How to Help a Horse With Colic or Choke

Colic is a fairly common digestive problem that may be caused by changes in the weather, feed changes, internal parasites, lack of water and bad eating habits such as cribbing. A horse with colic will paw the ground with its front feet, roll and look at its abdomen. The worse the pain the more extreme these displays become. Choke is entirely different from colic and is is brought on by feed or other foreign matter becoming lodged in the horse's esophagus. A horse shows signs of choke by stretching out its head and neck and gagging. It may also have feed and water coming out of its mouth or nose. Either of these conditions should be treated promptly or the horse can deteriorate rapidly.

Things You'll Need

  • Halter
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Instructions

  1. Colic

    • 1

      Walk the horse. Put a halter on it and lead it around. Do not allow it to lie down. Keeping the horse on its feet will prevent it from rolling, reducing the chance of a twisted intestine. This may also help restore normal digestive activity and help the horse to defecate, relieving the pain. If the symptoms are mild this may be all that is required.

    • 2

      Call the veterinarian if the symptoms get worse or the horse does not seem to be improving after 30 minutes. Even cases of colic that appear mild can become serious quickly. A veterinarian can determine the severity of the case and advise the best treatment.

    • 3

      Follow the veterinarian's instructions. The veterinarian may give the horse pain relievers to keep the horse from making the problem worse, or mineral oil to act as an intestinal lubricant and laxative.

    • 4

      Check the horse often after the veterinarian's visit. If the horse has not defecated and still shows signs of pain after two hours, an intestinal obstruction may be the problem. Surgery may be required to fix this problem.

    Choke

    • 5

      Remove all feed and water immediately, according to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

    • 6

      Call your veterinarian.

    • 7

      Follow the veterinarian's instructions. The veterinarian will often sedate the horse, allowing the muscles in the esophagus to relax and the foreign matter to pass through. The veterinarian may also use a stomach tube to clear the passage.