The oesophagus is made up of skeletal and smooth muscle and connects the pharynx to the stomach. There are sphincters within the oesophagus that open to allow food to pass, however, prevent it moving back towards the pharynx. Choke occurs when there is the prevention of food passage down the oesophagus. This is most commonly caused by food becoming lodged, however, many other causes exist including narrowing of the oesophagus, a mass (e.g. tumour/abscess), megaoesophagus, conditions affecting nerve supply (e.g. equine grass sickness) or a foreign body.
Clinical signs
Affected horses will often be distressed, retch, make frequent attempts to swallow, hypersalivate and have an increased respiratory rate.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis can usually be made by examining the horse and feeling the obstruction within the oesophagus. Passing a nasogastric tube down a nostril and into the oesophagus or visualising the blockage with an endoscope can also be used to aid in diagnosis.
Treatment
Most cases will resolve after approximately one hour, however, many cases require the flushing out of the blockage using a nasogastric tube. Sedation to relax the horse and antibiotics to prevent pneumonia developing, due to food material flowing back up the oesophagus and into the trachea (aspiration pneumonia), are routinely used.
Resource Shared By: Clarendon Equine
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