Fact Sheet Fact Sheet ChokAllergice Skin Disease Choke is a relatively common condition seen in horses and ponies and is typically caused by obstruction of the An allergic reaction is the excessive oesophagus (food pipe) with food; occasionally a foreign response of an individual’s immune body can be involved e.g. wood or plastic. Fortunately system to something that would be many cases of choke resolve quickly and spontaneously relatively harmless to most animals and only cases in which the obstruction lasts for longer of the same species. The ‘allergen’ than 30 minutes are likely to require veterinary assistance. is the substance causing the It is important to note that this is not the same as the reaction. life-threatening condition in humans, where the term The most common example in “choke” refers to blockage of the windpipe rather than the horses in sweet itch, but allergies oesophagus. This difference means that unlike humans, can also be caused by a number horses with choke can still breathe. of other factors. Diagnosis of the cause can be difficult, making prevention tricky.

Clinical signs: Clinical signs: • urticaria - wheals in the skin; • difficulty/repeated attempts at • inflamed skin - reddened painful swallowing skin; • stretching/arching of the neck • itchiness - this may be anywhere • coughing on the body but the neck, flanks and rump are the most commonly • food & saliva discharging from the nose affected. • drooling • disinterest in food Causes of skin REGULAR DENTAL EXAMINATIONS AND • occasionally a lump may be seen or felt TREATMENTallergies: CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF CHOKE on the left side of the neck. • contact - direct skin contact with If you suspect your horse is suffering from KEY POINTSthe allergen, such as a rug, type of choke it is important to prevent your horse bedding, certain plants, etc.; eating as this will make the blockage worse • Don’t panic!• inhalation Choke is rare - breathingly life-thre ina teningof the and and more difficult to clear. many casesallergen, will resol similarve spontaneous to hayfeverly. in humans; If the obstruction doesn’t clear quickly of its • Seek veterinary advice if the choke lasts more than own accord then veterinary assistance must 30 minutes• andfood w -hile allergy waiting to type for theof feedvet rem thato vise all be sought. There are a number of steps food to preveaten;ent your horse eating and worsening Key pointS your vet can take to help to confirm and treat the obstruction the problem. • insect bite hypersensitivity - • Following anmidges episode are o fthe cho mostke it commonis worth monitoring cause • Allergic skin conditions may result in lumps, itchiness or Horses and ponies with dental problems your horse’s(sweet respir aitch)tory butrate other (nor malinsects <16 canbre aths/ reddened inflamed skin. (that prevent them grinding their food min) and rectalalso temper cause aallergies;ture for several days. properly), individuals that bolt their food too • There are a wide variety of causes. quickly and those fed dry pelleted or cubed • Arrange• regulardrug dental reactions chec -k-ups abnormal for your reactions horse • Intradermal skin testing can help to ascertain the cause. feeds are all at increased risk. to reduce theto riskmedicines of cho karee as uncommon a result of buta painful do mouth. occur. • Treatment involves management of the symptoms unless the cause is known and can be removed.

XLEquine - Better Together XLEquine - Better Together XLEquine Allergic Skin Disease Medical Conditions Fact Sheet MC

treatment The timing and progression of the disease can help your vet to determineCho a cause. It mayk bee useful to keep a diaryCho notingke is downa relati at vwhately commontime of condition seen in horses year your horse is affected,and ponies weather and conditions, is typically caused by obstruction of the feed/bedding changes,oesophagus type of detergent (food pipe) used withon food; occasionally a foreign rugs, etc. body can be involved e.g. wood or plastic. Fortunately Your vet may be ablema ton recognisey cases ofan choallergyke onresol ve quickly and spontaneously examination of your andhorse only but sometimescases in which other the obstruction lasts for longer tests are required. These could include skin scrapes and hair plucksthan to 30 exclude minutes other are causes likely to require veterinary assistance. of disease. A skin biopsyIt is impo can oftenrtant provideto note a that this is not the same as the definitive diagnosis lioff e-threateningan allergy, but it condition will not be in humans, where the term able to identify the cause.“cho ke” refers to blockage of the windpipe rather than the Intradermal skin testingoesophagu has been developeds. This dif ference means that unlike humans, for use in horses in orderhorses to help with to identifychoke can still breathe. the allergen, and will be available at most referral veterinary centres. Blood tests are also commercially available, but they are thought to be much less accurate than skin testing. intrADerMAl SKin teSting

prevention Clinical signs:treatment • difficulty/repeated •attemptsObviously at it will help to remove the source of Prevention relies primarily on avoidance of swallowing the allergy, but this can be impossible if the the cause of the allergy: • stretching/arching of theallergen neck cannot be identified. ● contact allergies - try changing detergent type or bedding; • coughing • Your vet may wish to prescribe antibiotics if secondary bacterial skin infection is present. ● inhalational allergies - soaking hay • food & saliva discharging from the nose may help in a few cases, but often the Antihistamine tablets are available for use in • allergen is in the atmosphere outside and • drooling horses but they are less effective than in dogs so cannot be avoided without moving • disinterest in food and humans. REGULAR DENTAL EXAMINpremises;ATIONS AND • occasionally a lump• mCorticosteroidsay be seen or felt are usually very TeffectiveREATMENT but CAN REDUCE● THEfeed RIS trialsK OF - C feedHOK oneE type of a feed at a on the left side of the nemustck. be used with caution as they carry a time for two weeks each and observe if small risk of laminitis in some horses. Short there is any improvement in the allergy; If you suspect your horse iscourses suffering may from be very useful,KEY though, POINTS and are ● insect bite hypersensitivity - optimise fly choke it is important to prerelativelyvent your safe horse in most cases. eating as this will make the blockage worse control – see Sweet Itch factsheet; • Creams, gels and ointments •mayDo helpn’t panic!to Choke is rarely life-threatening and and more difficult to clear. many cases will resolve spontaneous● drug reactionsly. - avoid further use of that soothe the skin – ask your vet for advice. particular medicine. If the obstruction doesn’t clear quickly of its • Seek veterinary advice if the choke lasts more than own accord then veterinary assistance must 30 minutes and while waiting for the vet remove all be sought. There are a number of steps food to prevent your horse eating and worsening your vet can take to help to confirm and treat the obstruction the problem. For further information contact your local XLEquine practice: • Following an episode of choke it is worth monitoring Horses and ponies with dental problems your horse’s respiratory rate (normal <16 bre aths/ (that prevent them grinding their food min) and rectal temperature for several days. properly), individuals that bolt their food too quickly and those fed dry pelleted or cubed • Arrange regular dental check-ups for your horse XLEquine is a novel and exciting initiative conceived from within feeds are all at increasedthe veterinaryrisk. profession made up of independently owned,to reduce the risk of choke as a result of a painful progressive veterinary practices located throughout themouth. United Kingdom, members of XLEquine are committed to working together for the benefit of all their clients. © XLVet UK Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced without www.xlequine.co.uk prior permission of the publisher. XLEquine - Better Together XLVetsXLEquine Equine - Better - Better Together. Together. Go Go to www.xlequine.co.ukto www.xlvets.co.uk XLVets Equine - Better Together. Go to www.xlvets.co.uk