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Kidney disease in horses is fairly rare, but it can be a very serious condition. And a horse's kidneys aren't built like anyone else's: they have calcium-secreting glands, which is why perfectly healthy horse urine runs pale yellow and cloudy. Those glands earn their keep, because horses typically eat high-calcium foods such as alfalfa hay.
Several things can damage a horse's kidneys, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are high on the list, including the well-known and commonly used Bute. It's often given to older horses to manage pain, like what Advil does for humans. It works through the horse's inflammation routes, shrinking the particles that create pain. But it also negatively alters blood flow in a variety of organs, including the kidneys.
Other causes are simpler, the kind we take for granted. Tying up for long periods, and dehydration. When a horse is tied for a long duration, its body, and more specifically its head, is held in a stagnant position that can cause muscle stiffness or spasms. When that happens, the body secretes molecules that can damage the kidney.
The noticeable signs are increased drinking and more frequent urination. Others are less obvious: a horse can lose weight even with a good appetite, the coat goes rough, and energy drops from anemia (a low number of red blood cells), which goes hand in hand with kidney disease.
Diagnosis runs through your veterinarian, with blood tests and urine samples. Kidney disease is slow-progressing, sometimes with very poor outcomes, so the goal is to slow the damage down. Diet changes and constant access to water are common promising actions. If medications like Bute are being given regularly, they may need to be stopped. In more severe cases, or in older horses, veterinarians may opt for intravenous fluids.
Urinary tract problems in horses range from very minor (infections or crystals) to very serious (kidney failure or bladder rupture).
Loss of control of urination or dribbling, abnormally frequent output, scalding of the skin, straining or difficulty urinating. There could also be blood present.
The milder issue, similar to what we experience ourselves: pain, blood in the urine, unwillingness to move, lethargy, and sometimes a fever.
Rarer in horses than in dogs or cats, but crystals from a calcium overload can build into stones in the bladder or kidneys. Small ones often pass undetected; heavy grain or high-calcium feed keeps the buildup going.
Stallions and geldings are more susceptible to a blockage from a stone: their urethra is much longer and narrower than a mare's. A stone too big to pass causes real pain and difficulty urinating.
When it comes to supporting the urinary tract and kidneys, the three products below work together on three key areas, each in the horse-sized option.
Super-food nutrition enabling the mass production of antioxidant enzymes, which play a vital role in removing toxins and dangerous free radicals, and help with the proper distribution of minerals, like calcium and others.
Digestive enzymes and probiotics together: better uptake and assimilation of nutrients, and a digestive tract flooded with billions of beneficial bacteria. Bacterial imbalance in the gut is often the genesis of urinary tract issues.
Helps maintain a better pH, and in doing so, helps control the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
All three are covered by the 120-Day Worry-Free Guarantee: up to four months to see the difference in your own horse.
The kidneys keep the balance.
The gut is where you help them.
That's normal for a horse. Unlike dogs or cats, horse kidneys have calcium-secreting glands, and that natural calcium gives the urine its pale-yellow, cloudy look. Those glands regulate calcium because horses typically eat high-calcium foods such as alfalfa hay.
NSAIDs like Bute work through the inflammation routes, but they also negatively alter blood flow in a variety of organs, the kidneys included. If Bute is being given regularly and kidney trouble appears, your veterinarian may need to stop it.
Increased drinking and more frequent urination are the noticeable ones. Less obvious: weight loss despite a good appetite, a rough coat, and low energy from anemia. Diagnosis is blood tests and urine samples through your veterinarian.
Less common than in dogs or cats, but crystals from a calcium overload can build into stones. Small ones often pass undetected; heavy grain or high-calcium feed keeps the buildup going. Stallions and geldings are more at risk of blockage, with a longer, narrower urethra than a mare's.
Kara is the equine specialist on our customer care team, and she keeps her own herd on a farm in Saskatchewan. Tell her what you're seeing, what you're feeding, and what worries you, and she'll tell you honestly where to start. Read Kara's story →
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