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  Discussion on Horses "choke" on new feed
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Member:
majoda92

Posted on Saturday, Jul 28, 2007 - 8:03 am:

Several weeks ago, I began to switch my horses over to a low-carb pellet offered by my feed supplier. It came highly recommended and seemed like a good idea for so many of my older horses. I had been feeding a 10% pellet, an extruded Senior formula, soaked shredded beat pulp, and for a couple of the horses some soaked whole oats. I introduced the new pellet by adding some to their current diet. Shortly after switching them completely over to the new feed one of the horses experienced an episode of Choke. I din't really think too much about it, this was a horses that only recently had moved into our barn, and was in very depleted condition when he came, about 200 lbs. underweight. Just figured he gobbled his feed too quickly. A few days later, another horse choked on his feed. Not a horse that was an agressive eater at all. Now I was concerned, but before I could really put 2&2 together, I had to go out of state for a few days. While I was away, the girl taking care of the horses called to say that my mare, Jackie, really had a serious bout of choke!! They managed to get her cleared without calling the vet, but it was definitely now a very serious problem. I told the girl to go to our feed store in the morning and get out old feed back. Now, I really had concerns about the new pellet. I called the feed store in the morning to describe what happened with the new feed. They said no one else has reported any problems with it, and it was selling well. I don't know why my horses would suddenly have all these problem's and no one else!! I have even e-mailed the company which makes the feed, but have not heard back from them. What do you all think? Cause and effect, or just a very weird coincidence. BTW,my mare Jackie has now been experiencing from very serious neurological problems which I posted last weekend. She is making progress, but, again, just a weird coincidence or did the choke episode play a role in her serious new condition.(some sort of vestibular synDrOme). We have not had any more problems with the feed since switching back to the old stuff, and we certainly hadn't had any problems all of the many years before. I am looking forward to hearing your feed back, especially you, DR. O.!
Diane
Member:
scooter

Posted on Saturday, Jul 28, 2007 - 8:55 am:

Hi Diane, my guess would be that the senior pellets are usually softer and easier to chew....for the older horse. I know my horses tend to choke on the lite pellets I give them , so I soak them and make a mash of it. My old girl also gets beet pulp, when I get her feed ready I put the pellets and beet pulp in her feeder and soak it until it is all "fluffed" up. I haven't had a choke issue with her since.

Were you also giving the soaked beet pulp with the new feed? if so I would just soak the pellets with it. Hope that helps.
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Saturday, Jul 28, 2007 - 9:16 am:

I had the same problem when I switched to Safe Choice Pellets. Like you, I talked to the company that makes them. The Rep said to put some rocks in the feed to slow down the horses eating and blew if off that she already eats slow and that wasn't the problem.

I just put water in their feed in the summer, and during the winter I add either warm water and/or some oil. That's not a problem for me as I was wetting the feed to help a granular vitamin supplement stick to it. It's not time consuming, it soaks up quick. I do the pellets with water, put hay in the stalls and let them in to eat and it's fine.

The other thing is make sure the feeder is low enough; I think most say not higher than the horses withers but I think lower is better as it's more natural for them.

The horse of mine that had trouble had a rough start to life which may make a difference in how she handles things.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jul 28, 2007 - 3:00 pm:

Hello Diane-Baker,
3 closely spaced bouts of choke in 3 different horses with no prior history is about all it would take for me to consider the feed a problem. Perhaps the horses really like it and are eating it too quickly? If this is a well known brand you would like to use and you know folks who use it successfully consider adopting it more slowly beginning with mixing it with your current feed then slowly adjusting them over. Wetting pellets does help prevent choke for more see Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Mouth, Esophagus, and Liver » Choke: Esophageal Obstruction.
DrO
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