If feed components or foreign bodies become stuck in the horse's esophagus, the surrounding muscles cramp up and a blockage occurs. Due to the risk of pneumonia caused by inhaling feed residues (aspiration pneumonia), a blockage is always a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate veterinary treatment.
The first symptoms of throat obstruction can include head shaking, excessive salivation, and coughing. The horse stretches its neck downwards and large amounts of foamy saliva mixed with feed residues are expelled from the mouth and nostrils. If the obstruction persists, circulatory problems, increased breathing rate, and increased sweating may occur. There is a risk that feed residues mixed with saliva may enter the respiratory tract and cause life-threatening pneumonia.
Good intentions are not always good. Horse owners who constantly reward their horses with food are not always doing the right thing. Horses that are very greedy and gobble their food should be fed with care. Leftovers from food eaten hastily, small pieces of carrots or beet pulp that has not been pre-soaked can get stuck in the horse's throat. The horse's esophagus is a long muscular tube that transports food from the larynx to the stomach through muscle contractions. If a piece of food that has been swallowed too hastily gets stuck here, the muscles work even harder to move this lump further along. This causes severe cramping of the muscles, which leads to a blockage of the esophagus. If this piece of food also presses on the windpipe, the horse will also cough.
If you suspect a blockage in the throat, always call a veterinarian immediately so that they can treat it correctly. Until the veterinarian arrives, the horse can be moved carefully at a walk if it allows.
After a thorough examination and diagnosis by the veterinarian, medication may be administered and a nasal-pharyngeal probe may be used to check the patency of the esophagus. Before inserting the tube, antispasmodic and pain-relieving medication is administered to relax the muscles. A mild sedative also helps to calm the horse and makes it easier for the veterinarian to insert the nasogastric tube, which can be used to flush the esophagus. The veterinarian will attempt to dissolve the stuck food and transport it further into the stomach. If this is not successful, the horse must be taken to a clinic immediately. There, the obstruction can be surgically removed in an emergency and the horse can receive intensive care afterwards.
If you know that your horse tends to gobble its food, measure out its feed more carefully and follow these tips to minimize the risk of choking:
If you suspect that your animal is exhibiting unusual eating behavior for medical reasons, please consult your veterinarian and have your horse examined.
Wobbler syndrome describes a complex of symptoms caused by nerve damage in the cervical spine. The often typical ataxic (irregular) gait of affected animals gave the disease its name, as the English word "to wobble" means to sway or stagger. It occurs particularly often in Dobermans and Great Danes, but other large breeds of dog can also be affected. Male dogs are twice as likely to develop the condition as females.
Dourine is a worldwide, notifiable horse disease that is transmitted through mating. It is highly contagious, spreads very quickly and is almost always fatal. It occurs mainly in Asia, North and South Africa. Thanks to appropriate control measures, the disease is now considered to have been eradicated in Australia, North America and Central Europe.
Narcolepsy is a pathological sleep disorder in which animals initially appear to be dozing, but then suddenly fall asleep and sometimes collapse without support. In most cases, this sleep disorder is associated with a loss of muscle tone, known as cataplexy.
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining that can occur in dogs as a result of superficial or deep injuries. Persistent irritation of the stomach lining can lead to chronic inflammation and ultimately to a stomach ulcer. The disease can take an acute or chronic course.
Like humans and dogs, horses can also suffer from poor heart performance. In heart failure, the heart is unable to pump enough blood through the body, resulting in a lack of oxygen supply to the cells and a backup of blood in the body and pulmonary circulation.
Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease in dogs and cats caused by single-celled parasites in the small intestine. There are different types of Giardia, most of which are harmless to humans. However, some rare forms can also be transmitted to humans, making it a zoonosis. Young children and immunocompromised individuals are particularly at risk, which is why strict hygiene measures are essential when dealing with giardiasis.
Despite its somewhat misleading name (hematoma = bruise), this very rare disease in horses is not a simple bruise, but a slowly growing tumor originating in the ethmoid bone or paranasal sinuses that can cause severe bleeding. Ethmoid hematoma can occur in horses of any age, but is most common in horses between 8 and 15 years of age.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, also known as dry eye, describes inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva caused by insufficient or completely absent tear fluid, which in severe cases can lead to blindness.
Pyometra is a purulent inflammation of the uterus that occurs in most cases approximately two to ten weeks after the last heat and is the most common disease of the female reproductive organs. According to recent scientific studies, 25% of all unspayed female dogs develop pyometra within the first ten years of their lives. Female dogs that have not yet been pregnant and female dogs over the age of four are at higher risk of developing pyometra.
This condition, also known as "cold tail," has been known for some time but remains largely unexplored. It occurs mainly in the summer months, is characterized by a distinctive tail posture, and is very painful.
This disease, which has only been known for a few years and is feared by warmblood breeders, is a hereditary genetic defect that leads to connective tissue weakness in newborn foals. It is estimated that WFFS has existed for 170 years and affects approximately nine to eleven percent of all warmbloods.
For many horse owners, this is a sad moment. The diagnosis "unrideable" abruptly ends the dream of experiencing more wonderful moments in the saddle with your horse. But even if riding is no longer possible, the horse should not be any less valuable as a friend. After all, there are wonderful alternatives for spending time together.
