A horse chokes when food or a foreign body obstructs its esophagus. Horses can choke on practically anything, but the majority of choke cases are the direct result of bolting pelleted feed. A choking horse immediately shows signs of distress, such as rapid breathing. The horse may also cough, salivate heavily, swallow repeatedly, or regurgitate food and water through its nostrils.

If you suspect choke:

*Gently flush the animal's mouth with water (using a dose syringe or garden hose with very low pressure) for 10 to 15 minutes to keep the horse's mouth clear of food. This helps prevent the choking horse from breathing food into its lungs, which could lead to aspiration pneumonia.

*Gently massage the horse's throat at the point where it is obstructed, which is usually where the throat and chest meet (thoracic inlet)

*Call your vet if gentle massage does not dislodge the obstruction. If you use too much force, you could damage your horse's esophagus.

*Don't let your horse put anything in its mouth while you wait for the veterinarian to arrive.

To minimize the risk of choke:

*Break up carrots, apples, and other treats into small pieces.

*If your horse tends to bolt its grain, feed it more frequently so it doesn't get so hungry between meals. If the bolting continues, place large, smooth rocks in the animal's feed bin so it will be forced to eat more slowly as it picks around the rocks.

*If your horse has choked before, try presoaking its feed, which sometimes helps to prevent recurrences.