A brief information about CHOKE.

1. EQUINE STUDY
CIRCLE

2. KARNATAKA VETERINARY, ANIMAL & FISHERIES SCIENCE UNIVERSITY, BIDAR.
VETERINARY COLLEGE,SHIVAMOGGA.
EQUINE STUDY CIRCLE
Submitted to:
Dr. Bharath Bhushan M
Assistant professor
Dept. of I.L.F.C
Submitted by:
Yashvanth A N
VSK-1557

4. Contents
• Choke
• Occurrence
• Choke in horses
• Gross pathology
• Causes
• Predisposing
factors
• Clinical signs
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Following up
• Complications
• Prevention
• What to do first
• As you wait for
the veterinarian
• What not to do

5. Choke
• (of a person or animal) have severe difficulty
in breathing because of a constricted or
obstructed throat or a lack of air.

6. Occurrence
• In horses and cattle, but more common in the
former.
• Horses - in the thoracic area
• Cattle and dogs - pharynx is obstructed.

7. What is Horse Choke?
• It is a condition in horses in
which the esophagus is blocked.
• Although the horse is still able
to breathe, it is unable to
swallow.
• It is not immediately life
threatening.

8. Gross pathology
• Choke may be complete or
incomplete.

9. Gross pathology
• Complete choke
– Feed will be returned and water will flow
through the nostrils when animal is
watered.
– Ischemia and resultant necrosis and
gangrene may develop.
– Infection may spread to the surrounding
tissues
– Resultant sapremia or toxaemia is the
cause of death in fatal case.

10. Gross pathology
• Partial choke
– It give rise to dilatation of
esophagus above the obstruction
- the esophageal diverticulum .

11. Causes
• Not chewing feed completely
• Bolting of food.
• Insufficient saliva.
• Ingesting non-edible materials.

12. Causes
• Esophageal defect
• Lesions of esophagus
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Neoplasms of adjacent tissue

13. Predisposing factors
• Age
• Older horses
• Bedding material.
• Horses with poor dentition .
• Feed offered too quickly.
• Types of feed.
• Esophageal defect or scar
tissue.

14. Clinical signs
• Excess drooling of saliva and
feed material or froth.

15. Clinical signs
• Saliva and feed material from
nostrils.

16. Clinical signs
• Extends head and neck.

17. Clinical signs
• Coughing and retching or gagging.

18. Clinical signs
• Restless behavior.
• Multiple attempts to swallow, drink.
• Dysphagia.
• Appears anxious and distressed.
• Lack of interest in food.
• Increased salivation.
• Slight increase in heart rate.
• Lump is visible or can be palpated.

19. Diagnosis
• Physical examination
• Pass a nasogastric tube
• Radiography
• Endoscopy

20. Treatment
• Depends on the severity of
the blockage
• Two types-
• Conservative treatment.
• More aggressive treatment.

21. Treatment
• Sedate it and let it relax.
• Pass a nasogastric tube.
• Esophagotomy.
• View the esophageal lining
with an endoscope.

22. Following up
• Prevent the onset of aspiration
pneumonia.
• Animal should be monitored.
• Place the horse on a course
of NSAIDs.
• Offer only softened food.

23. Complications
• Aspiration pneumonia.
• Formation of a stricture.
• Oesophageal rupture.

24. Prevention
• Schedule regular dental exams.
• Schedule as much turnout time as
possible
• Horses prone to choking shouldn’t
be fed pelleted feed.
• Soak dried foodstuffs thoroughly.

25. Prevention
• Provide permanent access to clean
water
• Discourage the bolting of food
• Withhold feed material for one
hour following sedation
• Place feed tubs on the ground
during feeding

26. What to do first
• Remove all hay, feed and water,
and do not let the horse graze.
• Call the veterinarian.

27. As you wait for the
veterinarian
• Keep the horse calm.
• Monitor the situation.
• Call your veterinarian with an update

28. What not to do
• Do not squirt water into the
horse’s mouth.
• Do not administer medications or
home remedies.

29. Thank you…