| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Liz100 |
Posted - 17 Oct 2011 : 8:04:45 PM
I don't often see my horse wee but tonight he peed in front of me in the stable. It was normal colour until the last squirt, which came out a red colour. I know horse urine can turn red due to oxidisation(?) outside the body but I haven't heard of it coming out red before, although a quick google got some results from people saying it's perfectly normal in geldings (and of course plenty of people saying it isn't normal).
Otherwise he seems perfectly well, eating normally etc.
Is it normal, or should I be onto the vet first thing? |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Judith S |
Posted - 31 Oct 2011 : 10:24:12 AM
Selenium is deficient in a lot of areas of the UK, you can make certain by having your fodder tested, but do not assume you do not need it just because your horse is not in work. |
| Liz100 |
Posted - 30 Oct 2011 : 08:15:33 AM
Thanks Vera. I'm sure the information will be useful to someone, even if I don't need it right now. Raf certainly won't be in hard work over the winter so won't need the selenium either. He has gone backwards in the last couple of days and started with the red urine again. Perhaps because he's finished his antibiotics? I'll be ringing the vet tomorrow. |
| Vera |
Posted - 28 Oct 2011 : 7:43:17 PM
Liz , you don't need this info now but as I've asked Sharon today I thought I'd share what she said.
She gives her gelding Brewers Yeast as it is a good source of Vit B1 (Thiamine), she also give him electrolytes as it is a good source of potassium. She said there is little to no point in feeding Vit E and Selenium as only horse in very hard work are liking to need it. |
| Liz100 |
Posted - 27 Oct 2011 : 3:19:22 PM
Hi, a quick update - bloods showed raised lymphocytes, consistent with fighting off a virus, no sign of raised muscle enzymes (can't remember technical name, sorry) or anything else to worry about. Rafi also is much better in himself and trotted up sound this morning and he's had a normal wee. I've just got to keep an eye on him obviously and let vet know if he worsens now his antibiotics have finished. To think a couple of nights ago I was watching videos on youtube of horses with neurological problems and fearing the worst. Thanks ever so much all for your support  |
| Pauline |
Posted - 27 Oct 2011 : 08:45:28 AM
Liz100. Becareful about giving selenium on it's own. If you think it is a muscle problem have a chat with Roger Hatch on 01243551766 he has something that will help
Pauline |
| Liz100 |
Posted - 26 Oct 2011 : 11:18:53 PM
Thanks ever so much for your concern. Rafi is much better today, he seems (touch wood) to be back to his normal cheeky self and trotted out much better this morning, still lame but not bending sideways any more. Kept him in today and by this evening he was trotting up only very slightly lame on his near fore - seemed completely sound on his hinds. The bloods have come back, but the receptionist couldn't tell me anything, she said the vet would ring me when he got back to the practice, no phone call by 4.30 pm so rang again, was promised the vet would ring me shortly, but still nothing!
Vera - if you do get chance I'd be grateful for the name of that supplement. We're giving Rafi Propell Plus at the moment, which is a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement and contains Vitamin E and Selenium, which I think are recommended to help prevent muscle damage associated with conditions like Azoturia. However, yard owner gave it to her mare when she was pulled down with a virus and she went off her head - when she was better she was bouncing from one side of the road to the other! YO is a much better rider than me and is still alive to tell the tale but I'm not sure I could cope if it had the same affect on Raf (wouldn't mind some myself though!) |
| Vera |
Posted - 26 Oct 2011 : 10:14:39 PM
My friend's gelding is prone to Azoturia and one of his symptoms is dark red wee. She gives him a supplement but I have forgotton what it is but I could find out for you if you like |
| Zan |
Posted - 26 Oct 2011 : 9:26:46 PM
How is Raf today? I hope the bloods have given them something to go on and it isn't anything serious. |
| Liz100 |
Posted - 25 Oct 2011 : 6:58:42 PM
Now really worried. Although Raf does seem much brighter and indeed came straight to me when I went up to the field to see him earlier I soon realised something was wrong because he was walking slightly sideways. He is perky, was back to his cheeky habit of nipping at me when I trotted him up, doesn't seem in any pain, but he is bent, head to one side, tail to one side and back legs not quite right. He didn't object to his back being pressed, just didn't like his near hind above his hock being squeezed, but then I don't think he'd like that anyway.
Rang the vet, but the one who is looking after him is off today, so I spoke to another one who said best to wait until tomorrow and see if the bloods come back, in the meantime to ring if he got any worse.
 |
| Liz100 |
Posted - 25 Oct 2011 : 1:46:32 PM
Hi Kazzy & Pauline
I don't think the vet has ruled anything out yet and he did say it was ok to give Raf Selenium E and electrolytes which we are doing at the moment. He did say the urine test indicated some kind of infection but other than that couldn't (or wouldn't) speculate. Rafi urinated in his box again last night and again the very last bit turned red, but it's more of a clear pinky colour than a dark rusty colour. Most of the stream is perfectly normal. On a positive note, Raf did seem brighter last night and this morning. |
| Kazzy |
Posted - 25 Oct 2011 : 1:17:22 PM
Has your vet ruled out Azoturia?? They get red wee with that and some of the sypmtons you have described are some symptons of Azoturia.
