Instructions
Identify the choke. In some cases, it's difficult to identify choke as distinct from fairly regular horse behaviors. To correctly identify choke, look to see if the horse is coughing or unable to swallow. One of the most certain signs of choke is the regurgitation of feed through both the mouth and nostrils.
Allow the horse to relax. Give the horse some space and keep an eye on it if you think it's suffering from choke. In many cases, the obstruction will pass naturally, and the horse will be fine. Just in case this does not happen, be on the alert to call your vet with a medical emergency.
Call your vet. In severe cases, you need to have a veterinarian sedate the animal and remove the obstruction from the esophagus. To do this, the vet will insert a tube into the horse's esophagus and flush the area with water in order to dislodge the food that's causing the choke.
Treat choke with prevention. As with all medical conditions, the best way to treat the choke, especially in chronic cases, is with prevention. Especially with older horses that suffer from choke frequently, proper dental care, high quality feed, soaking feed pellets in water before giving them to the horse and providing the horse with a fresh supply of water are all effective ways of treating choke with prevention.
Consider oxytocin. Oxytocin is a mammalian hormone that causes the muscles surrounding the esophagus to relax in cases of horse choke, allowing the obstruction to pass. Studies have found that the right dose of oxytocin is effective in treating choke. So, speak with your vet about this option to deal with a horse that's suffering from choke.
How to Treat Choke in Horses
Choke is an obstruction of a horse's esophagus caused by a lodged piece of food. In very serious cases, choke can obstruct air passageways and cause illness and even death. Most horses experience some level of choke and many suffer from chronic choke. To treat both acute and chronic cases of choke follow these steps.