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  Discussion on Ketone Levels
Author Message
Member:
txgf

Posted on Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 - 3:02 pm:

Dr. O,

Could you verify normal equine ranges of urine ketone levels?
My horse (on dipstick) showed mildly elevated levels of protein, and distinct elevation of ketones. All other values appeared to be w/in normal levels.
Specific Gravity was not checked by refractometer, so that still has to be done.
Sooo, just trying to get more information about how concerned I should be about this.
TIA
Heather
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 - 8:22 pm:

Hello Heather,
A finding of ketonuria is generally not as of much use in horses as some other species like monitoring diabetic treatments in small animals and humans. Though elevated levels can certainly occur with weight loss (accelerated fat metabolism), may be associated with Cushings and other insulin resistant conditions, and possibly glycogen storage diseases, by itself I don't find it very useful as a diagnostic or prognostic tool. Neither is there much in the literature about normal levels or even if the commonly used dipsticks are accurate with respect with ketones in equine urine.

Is your horse suffering from some disease that you wish to diagnose or monitor by urine ketone levels?
DrO
Member:
txgf

Posted on Sunday, Sep 12, 2010 - 12:26 am:

Dr. O

Good information, thank you very much.

This is my horse, and one that has a complex, lengthy medical history. To make a long story short...my regular vet and I sat down about 3 months ago reviewing 4 yrs worth of medical and my personal records.
A common finding was that my gelding consistantly did beautifully when on a fat supplemented diet.
He has a prior history of ulcers and significant muscle wasting at that time. Amongst other problems...

So, I agreed to make some dietary changes to see what would happen. No harm, no foul.
Placed him on a very low carb/starch diet, grass hay only, vit E, and corn oil (2 cups daily).
I am open to doing a biopsy at some point. Only have not pursued it now because of recent, advanced diagnostics done on him. I.e I'm getting a little worn down.
Diet change was easy :-)

Any which way, my horse has made some notable improvement.
Weighing some of the information about muscle disorders...in absence of a biopsy, thought it would be interesting to monitor UA samples?
Like you stated, the dipsticks aren't always accurate and having a lab run one for verified results is best.
I honestly wasn't expecting anything and have done a number of dispsticks on him. Getting a sample is not a problem. Todays was the first for a + ketone so it kinda caught me off guard. He has measured elevated protein levels each time, but that probably is of little significance until proven otherwise.
He is 4 yrs. No reason to believe he has cushing/adrenal issues/etc.

Really appreciate your time. Please let me know if you have any thoughts.
Heather
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Sep 13, 2010 - 7:20 am:

The increase ketones may be do to the high fat diet as they are a byproduct of fat metabolism.
DrO
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