Managing a Horse Who Aspirates Food

[Syrynx]

I thought my mare had a choking incident but after having her scoped it turns out she has nerve damage which is causing a soft palate displacement over her epiglottis.

The vets have no idea what may have caused this and it is not fixable because of the nerve damage.

Her guttural pouch also has some thickening and scarring and are very inflamed. So much so that the vets who came out on Thursday then Friday could not tube her (when we thought it was choke).

She’s a 13 yr old retiree due to KS as she has significant remodeling. I had actually sold her to a young eventer and when they discovered that, they asked if I could take her back.

It seems like I’d be forever having to worry about pneumonia due to the aspirating. She already is fed mashes and in a pan on the ground. And I was just at the clinic to hand graze and she kept coughing out grass. Then when she was back in her stall and took a drink, it came out of her nose.

I will talk with the vet again tomorrow but has anyone ever dealt with this longer term? I know I’ve aspirated food before and it is not pleasant at all. Plus the risk of her getting pneumonia is real.

I just want her to not be uncomfortable, nor go through a traumatic event if she gets really sick. So would appreciate hearing others experiences I’d they have them to share.

[Amy3996]

A friend’s older retiree suffered aspiration pneumonia after a choke… he became critically ill incredibly quickly. Recurrent aspiration seems like a recipe for disaster.

If there’s no way to resolve the cause of the aspiration, I’d discuss quality of life and possible euthanasia with your vet.

My sympathies to you and jingles to your pony.

[OverandOnward]

@Amy3996

I’d discuss quality of life and possible euthanasia with your vet.

Same. And I am really sorry that you are facing this with your mare.

Also I am guessing that the inflammed areas are painful, and there is not much of a way for a horse to show it.

For me, this is one where it is better too soon than too late. The future does not look comfortable for your mare, just from what you have posted. In my mind there is no point in putting her through this. That would be my perspective.

[barnesthenoble]

Chiming in with another vote for euthanasia if it were my horse. With no medical treatment options available and what sounds like pretty significant worsening (when was the initial presumed choke incident? How rapidly did it go from what you thought was choke to food now regularly coming out her nose?), I imagine it’s very uncomfortable for her. Especially with inflammation already present, I imagine she’s in some level of pain and pneumonia sounds like an inevitability that will force your hand anyway.

I definitely agree with a previous poster, I think this is a ripe case for better a day too soon than a moment too late. So sorry you’re going through this.

[Syrynx]

@barnesthenoble

when was the initial presumed choke incident? How rapidly did it go from what you thought was choke to food now regularly coming out her nose?),

Last Thursday was when I noticed the discharge from her nose and mouth. First vet came out and really struggled to tube her. Took a lot of time and a small diameter tube and nothing but water came up. He said it was odd and was not sure it resolved the suspected choke. Gave her banamine and excede and said to monitor.

Next day still had drainage but I waited a bit to call back in. Then while she was in stall, other horses went out of sight which agitated her and foam and discharge poured out of her nose and mouth. It was scary af! She also did not eat her soupy mash but otherwise seemed ok.

Other vet in practice came and tubed her to have it bend and come back out of her mouth. We then agreed she needed to be scoped so off to the clinic we went.

She was too inflamed on Friday to get a full diagnosis so they redid today.

She’s had banamine and steroids and it has not reduced the inflammation all that much since Friday.

All 4 vets that have seen her have said, “this is weird”

She is being tested for strangles but her blood work has come back twice with zero signs of infection. Results for strangles are due back tomorrow. She’s not been off property for 2 years, and her 2 retired pals have been here much longer and show now symptoms of anything.

It is all so strange and out of nowhere seemingly.