Choke is a common condition affecting horses, wherein the esophagus becomes blocked usually by food. When suffering from this condition, the horse can breathe, but becomes unable to swallow and extremely dehydrated. This condition is among the most common emergencies in the clinics of equine veterinarians.

When symptoms of choke are present, the horse should be deprived of solid and liquid foods to avoid adding load to the blocked esophagus. Once the veterinarian arrives, the horse is sedated and given spasmolytics to relax the esophagus. However, if this doesn’t work, the vet may use a stomach tube and pass it down the nostrils until the material blocking the esophagus is pushed to the stomach. If this still won’t work, surgery may be necessary.

When symptoms of choke are present, the horse should be deprived of solid and liquid foods to avoid adding load to the blocked esophagus. Once the veterinarian arrives, the horse is sedated and given spasmolytics to relax the esophagus. However, if this doesn’t work, the vet may use a stomach tube and pass it down the nostrils until the material blocking the esophagus is pushed to the stomach. If this still won’t work, surgery may be necessary.

Symptoms of choke include coughing, swallowing difficulties, loss of appetite, green, yellow or clear nasal discharge, increased salivation, increased heart rate, lump where the esophagus is blocked and extending of the animal’s neck and head in a downward direction.

Horses develop choke if given dry food or does not chew any kind of food properly. Some horses develop this condition when ingesting non-edible items like wood.