Bad Case Of Choke

Nova had a bad case of choke today... and it almost came to teh point that the emergency vet had to come down.... but after 10 mins of pawing, stuff coming out her nose.. and trying her hardest to get it up and massageing her throat she finally got it unstuck.. sweating like mad... I was so scared for my girl that I sat with her for an extra hour just to make sure she was okay.. and I know it happened because she's aggressive with her food she eats it so fast that I don't even think she chews it all the way... whats a good way to SLOW her eatting down???

Some were saying maybe put one or 2 salt blocks in there so she has to go around them.. does that actually work?

I did call the vet about 5 mins into it.. and left them my number .. but the "on call emergency" vet.... never called me back nor answered the phone.. that really made me mad.. what if it was a serious case..?! Mini rant of frusteration over lol

Salt licks, or very large rocks. It slows them down because she can't just shove her face in and start eating....she has to eat around some things. Also you can try soaking her feed so its a little mushy and easier to swallow

First off, sorry this happened :( I've had that happen and it absolutely sucks.

Second,

wet down her food. It will help the choking tremendously. I work at a place with older horses who all have a greater risk for choke. Since they started wetting down food, it hasn't happened. And when my horse choked, that's what the vet told me to do.

You could also put a salt lick IN her food bowl (I use food pans so it's easier to do in those) to slow her down a bit.

What do you feed her in? Do you use a bucket, a feed pan, a feeder? Knowing that might help everyone come up with ways to slow her down. I would also want to know if she eats in a pen with other horses and how her teeth are.

If she's in with other horses, putting her by herself to eat would help tremendously. If she's already by herself, I'd need more information.

Thank you for the replies :)

She's fed in a stall - so she's by her self. She's fed with those corner feeders/bowl things ... the ones that hang up.. not sure if you would call those "feeders"?

I would personally feed her in a pan. It's a more natural position for them

Jsb and ed called it. Give her an obstacle to eat around and wet it down.

Feed her off the ground, no higher, wet down the feed, and put a few salt licks or rocks in the bin.

Eventerdrew - I can bring it up to my barn owner about switching to a pan. It seems to be a more like relaxed position as well, and it will be harder for her to dive down so hard for the food.


Ill go out and by a few salt blocks or maybe just throw some good sized rocks in there.

That's terrible, I'm so sorry!

So the "vet" never called you back? Never even came out? What an ass. O_O

I agree with the above. Wet her food, get a pan, and add some softball-sized rocks. Also, I know the vet hasn't been out yet for your "pre-purchase" exam, so it could very well be her teeth. I'm betting it's her teeth, actually.

And someone would have to verify this, I may have it backwards, but smaller pellets/grains [i.e. Omolene and such] are easier to choke on than, say, alfalfa or grass cubes.