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TC senior/beet pulp choke, sorry long

Horse Care
#1

So, assuming teeth are fine dentist was out recently, horse is in late teens why would she choke on both pellets AND TC senior mixed with a very wet scoop of well soaked BP (2 separate days)? She had one choke several months ago and it is possible she got to TC because someone else fed and she is out in a herd and a few eat TC. Its possible it was just all put out and a free for all that evening. I was not here at that time. Zoom forward to yesterday and instant choke but, somehow ate enough because it took 6 hours (vet came 2x) to clear 2 pounds of TC and 1 average scoop of BP wet. She is a 1200 pounds warmblood

Also, horse had a snotty nose for a few days about a month ago. No fever and no cough. Sinus seems fine.

She is Ok now but, time will tell how much damage she really has and what post issues may arise and she most likely has scar tissue is her already from the past choke which was very rough. Vet still felt from putting the tube in that she just does not seem right internally and with her age owner does not want to spend for diagnostics which I can’t blame

she is on very wet hay and mushy safe choice (the other feed we have) for now introduced slowly

I have decided to stop all TC Senior. I have found large thumbnail pieces of hard BP in it which does make me nervous :confused: I can’t believe i never looked closer at it

Anyone else notice this or have an issue with TC Senior? I wish it was just pellets!

#2

[QUOTE=SSFLandon;4756432]
So, assuming teeth are fine dentist was out recently, horse is in late teens why would she choke on both pellets AND TC senior mixed with a very wet scoop of well soaked BP (2 separate days)? [/QUOTE]

What kind of pellets and were they soaked? Was the senior soaked, too?

#3

It’s possible that she just ate it too fast…

I’ve fed TC Senior, never had a problem with it, but never soaked it. I would mix in TC grass forage, dampened, though to keep the horse from eating everything too fast.

It’s hard to believe that thumbnail clumps of beet pulp would cause a problem…

If it were my horse I would want a second opinion on the shape of this horse’s teeth. I know you said the horse dentist was out but if the same person has been doing them in the past he/she may be missing the same thing over and over again which could translate into a problem.

#4

I had the same thing happen a few years ago. Same age, breed, and mix of TC Sr and BP. 1st choke was really bad and cost me about $2500 and a 3 night stay at New Bolton. Second one about 3 weeks later on absolutely soaking wet feed resolved faster–thank goodness. I think it was related to bolting feed, which at the time was fed out of a bucket about chest high. Maybe coupled with the fact he would occasionally get upset at the horses outside squabbling while he ate in a stall.

I switched to Purina Sr and legends performance sweet, unsoaked, in a 2:1 ratio, and fed at ground level. I haven’t had a problem in 3 years (knock on wood). I think the sweet feed helps it slide down easily.

#5

A few years ago my then almost 30 year old large pony choked on TC Senior plain. After that I started mixing it with beet pulp and water and haven’t had a problem since. I literally feed her just beet pulp and TC Senior. At 32, she just isn’t processing hay like she used to. She eats 5 lbs of TC and 1.5 qts. (measured dry then soaked) beet pulp at every feeding.

Are you sure she isn’t just eating too quickly? There has to be some way you can slow down her eating- maybe a big salt lick in her feed bucket so she has to root around it?

#6

Put some large rocks in her feed tub to make her slow down and have to work for her feed. Salt blocks disintegrate too easily, especially if you are wetting the feed.

#7

Two or three large rounded river stones in the feeder tend to work well to keep a horse from bolting its food.

Choke prone horses tend to be better off eating from a ground feeder as it places the esophagus in a more natural position.

Wet a pelleted feed once, and then let it sit a few minutes to absorb the water, then add additional water to make a thick soup just before serving.

For some horses it may be beneficial to reduce the grain and add oil to keep the calorie level the same.

The feedings could also be divided into three feedings per day to reduce the amount fed at each feeding.

I am aware of some who feel senior feed is more apt to cause choke as some brands of senior feeds tend to have dense pellets that may tend to “set up” like cement.

The feed should be tested by adding water to see if it is one that “sets up”, adding the additional water may help.

In some cases when a different individual feeds the horse they my not take all the proper steps to set up the feed properly. Everyone who feeds the choke prone horse must be made aware of the importance of proper feed preparation.

#8

thanks everyone for you stories and opinions.

