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  Discussion on Choke
Author Message
Member:
lizc

Posted on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 - 11:27 am:

Ok need some advise on a horse that has choked? Apparently my horse had symptoms of choke last Sat and the person with whom I board my horse was unaware of this being an emergency until Sunday evening. We called the vet who tried several times unsuccessfully to tube him and remove the blockage. We were finally sent to another clinic and within 30mins the blockage was removed and his stomach drained. He was kept off food for 48 hours at the end of which he was scoped by the attending vet. His esophagus looked excellent with no pockets or scar tissue. However, she did find the left side of his larynx totally paralyzed and a displaced dorsal soft palette. He is not eating and was force fed by tube later that same day. He is currently on anti-inflammatory medicine and is still at the clinic. I need to know what caused the paralysis of the larynx and the displaced soft palette. I also need to know how extensive these issues are in regards to the life of my horse. Currently he is a pasture ornament.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 6:45 am:

Hello Liz,
We don't know the answer to these questions for a number of reasons.

First, there is no way to tell if this was a preexisting condition that was asymptomatic or an acute problem brought on by the trauma and/or irritation created by the recent choke. Second, the single finding of some of these abnormalities in a standing horse is sometimes not clinically significant.

You can read more about the diagnostic findings and potential clinical significance of these diseases at, Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Noises and Decreased Performance in Exercising Horses: Roarers but with your horse it sounds like a wait and see if the abnormalities don't improve and then check out how your horse has changed when exercised.
DrO
Member:
lizc

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 8:51 am:

Dr O
wanted to let you know that what we found out. Webster was scoped again on Thursday afternoon by a different vet. He found out that the left guttural pouch was abscessed and had blown and the right was infected. Webster also had food particles in his trachea and aspiration pneumonia and his esophagus was paralyzed totally. I was given several options. The first being that he could stay in the clinic for another week, and have the pouches flushed and strong antibiotics and hope that he would recover. The second option was to send him home, with strong antibiotics, keep him on stall rest for 30 days, while monitoring his food and water intake, and that he was passing food and again hope that he recovered. The vet gave him a prognosis of fair to poor at best. Webster was euthanized Friday May 11, around 2pm.
Member:
kathleen

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 9:18 am:

Liz,
I am so sorry to hear about Webster. He is in a better place now, a place with equine and human friends, a place without discomfort.
Kathleen
Member:
lilo

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 9:24 am:

Liz - So sorry to hear about Webster. With such a poor prognosis, you probably saved him a lot of pain and distress.
My condolences,
Lilo
Member:
lizc

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 9:55 am:

Thank you both for your kind words and thoughts. knowing that I made the right decision is not helping the pain and emptiness I feel. hopefully with time it will ease
Member:
cheryl

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 10:30 am:

Ah - Liz - - - It doesn't matter how long we have them - the loss is devastating. The hole in your heart will never go away. The good memories will always be there to ease the pain.
"I'll lend you, for a little while
My grandest foal", He said,
"For you to love while he's alive
And morn for when he's dead."

There are so many of us here who can truly say we know how you feel. So very sorry.
Cheryl
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 10:40 am:

Liz,

I am sorry to hear about Webster. A hard decision to make but time does heal. He'll always be in your heart and memories.

(((hugs)))

Angie
Member:
lizc

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 11:07 am:

I found this on the internet about what happened. https://www.usyd.edu.au/su/rirdc/articles/miscell/guttural.html
Member:
eoeo

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 11:13 am:

I am so sorry but you did the right thing. We still miss Bubbles, 8 month old filly who had a recurring choke. We tried for 6 weeks to get her right but it didn't work. $4000.00 later we had her euthanized. Her brother the next year flipped while trimming his feet and cracked his head. We worked with him for 2 weeks and then he died. The mare gave us a beautiful Basket Weave filly this year but she ruptured a bowel and we had to put her down. The filly is on a nasty tempered nurse mare but maintaining. That family has not had good luck. Hope this little girl fares better. EO
Member:
lizc

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 11:15 am:

or more precisely a better idea about that how's and whys of what happened. it helps to know the vet did everything they could.
Member:
quatro

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 1:49 pm:

So Very Sorry for your Loss, Liz. We try so hard to do the best for them, at least they know they were very much loved while they are in our care on earth.
Even if it is the right thing to do, it is very difficult I am sure.
suz
Member:
shirl

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 3:14 pm:

Liz,
Hugs and prayers are with you in your loss. No words can ease the pain, but your friend is with you in spirit, watching over you every day.
Shirl
Member:
boomer

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 4:47 pm:

Liz, I feel like I know exactly your pain. I lost my sweet TB mare last July to something so similar. I euthanized as well as her prognosis was poor. It was the hardest decision but ultimately it was the only one. It was as sudden too, over a weekend. I am so very sad for you and wish you the best through this very sad time. Sending you hugs. - Trish
Member:
annes

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 5:17 pm:

Liz - I am so sorry to hear about Webster. I am sending healing thoughts and prayers....
Ann
Member:
hwood

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 7:57 pm:

Wow . . . how devastating for you, Liz.
Tell us about Webster. Was he your only horse?
Member:
paul303

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 8:39 pm:

Oh no. What a heartache. Pamper yourself, Liz...you need it.
Member:
canter

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 7:59 am:

My deepest condolences, Liz.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 9:07 am:

My condolences Liz,
DrO
Member:
frances

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 9:21 am:

Such bad news. You have my deepest sympathy, Liz.
Member:
qh4me

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 1:03 pm:

Liz, I am so sorry for your loss. May you find the strength to make it through this difficult time.
Member:
erika

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 2:51 pm:

Please add my sympathies to those stated. So sorry.
Member:
corinne

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 3:34 pm:

Liz my condolences for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you!
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 3:48 pm:

Liz, I'm so sorry about Webster. As you know, lots of us understand the difficulty of making such a decision.

Did the vet mention why his gutturals were infected? Had he shown any symptoms of problems/illness before the choke? I hope you don't mind my asking; I'm always curious and trying to learn.
Member:
image

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 5:45 pm:

I'm so sorry Liz. You did everything you could. Our thoughts are with you.
Member:
zarr

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 5:57 pm:

Liz am sorry that Webster is gone.So much sorrow at this time will take a long time to ease so fill it with good memories that make you smile even thru your tears! Cindy
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