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| Author |
Message |
    
Rupie (Rupie)
| | Posted on Thursday, Nov 9, 2000 - 2:22 pm: |   |
I have a 3 1/2 DWB (purchased 4 months ago) who drinks excessivly - up to 20 gallons/day and because of this urinates frequently (up to 3x in an hour). I just had blood & urine tests done. The blood test came back with creatinine up 1/3 and the BUN double. My vet was concerned with his kidneys so we ran a urine test which was fine except the specific gravity was off which my vet attributed to the amount of water he had been drinking. Initially we thought that perhaps his diet was too rich for him so I stopped his daily vitamin/mineral supplement and put him on less rich hay. My vet suggested we try cutting his water back for a week and then doing another blood & urine test. He mentioned that he has seen other horses who drink above the norm and seem to do fine when they're given less water (12 gallons/day). I am still very concerned w/ a possible kindey problem and cutting back his water. He does not strain to urinate nor is there color change in his urine, if anything its close to being clear. I'd appreciate any thoughts! |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 14, 2000 - 8:22 am: | |
Hello Rupie,
I am sorry for the delayed response, I had responded one time but apparently my post failed, I can't remember that happening in the past year.
There are conditions where the kidney loose there ability to concentrate that are treated by limiting water intake so that needed electrolytes can build back up in the kidney. However though these horses drink and urinate a lot, they do not usually have increase concentrations of BUN and Creatinine.
As long as the serum glucose is normal, the elevated levels of Cr and BUN along with dilute urine suggests that your horse has kidney disease. To better define the problem the next step could be biopsy, ultrasoud or glomerular filtration rate studies.
DrO |
Jacqueline Madon (Rupie)
| | Posted on Thursday, Nov 16, 2000 - 2:12 pm: | |
Could you please explain what a glumerular filtration rate study is? |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Saturday, Nov 18, 2000 - 7:31 am: | |
Glomerular filtration rate is the rate with which the kidneys can clear a substance from the blood stream. Therefore it is a measure of functional ability of the kidneys. It is measured by injecting a known substance into the blood and then measuring how quickly the kidney removes it from the blood stream.
DrO |
Rupie (Rupie)
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 26, 2001 - 11:21 pm: | |
The most recent blood/urine work shows his bun at normal and his creatinine just above normal, however he is now very aneamic (just started on Vi-Sorbin), his potassium level has sky rocketed, and the specific gravity is also below norm. What could be causing the rise in potassium? This situation has gone on for months now with some things improving and others (hemoglobin and hemocratic levels) becoming worse. The urinalyis also mentioned rare calcium chloride crystals present - what could this possibly be due to? His protein level is on the low side as well but it was suggested that I keep him on a very simple diet. He only get grass hay and extruded pellets. He has not been given i.v. fluids - my vet thought it wouldn't help much at this point. I have had two vets conclude renal insuffiency and one mentioned that most horses go on to lead fairly normal lives and cope by drinking more fluid (he drinks about 12 gallons/day). He is just turning four. What is the long term diagnosis for the horses with this condtion and what else should I be doing to help the present situation? Any suggestions would be appreciated. |
Rupie (Rupie)
| | Posted on Monday, Jan 29, 2001 - 1:59 pm: | |
The rare crystals that were present were Calcium Carbonate - To 15, not calcium chloride (typo on my behalf). The report also noted that there was marked ecchinocytosis,poikilocytosis and slight acanthocyotsis, could you please explain what these are as well. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 30, 2001 - 11:09 am: | |
The calcium carbonate crystals in the urine are normal. What were the PCV and Hemoglobin vales, please include the units of measurement. How long does it take to get the blood from your horse to the laboratory and how is it handled in between? In which cells and from what sample were the ecchinocytosis, poikilocytosis and slight acanthocyotsis described. This is probably the RBC but were they in the blood sample or the urine sample?
These questions you ask are best answered by your veterinarian who knows the answers to the questions I ask and perhaps other facts that are important to interpretation of theses results that I am not aware of: what does he say?
DrO |
Joni Valerio
Member
Username: 3rsatsmf
Post Number: 97
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, Mar 12, 2003 - 11:53 am: | |
I don't know if this post should go at the end or not, but I am curious as to "HOW" your urine tests were done.... how did you collect the urine? Maybe you were lucky and just had to stand at-the-ready with a bucket but my horse is a "shy-guy". Won't wee or poop if anyone is watching...
He has a leptospriosis titer and we want to do a urine test to make sure he is no longer shedding (the other owners at the barn are a little over-reactive).
If we don't catch him at the right moment, will the vet catheter him? (He's a 4yo Friesian gelding) Any chance of complications (swollen sheath, etc.) arising from the cath?
Thanks,
Joni |
ANN COLLIER
Member
Username: Dres
Post Number: 162
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Mar 12, 2003 - 3:46 pm: | |
a clean stall with fresh bedding works EVERY time...
just be ready!!!
Ann |
Joni Valerio
Member
Username: 3rsatsmf
Post Number: 100
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 3, 2003 - 9:30 pm: | |
Well, in case anyone was waiting with bated breath... we wound up making a 'urine catcher' out of a trash bag and string. I am now the proud owner of a 4 yo Friesian who is bag-trained! Anyone need details, please let me know, I'd be happy to help! |