She does use a ground pan to eat

and the owners do not want to spend more money and the vet who treated her for the choke looked at her teeth

she lives in a herd setting outside and although in now it’s going to be hard for her to stay in for several reasons. that is why i’m changing all the horses off TC.

her food was very wet already, not a soup but i make the bp with extra water so when added to the tc quickly turns it to mush

she really does not eat faster the a regular horse, and adding the rocks may or may not help but, living out i would have to put rocks in all 6 horses and again it’s not not really ideal

my main question is if people have had this problem with the tc. the vet pulled out many big fiberous chucks when tubbing which was most likely what caused the blockage and i feel that there should not be hard big flat chunks in the senior feed. the vet also said she has had other chokes on the tc and bp

thanks!

#9

My older mare also experienced choke with unsoaked TC added to well soaked and very wet bp. My vet told me to add the TC before soaking and she has not had another episode in years.

#10

I’ve been feeding TC Senior on and off with various horses for years, never had a problem. I do find that senior feeds of different brands tend to be “clumpy” in the bag so I make a point when I feed to run my through to break it up all the way.

I have one gelding that was on TC Senior and Beet Pulp. I stopped mixing the two because I found that some of the Senior was getting damp enough to clump but not soaked enough to soften. I just used two feed pans.

#11

Is it possible that she went and ate some dry feed out of someone else’s feed pan? You may have to start soaking everyone’s feed in the herd to keep her safe, or feed her separately. I would make all her feed an absolute soup from now on though.

I must say I’ve fed TC Senior for many years and have known horses in their 30s who have eaten it with no problems. I think that unfortunately some horses are just prone to choke and will choke on any feed.

#12

Yes, I agree some are more prone for various reasons. I do like the food for what it has in it but, being that she lives in a herd situation and taking her out to feed daily is impossible they all get fed the same. With the exception of 1 they are all older and seem to require the same needs in feeding SO, with that said for her I’ll just make the change to Safe Choice. I use it and as all it has its pros and cons but, does absorb water quickly and will be made soupy for all. I am also going to change the BP to hay cubes very soaked as they need more fiber and roughage and hay the round bales are not enough. The grass is coming in so that will help too. I’m pretty good at getting horses fat so hopefully my new plan will work…oh and oil for all to up the fat

#13

My senior 33 year old choked twice on TC Senior - switched to the Southern States Maturity feed. I soak this to make a “soup”, and he loves it! No further choke episodes x 1 year - knock on wood…

#14

I got tired of having to physically sort through each feeding of Triple Crown and switched to Strategy. I was finding golf ball sized chunks of Beep and whole corn in the Senior and the Complete.

#15

I don’t know why they don’t just use the pellets in it, no reason to add the shreds or golf balls :mad:

#16

WILL NOT feed TC senior again. Had similar issue with a boarders 20+ year old mare. She choked so bad she was on IV fluids for 4 days and the vet was coming out to euthanize her. Tried one more time to dislodge it and oiled it for the millioneth time and finally she coughed it out and it was stinky! She could not eat for 2 or 3 weeks her throat hurt so bad. Lost sooooo much weight. She still gets beetpulp, but it is soaked with a cheap, high fiber feed that turns into mush and she’s doing great not choking again.

#17

I had a bunch of episodes of choke with the TC Growth (similar in consistency to the TC Sr.). I had a few random ones here and there and then one day all 5 of my broodmares choked at once about 2 minutes after feeding them. They were eating outside in the pasture, directly off the ground (dumped on the grass). I thought they had been poisoned or something because I couldn’t see how ALL of them could possibly be choking!! My vet was in awe!
I stopped feeding it after that and called the company to tell them, but they said they hadn’t heard of that problem before.

#18

well that’s disturbing to read.
i’m moving my mare and have to provide my own feed. she gets a cup of senior w/ her TC Lite to help her clean up the supplements. at the current barn the senior is made by Purina but i was planning to switch to TC senior when we move. now i wonder if i should reconsider… damn COTH :wink:

#19

I feed TC senior to almost 40 horses every day, a few get some beet pulp shreds mixed in as well, and most of them eat out in the pasture. I soak the feed for every single horse. We feed using mesh feedbags so we put the feed in the feedbags, put the bags in water to soak, and then the feedbags go on the horses. That way everyone gets soaked feed, ONLY their feed, and any supps/meds they need. Maybe you should try the feedbag approach to make sure she only eats HER feed and you can feed it to her soaked in the feedbag?

1 Like
#20

thanks, that is a good idea and i wish I had some. is there a brand/place you suggest? perhaps i can convince BO to get them as they are of various weights, ages, etc, out there. for now when she does join the herd again they will all get wet food since they do love the share with each other

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