Choke 21 



CHOKE 



Choke sometimes occurs when horses are eating oats, dry straw, 

 chalT or it may be caused by horses trying to swallow from a low feed 

 box, distemper, or improper chewing of the food. Sometimes rags which 

 require an unusual amount of saliva are swallowed and will not be re- 

 ceived by the esophagus and gullet and cause choke. 



SYMPTOMS 



The higher the choke the more severe the symptoms. 



The horse coughs and whatever he attempts to swallow is often re- 

 turned by the way of the nostrils. Breathing some times becomes so 

 difficult that enough air is not taken into the lungs to prevent sufTociation. 

 If difficult breathing is of very long duration the abdomen becomes 

 distended with gas. 



TREATMENT 



If tlie horse bolts his feed choking can often be prevented by spread- 

 ing the feed out in a long manger. If bolting is due to the teeth, have 

 them treated. 



If the choke is in the Esophagus (high chokej it can often be reached 

 by hand. By having an assistant, press the choke as high as possible, 

 run the hand back in the mouth by holding the thumb against the roof 

 cf the mouth with the little finger against the tongue and remove the 

 choke by pulling it out or pushing it on down. 



If a light piece of flexible metal can be obtained that can be 

 bent and a 2 inch thick, tough block procured, a gag can be made by fas- 

 tening the spring to the block and bending so it will clamp tightly on 

 the horses cheek while the block rests between the molars preventing 

 the horse from closing his mouth. The object of the spring is to prevent 

 the horse from throwing the block out or between tlie molars. Such a 

 gag can be purchased. The giving of raw or castor oil will usually 



remove a choke. 



A lower choke can often be removed by hand manipulation from 

 the outside. Especially is this true when choked on articles of food. A 

 piece of small oiled rubber hose is best to pass down the horses throat 

 to remove a choke that can not be removed by hand manipulation. The 

 hose does not irritate. Pliable whip stalks should not be used unless 



