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pregnant horse almost due coughs up mucus

3K views 4 replies 5 participants last post by  tealamutt 
#1 ·
i need help!!! it is august 29th and my mare isnt due to foal until about the end of next month. i've never had a pregnant mare before and i was out with her earlier today and observing her when she starte straining like she was having false labor. i looked at her and as she strained she would stretch her neck out and pull her lips back and her whole body would tense up. i looked at her back hips and i noticed that they where separated more than usual and she was doing all the signs that i knew of false labor cuz she was trying to push and her stomach was tensing and she was raising her tail. i thought surely she's not going into labor now so i looked at her vaginal region and saw she wasnt dialated and she wasnt throwing her tail back and holding it. well then as she was doin straining she kinda coughed and mucus (and qutie a bit of it) was coming out of her mouth and her nose like she had a really bad runny nose. but she oly did it like two or three times and from what i saw she stopped. and i thought it was false labor or possibly real labor because it looked as i she was having contractions periodically like every minute and a half and it kept going on for like that for like twenty minutes every minute and a half. but then i thought maybe its colic cuz she coughed up mucus, but she hasnt shown any signs of colic prior to this and i dont know what to do. i dont know if i shoud be worried or what. please help!
 
#5 ·
yes, she is choking likely. It sounds like a classic presentation. I know she looks horrible and probably seems like she is dying-Don't panic! it is almost never life threatening as it is different than in humans where the windpipe is actually blocked. In horses, choke refers to a blockage in the esophagus (tube to the stomach) so even though it looks horrible she can breathe.

there are some serious consequences to choke though such as aspiration pneumoia and scar tissue formation in the esophagus. The best thing you can do for her is put her in a quiet stall and don't panic her at all. As it was several hours ago, if this hasn't resolved by now I would call in the vet. Likely they will sedate and rehydrate her and possibly pass a tube through her nose into the esophagus to try and work the blockage into the stomach.

You must take lots of care with her feed for a few days to help prevent scar tissue and further inflammation. I personally went through this with my gelding last year and have seen a few cases in the equine hospital at school. Good luck, hopefully she is feeling better already.
 
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