Worth asking the vet if he is still not 100%
The *colic* attack could have been an attack of Azoturia.
Janet |
| Pauline |
Posted - 24 Oct 2011 : 10:39:38 PM
Small fragments of calcium (Grit /Stone) need not be felt on a rectal examination and the only real way of saying that there are none is by doing a Cyctoscopy (an instrument that can look into the urethra and bladder).
An increase of White cells and a trace of Protein could mean a urinary track infection. |
| Liz100 |
Posted - 24 Oct 2011 : 10:17:47 PM
Thanks haggis. Urine results back today, no blood but there were white cells and a trace of protein. Between the vet and the lab the bloods have been lost, can you believe, so vet took some more today. He is very non-committal, doesn't think it can be stones at his age, especially as he couldn't feel any when he did an internal, doesn't think it is atypical myopathy either as this would normally have a much more sudden onset, although he didn't definitely rule it out. He just said we'd have to wait until the bloods come back and take it from there. In the meantime Raf is still eating well, but if anything seems even quieter, he's lost his swagger :(
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| haggis |
Posted - 23 Oct 2011 : 11:16:52 PM
Check out muscle enzyme levels in the blood taken for testing too if possible, as blood in the urine and apparent colic can be mild symptoms of atypical myopathy. If the muscle enzymes are around normal then it isn't AM, but it's reassuring to rule it out. |
| Liz100 |
Posted - 23 Oct 2011 : 6:27:02 PM
Thanks Pauline. I wonder if the tests will show up anything like that? Haven't had any results back yet, but he isn't right.
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| Pauline |
Posted - 22 Oct 2011 : 09:35:23 AM
He could have passed a very small stone or grit. This would causes the blood
(red urine) |
| Liz100 |
Posted - 20 Oct 2011 : 09:37:06 AM
Just an update - vet was due this morning but I had to call them up as an emergency yesterday evening as Rafi appeared to be colicking, although he did pass a normal poo he was obviously in discomfort and quite distressed. By the time the vet arrived Raf had made a miraculous recovery but too late! He still got sedated and an arm shoved up his backside. Vet said he did have a build up of faeces in his ventral? bowel, although not hard, so he gave him epsom salts. He also felt his bladder and the tips of his kidneys while he was 'up there' and said they felt normal. Rafi has passed urine in public twice since I first rang the vet and both times has been completely normal. The vet couldn't see any blood in the sample but obviously has taken it back to the lab for testing. He also took some bloods and left some antibiotics in case he does have cystitis.
I had a restless night but Rafi is fine this morning and back to bullying his friends in the field. Will wait to hear what the results of the tests say. In a way I'll be glad if they find something as my instinct is that he just isn't quite right. |
| Liz100 |
Posted - 19 Oct 2011 : 06:40:14 AM
Fortunately no oak trees around the yard, I'm very glad to say, having just googled acorn poisoning. I knew that oaks were poisonous to horses but I've never looked up the reason or the symptoms before - glad I know more about it now. |
| kimzi |
Posted - 18 Oct 2011 : 10:42:31 PM
Have you got oak trees, unfortunateley it is a symptom of acorn poisoning  |
| Liz100 |
Posted - 18 Oct 2011 : 9:44:13 PM
LOL! Unfortunately Raf weed when he was brought in tonight (he's on livery and I was still at work) and despite Yard Owner being all prepared with bottle outside his stable, she was down in another block and everyone around at the time flapped, couldn't find the bottle and missed it! Everyone on high alert for tomorrow!
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| ali bali |
Posted - 18 Oct 2011 : 1:25:26 PM
Putting fresh bedding down usually works for my boys!
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| Liz100 |
Posted - 18 Oct 2011 : 1:14:08 PM
Thanks both. I rang the vet and she agreed it wasn't normal, but didn't think it was too much to worry about as Raf seems ok otherwise. They're sending someone out first thing Thursday (as that is our 'zone day' apparently) and in the meantime we've got to try to collect a sample of urine. Anyone got any tips for getting a horse to wee?? |
| barbara.gregory |
Posted - 18 Oct 2011 : 10:56:36 AM
I too have never seen it. If you can get the last bit of urinne and take it to the vet he can do a simple dipstick test for blood which will save you a lot of money if it is normal!
Barbara |
| Liz100 |
Posted - 17 Oct 2011 : 9:59:21 PM
Thanks Callisto. I'll ring the vet first thing. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 17 Oct 2011 : 9:14:36 PM
I would phone the vet and speak to them - it could be blood in the urine, and in 40 years of owning geldings I've never observed it, so to me it would not be normal. Your vet will advise as to the best course of action. |
