Esophageal obstruction, or choke, occurs when food or a foreign object blocks the esophagus. The horse can still breathe, but saliva and feed cannot pass, so they run out of the nose or are inhaled. MSD calls it the most common esophageal disease of large animals. Most cases are resolved by sedation and lavage, and the main concerns are aspiration pneumonia, mucosal ulceration with later stricture, and rare rupture.
Key facts
Esophageal obstruction-trauma at a glance- Species and system: horse; esophagus.
- Common causes: horses most commonly obstruct on grain, beet pulp or hay (MSD). Obstruction can also follow recovery from standing chemical restraint or general anesthesia.
- Common sites: proximal esophagus, thoracic inlet, thoracic esophagus and cardia (MSD).
- Classic presentation: nasal discharge of feed material or saliva, dysphagia, coughing, ptyalism, anxious neck stretching.
- Diagnosis: inability to pass a nasogastric tube, or endoscopy.
- Treatment: sedated lavage by nasogastric tube; general anesthesia or surgery rarely needed.
- Prognosis: good if uncomplicated; worse with stricture or aspiration pneumonia.
What's inside
13 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Complications
- Prevention
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 5 tables, 3 self-test questions and 6 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.