A Kick to the Throat
Eric J. Parente, DVM, Dipl. ACVS
December 1, 2011
My horse got kicked in the lower throat area (esophagus) a while ago. Lately his breathing has been vigorous
My horse got kicked in the lower throat area (esophagus) a while ago. Lately his breathing has been vigorous
Unfortunately, even if you could do the Heimlich maneuver on your equine friend, it probably would not help. That’s because choke in horses is completely different than when a human chokes, at least from an anatomical perspective.
All animals can choke, including horses. When it happens, it should be considered a medical emergency. A horse chokes when its esophagus is obstructed, rather than the trachea, or windpipe. Although horses are still able to breathe in this
The word choke for me conjures up images of someone hovering over a table, unable to talk or breathe because a piece of food has lodged in their trachea or windpipe–fortunately, the Heimlich maneuver usually rectifies the situation. Choke is
Horses which have been correctly fed all their lives are far more likely to live to a ripe old age.
Encouraging water consumption is extremely important. This often starts by making sure your horses have free access to a good, clean water source.
Many common terms come from the long experience of man with horse, and some perhaps should be applied to the modern experience of raising horses. One of them, where feeds are concerned, might be penny wise and pound foolish.”
Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with
