Page 744 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

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Figure 17.2 Food material and saliva may trickle from the nostrils of a choking horse

Causes

• Bolting of food. Greedy, tired or anxious horses may swallow food before it is adequately
chewed. Irregular feeding increases the likelihood of this.

• Sharp teeth or other dental abnormalities may prevent normal chewing.

• Cubes and odd-shaped lumps of food such as carrots and apples can become lodged in
the oesophagus.

• Inadequately soaked sugar beet can continue to swell and cause an impaction.

• A lack of fresh clean drinking water can predispose to choking.
• Local tumours, abscenses or inflammation outside the digestive tract may obstruct the

oesophagus – this is very rare.