Sheet Fact Sheet

hoke
Arthritis
a relatively common condition seen in horses
es and is typically
Arthritiscaused by obstruction
is a disorder of of the
gus (food pipe) with food;
the joints, occasionally a foreign
characterised
be involved e.g. degeneration
by the wood or plastic. Fortunately
ses of choke
andresolve
loss of quickly and spontaneously
the cartilage
cases in which the obstruction
covering the joint surface lasts for longer
minutes are
and likely
the to require veterinary
development of new assistance.
ortant to note
bonethat on this
jointissurfaces
not the same
and as the
atening condition
margins. It can follow afterthe term
in humans, where
refers to blockage
an injury of or the
maywindpipe
develop rather than the
agus. Thisduring
difference means
the course of that unlike humans,
your
with choke can still
horse’s breathe.
life, as a result
of general wear and tear.
Arthritis results in pain, and is
thought to be one of the most
common causes of lameness
in the horse. If your horse is
lame we would advise you
to schedule an appointment
with your veterinary surgeon to
determine the cause of lameness.
ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS:

Diagnosis: ● pain, stiffness and swelling around a joint

● lameness
Your veterinary surgeon will start by taking a history of the
● increased time to warm up for exercise
problem followed by a thorough physical examination and gait
assessment. This may involve trotting your horse in a straight line ● decreased performance and general
andREGULAR
lunging on DENTAL EXAMINATIONS
a firm and / or soft surface.ANDSometimes a ridden lethargy
TREATMENT CAN REDUCE THE RISK
assessment is invaluable in identifying more OF CHOKEcomplex problems. It ● a change in joint conformation (shape).
may be necessary for your veterinary surgeon to refer your horse
KEYtoPOINTS
an equine clinic if the facilities at your yard are not suitable for
a detailed lameness investigation.
• Don’t
Then, on theChoke
panic! basisisofrarely
this examination,
life-threateningyour veterinary surgeon
and
may cases
many try to determine
will resolvethe exact location of the lameness by
spontaneously.
injecting local anaesthetic around the nerves or into the joint to
• Seek
see veterinary
if your horse advice
goesifsound
the choke lasts
(nerve and more
jointthan
blocks).
30 minutes and while waiting for the vet remove all
Once the location of the lameness is determined, it will
food to prevent your horse eating and worsening
be necessary to assess the structural damage to the joint.
the obstruction
Traditionally, this will be done by obtaining x-rays of the affected
• Following
joint. However, not allofaffected
an episode choke itjoints will monitoring
is worth show x-ray changes.
Fortunately
your other methods
horse’s respiratory rate of imaging
(normal are
<16 available and
breaths/
sometimes
min) and rectal your veterinary surgeon
temperature for severalmay decide that your horse
days.
needs one or more of the following investigations:
• Arrange regular dental check-ups for your horse
ultrasound
to●reduce the riskexamination
of choke as a result of a painful
mouth.
● scintigraphy (bone scan)
● MRI / CT SwEllIng OF ThE FrOnT OF A PASTErn
● arthroscopy (key-hole surgery). jOInT AFFECTED bY ArThrITIS

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 XLEquine Arthritis
Fact Sheet lameness
L

Choke
TrEATMEnT
A b C
Treatment greatly depends
on which joint is affected
and the severity of the Choke is a relatively common condition seen in horses
damage. Generally it and ponies and is typically caused by obstruction of the
involves a period of restoesophagus (food pipe) with food; occasionally a foreign
followed by an increasing body can be involved e.g. wood or plastic. Fortunately
exercise regime. Your
many cases of choke resolve quickly and spontaneously
veterinary surgeon can
advise you exactly what and only cases in which the obstruction lasts for longer
your horse should and than 30 minutes are likely to require veterinary assistance.
should not do. Furthermore It is important to note that this is not the same as the
it will often involve medical life-threatening condition in humans, where the term
treatment with a pain killer
“choke” refers to blockage of the windpipe rather than the
anti-inflammatory e.g.
phenylbutazone or similaroesophagus. This difference means that unlike humans,
drugs. Additionally the joint horses with choke can still breathe.
itself may be injected with
an anti-inflammatory such
as corticosteroids and
artificial joint fluid such as
hyaluronic acid. A & b: X-ray showing arthritis of the
Other treatments may lower hock joints (spavin)
be prescribed tailored to C: A bone Scan showing a ‘hot spot’ in the hock
ical signs:
your horse’s needs. These
treatments are designed

lowing
to modify
culty/repeated
process
the disease
attempts at
either by reducing Prognosis
inflammation or assisting Prognosis is dependent on the it will be possible to get the horse
ching/arching ofwithin
repair the neck
the joint. severity of the damage to the joint back to the same or a lower level
ghing and the response to medication. of exercise. However, it should be
Some horses need a one– Quite often, with the help of remembered that there is no cure for
off treatment,
& saliva discharging whilst
from the others
nose a balanced exercise regime, arthritis, as the damage to the joint is
may require more frequent medication and rest as appropriate, irreversible.
oling
intervention. Unfortunately
it is very difficult to predict
nterest in food
REGULAR DENTAL EXAMINATIONS AND
how your horse will respond
asionally a lump may be seen or felt TREATMENT CAN REDUCEKey POINTS
THE RISK OF CHOKE
to the treatment.
he left side of the neck.
● Arthritis can be a painful disease, ●Usually your horse will require x-
uspect yourThe useisofsuffering
horse joint from KEYthat
POINTS
can cause lameness. rays to diagnose the disease.
is importantsupplements can be
to prevent your horse ● Early and appropriate ● Your veterinary surgeon will
beneficial in arthritisworse
and
s this will make
your
the blockage
veterinary surgeon will
• treatment
Don’t panic!can oftenisgive
Choke a life-threatening
rarely discuss
and with you the various ways
e difficult to clear. goodcases
many improvement or return
will resolve to
spontaneously. in which arthritis can be treated
help you to make the right
soundness. in your horse.
struction doesn’t
choice forclear
yourquickly
horse.of its • Seek veterinary advice if the choke lasts more than
ord then veterinary assistance must ● There
30 is noand
minutes curewhile
for arthritis.
waiting for the vet remove all
ht. There are a number of steps food to prevent your horse eating and worsening
can take to help to confirm and treat the obstruction
lem. For further information contact your local XLEquine practice:
• Following an episode of choke it is worth monitoring
and ponies with dental problems your horse’s respiratory rate (normal <16 breaths/
vent them grinding their food min) and rectal temperature for several days.
), individuals that bolt their food too
and those fed XLEquine
dry pelleted or cubed • Arrange regular dental check-ups for your horse
is a novel and exciting initiative conceived from within
e all at increased risk. profession made up of independently owned,
the veterinary
to reduce the risk of choke as a result of a painful
progressive veterinary practices located throughout themouth.
United
Kingdom, members of XLEquine are committed to working
together for the benefit of all their clients.
© XLVet UK Ltd.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without www.xlequine.co.uk
prior permission of the publisher.
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