely ends happily."
Symptoms of miniature horse choke
Miniature horse choking manifests as a distressed miniature horse, coughing, gulping, accompanies by nasal discharge:
"A horse suffering from choke makes repeated gulping efforts to swallow, oozes alarming amounts of saliva mixed with food from his nose and appears somewhat distressed."
Causes of miniature horse choke
Vets say that miniature horse choking is especially prevalent in older miniature horses with diminished chewing capacity and can be caused by ingestion of under-chewed hay, carrot or apples.
Miniature horse choke can also be precipitated by too-dry feed and changes in weather, causing the miniature horses not to drink enough water. In rare cases, a foreign object might stick in the esophagus.
Treatment for miniature horse choke
A choking Miniature horse (choke) may get pneumonia if food particles enter the lungs and an ultrasound is required to ensure the safety of the miniature horse. Choke is treated as a blockage, and the Vet may attempt to loosen the blockage with a nasal tube, pumping-in water and mineral oil. If this fails, a horse hospital can run an ultrasound to find if any food particles had been aspirated into the lungs. The blockage can then be removed using a tube to vacuum-out the blockage.
Prevention of miniature horse choke
For elderly miniature horses, removal of hay, carrots and apples may prevent a reoccurrence of a choking incident. Easy-to digest feeds such as "equine Senior" are ideal and require minimal chewing.
Treatment for miniature horse choking
A choking miniature horse (with a windpipe obstruction) is a very acute event and you may only have a few minutes to save the horses life. According to the article Choke vs. Choking in Equus Magazine:
"A swift, powerful kick in the belly, just behind the ribs, may force enough air back up the trachea to dislodge an object, but that Heimlich maneuver for horses won’t work in cases of disease, allergy or trauma. Usually the only real chance a choking horse has for survival is an immediate tracheotomy (cutting into the windpipe to allow air to enter below the obstruction), followed by manipulation or surgery to clear the airway."
In cases of windpipe obstruction vets say that it is important to act quickly. If you perform a successful Heimlich or tracheotomy, call your Vet immediately and insist on a lung ultrasound to see if post choking pneumonia is a concern.
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