It is common for a food bolus to become lodged in the esophagus of the horse which rapidly leads to signs of discomfort and a copious food contaminated nasal discharge of saliva. Since the horse can still breath the horse is not technically choking but this has become the common name for this condition. It happens for a number of different reasons and clinical signs develop rapidly this article discusses causes, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and possible complications.

Symptoms of choke occurs during or shortly following feeding. When a horse becomes choked, he will immediately start showing signs of distress. If it is his first time, he may even appear colicky; throwing himself to the ground repeatedly. He may thrash his head around attempting to dislodge the obstruction. When choked, the salivary glands go into high gear and rapidly fill the esophagus. The excessive salivation then drains out the mouth and with time usually the nostrils often mixed with food. The nasal discharge can be copious. This is the hallmark of esophageal obstruction: food tainted saliva issuing from the nose. Horses that have had the problem before become much more stoic and learn to put their head down so the air ways can drain and they can breathe easier.