Choking

[harleydales]

Apollo has developed another problem - choking. He does it on any pellet thicker than about half a cm. It's a silent and horrible choke, he just stands with his head low, no noise, no froth, no coughing. Every now and then he flings his head up then down it goes again. Sometomes I can dislodge it by squeezing up his gullet, sometimes I can't.

The solution is to soak the bigger pellets overnight and that does work - but WHY is he doing it?

Any thoughts? He is a roarer and one side of his larynx is 90% frozen (not working) - i don't know if this is anything to do with it.

[valerie n scout]

oh god thats scarey,Tomas did it twice with me and both times i was feeding him out doors dont know whether he was just being a pig but it scared the life out of me he stopped breathing and sort of collapsed and just lay there i "punched him in the tummy and he heaved and got up again god it was awful..... i have never fed him out side again and he does have mushy teas x hope you get to the bottom of it cause it takes years off your life xxx

[cadeby]

I would ask your vet if the larynx problem could be related?

My percheron mare had a few bouts of choking as a four year old but this was due to her teeth and was easily sorted.

A friend's horse had a throat polyp which caused him to choke occasionally. This was diagnosed by endoscopy and removed.

[harleydales]

Now you mention it I think last time he was scoped we saw a polyp - maybe it has grown?
Thanks for reminding me without knowing you did LOL!!! I'll mention it to the vet

[Debbie]

I was going to suggest getting the teeth checked too.

The only time Blossom ever choked was when we had Lady Bear, and they were both playing round robin with the feed buckets. Each was snatching food, dashing to the other's bucket and inhaling another mouthful. Blossom inhaled alright ~ incorrectly

Valerie's right, its horrid to see. I sure hope you can get him sorted quickly

[Deleted]

choking happened to me one morning, it wasnt to a dales, i drive welsh's and was just feeding in yard as normal whilest loaded trailer, she was just standing really quietly after eating (not normal) then tucked herself up and coughed and aload of flem all came out of her nose and mouth, it was really scarey, rang the vet but it was early so had to ring pager, like a plonker i didnt put phine down properly so vet couldnt ring back, the choke went on for half and hr, wen vet finally managed to get through he said that dry nuts can be very dangerous, the first mouthful can slightly scratch the throat then the second get stuck, nothing vet can do but give relaxer if stressed, the pony happily grazzed for 20 mins loaded up and came 2nd at driving event!! vet said best thing to keep going to keep airways clear!

[harleydales]

Apollo is a welsh!
It hasn't happened again since soaking everything to sloppy porridge consistency!

[Debbie]

I thought Apollo was coloured?? (Do welshies come coloured? ....says she who hasn't a clue! ;D )

So glad you've managed to find a way round his choking!!

[harleydales]

He's black with 4 white socks and a bent white blaze Debbie. Good point though - are there pure Welsh coloureds, apart from the Welsh Cob/Gypsy Cob types?

I'm still going to mention it to the vet though