CAN a horse vomit?

RickB. · 05-05-2007, 03:22 PM

excerpts from several sources:

"Because the valve into the stomach only opens only one way, horses can not regurgitate. "

"Horses cannot regurgitate"

"Unlike the cow, the horse cannot regurgitate food and chew it again. "

" Horses cannot regurgitate food due to a muscular flap which allows food to go into the stomach but not back out again"

So, Anatomically, horses cannot regurgitate/vomit. However, as noted, in severe instances of systemic disruption and disfunction, it is possible for a reverse flow of stomach contents to occur. So, technically speaking, one might well argue that you win the bet. On the other hand, as a matter of anatomy and physiology, one might well argue that you lose the bet.

Why not call it a draw and everyone leave with their egos intact?

Rick
I

ahorseofcourse · 05-05-2007, 05:54 PM

Ill probably tell them that a horse can and cant vomit! ;-)

babyruth · 05-05-2007, 08:04 PM

I believe that the only two species of animals that can not vomit are horses and rats. Not sure where I read that but if it is true, who would have thought that the two would have anything in common?

Crimson · 05-05-2007, 08:07 PM

from what i know they can vomit but death usually follows.

mandiemoo · 05-11-2007, 12:05 AM

i dont know if you are going to belive me but my last mare that i had has vomited.

i was moving her fence while she was eating. she stoped eating and started making this really bad groaing sound. my mum screamed at me to come back to her and that something was wrong. i started to rub her tummy and she started to vomit. green gunge was coming out of her nose and out of her mouth all over the ground i was so scared. i called a vet and i begged for help and she told me that she was off duty and hung up on me!!

anyway, i have seen a horse vomit and she never did it again. took her for a drink and she seemed very lathargic but was ok.

Haas Horse Farm · 05-11-2007, 12:18 AM

If your mare was doing what I think she was doing that was not vomit as it had not gotten down that far yet. I cannot think of the name of it but there is a condition that will make a horse have junk running out of their nose and mouth. Just thought of it... wonder if the horse has a problem with the cleft palate?

As stated previously the horses cannot vomit that is why colicing occures when there is a blockage in the digestive process. IF horses could vomit there would not be as many that die from colic.

MyBelgianAzzy · 05-11-2007, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haas Horse Farm

If your mare was doing what I think she was doing that was not vomit as it had not gotten down that far yet. I cannot think of the name of it but there is a condition that will make a horse have junk running out of their nose and mouth. Just thought of it... wonder if the horse has a problem with the cleft palate?

As stated previously the horses cannot vomit that is why colicing occures when there is a blockage in the digestive process. IF horses could vomit there would not be as many that die from colic.

I agree with Haas, but also want to add I've seen several choke cases where the horse moans or coughs and had chewed up stuff come out of their nose and mouth, effectively relieving the choke.

Kiraral · 05-11-2007, 02:03 AM

They, in very, very rare cases can, but it usually ends in death. Since they usually don't they colic instead.

JohnnyBob'sMyBoy · 05-11-2007, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennie'sPassion

I have seen horses get something stuck in thier throat and cough it up. My old gelding got a corn cob stuck and scared me to death. After about 5 minutes (which seemed like forever) he brought it up with a lot of mucus. He stretched his neck out and then would make squeeling noises, then cough. He repeated that cycle until it came up. I guess to someone who didn't know he was eating corn cobs they would think he was throwing up but he wasn't. It still scared the snot out of me.

that sounds like choke to me........

All About Choke In Horses

JohnnyBob'sMyBoy · 05-11-2007, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandiemoo

i dont know if you are going to belive me but my last mare that i had has vomited.

i was moving her fence while she was eating. she stoped eating and started making this really bad groaing sound. my mum screamed at me to come back to her and that something was wrong. i started to rub her tummy and she started to vomit. green gunge was coming out of her nose and out of her mouth all over the ground i was so scared. i called a vet and i begged for help and she told me that she was off duty and hung up on me!!

anyway, i have seen a horse vomit and she never did it again. took her for a drink and she seemed very lathargic but was ok.

that might have been choke too......on this site it states something about green mucus coming out of the nose when a horse chokes.....
All About Choke In Horses

05-05-2007, 03:22 PM	#21
RickB. Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 3,694	excerpts from several sources: "Because the valve into the stomach only opens only one way, horses can not regurgitate. " "Horses cannot regurgitate" "Unlike the cow, the horse cannot regurgitate food and chew it again. " " Horses cannot regurgitate food due to a muscular flap which allows food to go into the stomach but not back out again" So, Anatomically, horses cannot regurgitate/vomit. However, as noted, in severe instances of systemic disruption and disfunction, it is possible for a reverse flow of stomach contents to occur. So, technically speaking, one might well argue that you win the bet. On the other hand, as a matter of anatomy and physiology, one might well argue that you lose the bet. Why not call it a draw and everyone leave with their egos intact? Rick I __________________ Rick Burten, PF *In the immortal words of Ron White: "Let me tell ya' something folks, there ain't no cure for stupid. There's no pill you can take, no class you can go to, Stupid is forever."*

05-05-2007, 05:54 PM	#22
ahorseofcourse Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Most Likely with Trix (CA) Posts: 2,715 Images: 229 Blog Entries: 2	Ill probably tell them that a horse can and cant vomit! ;-) __________________ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Trixoxoxoxox ♥♥♥♥♥♥ http://trixiesgirl.deviantart.com/ Just laugh

05-05-2007, 08:07 PM	#24
Crimson Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New York. Posts: 332 Images: 15	from what i know they can vomit but death usually follows. __________________ Pretty Slick ( 3/28/81-12/ 17/08) Real Impression (2/1/81-6/21/10)

05-11-2007, 02:03 AM	#28
Kiraral Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 809 Images: 3	They, in very, very rare cases can, but it usually ends in death. Since they usually don't they colic instead. __________________ Oh Joe...that's not for eating! RIP Rainy. In my heart forever

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05-05-2007, 08:04 PM	#23
babyruth Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pawnee, AL Posts: 2,537 Images: 314	I believe that the only two species of animals that can not vomit are horses and rats. Not sure where I read that but if it is true, who would have thought that the two would have anything in common?

05-11-2007, 12:18 AM	#26
Haas Horse Farm Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Dixon, MO Posts: 12,845 Images: 25	If your mare was doing what I think she was doing that was not vomit as it had not gotten down that far yet. I cannot think of the name of it but there is a condition that will make a horse have junk running out of their nose and mouth. Just thought of it... wonder if the horse has a problem with the cleft palate? As stated previously the horses cannot vomit that is why colicing occures when there is a blockage in the digestive process. IF horses could vomit there would not be as many that die from colic.