Really worried

[zara]

Last night AJ choked while eating his tea (see post in "choke") he recoverd fine and I checked on him late last night and again before work this morning. I brought him in tonite and he was fine, same old usual self and then he started to eat his tea and he again he choked. Not as dramatic as last nite but definitely choking and then he started pawing the ground, kicking his belly and wanting to lie down. So another emergency call out and again by the time vet arrived AJ was fine. The vet said that I shouldn't dampen his feed ( Dengie "Healthy Hoof") and that the nuts in it are ?to blame. I mustn't feed him any "hard" feed until his teeth are checked (next week - already booked), if it happens again he may need scoping.

I'm really confused as i haven't changed his feed and I've always dampened it. Why should he suddenly start to choke??? I accept that his teeth need checking (had already booked dentist) but they were only done at the end of Feb and I'm not convinced this is the problem. Has anyone got any experience of something similar? I'm really scared to feed him tomorrow now Zxx

PS once event has passed he wants to stuff his face again

[Blonde Donkey]

i was always told to water feed to avoid choke
nuts may be the problem but they should be better watered down

[haffyfan]

I take it happy hoof is a pellet feed then? It sounds more like an alfalfa based feed, could you soak the nuts before feeding so they turn into pulp?

My friends old boy (RIP Cecil) suffered choke rather than choked a few years back now and the vet said it was the grass nuts to blame and to soak them to a pulp in future. I think she just changed his diet in fact to not include nuts.

[haffyfan]

*Just re-read that and don't want to alarm you zara...he died of a heart attack later on not the choke*

[maximum]

the thinking is that dampning down chaff or the like can make it into bolus and then choke if its dry the hore can chew it easier.

try limiting the amount of feed he can get in his mouth at any one time by feeding in as large a container as possible so he can only get small amount as its spread thinner. also large (at least twice your fist) rocks in the container mean he has to use his lips and can only get small amounts as well.

I cant help with why he should start to do this now, he may need scoping but its a thing that they either do or dont so it cant really come on slowly.

[zara]

Thanks for all your replies, they are much appreciated. Healthy Hoof is an alfalfa and wheat straw product which does contain some grass nuts, he's been having this for about 6 weeks without any previous problems. I think i might go back to feeding just dry "Good Doer" which doesn't have nuts and I might try the rocks in the bucket too.

His teeth are done by an EDT rather than my vet so will also see what she finds too. Will let you know how he gets on Zx