Choke

Not to be confused with actual choking, Choke is when the esophagus or food pipe is blocked. It often occurs in older horses that are unable to chew their food thoroughly or in horses that require dental care. Symptoms include coughing, stretching their neck downward, and nasal discharge. This is considered an emergency and should not be ignored. Do not try feeding your horse anything, it will just add to the blockage. Don’t panic, this could upset your horse and it is important to keep them calm until Dr Winter arrives.

To relieve this Dr Winter will start by sedating your horse and giving them an antispasmodic. He will then pass a nasal gastric tube and push the bolus down into the stomach. This may require flushing with warm water or other solutions to break the bolus up. Also, you may have to do some aftercare such as administering antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medication. To reduce the incidence of choke, owners should be educated on their horse’s personal feeding program as well as proper dental care which can be discussed with Dr. Winter.

AVID Microchip for Horses

Dr. Winter effectively inserts the chip in the appropriate location on the left side of the neck, midway between the poll and withers, one inch below the midline of the mane. Most horses do not react because this procedure is pain free. It’s similar to getting an injection. Using a small, handheld scanner, the horse is unable to feel anything when he/she is being scanned. Your horse’s chip number is the equivalent to a (vehicle identification number) and is registered with a database. It provides proof that this is truly your horse. If lost or stolen, thieves are deterred because the public is alerted. If your horse is sold, it is important to keep the chip information current so the new owner must change the registry into their name. IT’S PERMANENT, AFFORDABLE, AND IT WORKS FOR THE LIFE OF YOUR HORSE!!!

Sheath Cleaning

Horse owners often ignore the chore of cleaning the sheath on their geldings or stallions. Some people need education on the subject or prefer not to do it themselves. Either way the sheath is an easy place to be ignored and should be cleaned out by yourself or Dr. Winter. Some male horses are more accepting of this than others. If your gelding or stallion will not let you reach in and clean it yourself then an appointment should be made for Dr. Winter to sedate and clean them thoroughly. The sheath is a double fold of skin that covers the drawn up penis. A dirty sheath with a buildup of debris, dirt, and urine can lead to infection or urinary problems. Glands lining the sheath called sebaceous glands produce a secretion called sebum. When this secretion mixes with dirt and dead skin cells, it forms a gray to black material called smegma. The other type of build up that occurs is a clay-like ball of debris that collects in the space around the urethra. Most people refer to this as a “bean”. If not removed it can restrict urine flow and cause other serious problems. This procedure should be on your list of routine care to keep your gelding or stallion healthy and comfortable.