|
|
Discussion on Attempted Urination
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
Cary
|
Posted on Saturday, Nov 23, 2002 - 4:21 pm:
Dear DrO, While waiting for a callback from the vet, just wanted to share what was going on with our 7yo Trekhener gelding. This afternoon, his behavior became quite far from the norm, he began pacing in the paddock and attempted to urinate very frequently, only managing a small stream, would go back to pacing and being obviously irritated, then spread his legs and again attempt to urinate. At times, while in the stance, he kicks out, and becomes more irritated. I cleaned his sheath thinking a shavings piece might be irritating him, he was find for that, at seemed at peace for about a half hour, then back to the former. I am thinking he has a kidner or bladder infection, and should be on an antibiotic. Also thinking mild colic, but not leaning that way because he is eating hay and drinking water and begging carrots. What think? Thank you.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Sunday, Nov 24, 2002 - 7:51 am:
Though I agree that it sounds like he may be having difficulty urinating, I still would put colic at the top: for every horse I see behaving this way 99 will have colic and 1 will be in distress to urinate. I think you are right that he still eats pushes the urinary tract up the rule out list considerably, but it may be the pain is somewhat spasmodic, with periods of Ok between. If cause to the colic is not evident, it will take a careful exam to rule out the urinary tract quickly including urinalysis, palpation of the bladder and ultrasound.
DrO
|
Member:
Penner
|
Posted on Sunday, Nov 24, 2002 - 11:07 am:
Yes, call the vet! When I 1st read this I thought COLIC!
3 days before 1 of my horses died from colic he was doing this. I was not home & my husband didn't pay attention to this - didn't think it meant anything.
When I got back, horse was very sick, vet was out but it was too late. The horse had colic with secondary peritonitis confirmed with a abdominal tap.
Good luck & speed dial your vet.
|
Member:
Cary
|
Posted on Sunday, Nov 24, 2002 - 11:48 am:
Thank you DrO and Penner, consulted with vet, she encouraged walking, watching and offering bran mash before she came out. His symptoms subsided, we believe it was colic, he had a nice warm mash and has been hand walked. We took him out on the trails this morning, he was very enthusiastic and seemed back to his old self. I do believe we got through a bout of colic, he is a very emotional, sensitive horse and we have been dealing with high winds and a sudden cold snap, and I believe he fretted himself into feeling sick! Thank you so much for your advice. I always check here first.
|
Member:
Westks
|
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 3, 2003 - 10:38 am:
I just want to mention my gelding that just had to be put down. We also thought it was colic at first but his kidney actually failed and then he went into heart attacks. He had much the same behavior except I had him in stall so he couldn't exert himself.
|
Member:
Kthorse
|
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 3, 2003 - 11:43 am:
Janette,
I am so sorry. My heart goes out to you.
Katrina
|
Member:
Canyon28
|
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 3, 2003 - 12:09 pm:
Janet, how old was your geldng? I am so sorry for you. This time of year is also a bad time for sand colic, almost all of my neighbors horses coliced this past week. they are very observant folks, and had the vet out to tube them before any thing got out ofhand. They now will be feeding sand clear every month.
|
Member:
Westks
|
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 3, 2003 - 2:20 pm:
I just want to add I am becoming more and more alarmed with the use of purina products. They say they had my gelding on purina senior against my wishes. My gelding became another statistic of 20 horses I saw with my own eyes who have had kidney urination, or bowel problems, quickly after being put on purina Strategy , Senior , Equine adult, Race Ready, Complete Advantage , Athelete. It just seems to be too much of a coincidence that I saw that many in this rural area I live in, who all just switched to Purina equine products.
|
Member:
Westks
|
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 3, 2003 - 2:23 pm:
My gelding was 26, however no matter what the age of the horse I would have thorough screening of kidney function as well as an ultra sound just to make sure kidneys are ok. My geldings failed from lack of enough water and roughage over a period of 4 months to the day. I think the heart became weaker and damaged due to improper nutrition in regards to his age.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 3, 2003 - 5:13 pm:
Janette,
My condolences on your recent loss. Purina makes a high quality feed and I have known thousands of horses on it over the years. I assure you there is nothing basically wrong with their feed. What nutritional deficiency or toxic principle do you believe the Equine Senior has?
DrO
|
Member:
Westks
|
Posted on Friday, Sep 5, 2003 - 9:10 am:
Hi Dr O
I was raised feeding purina omalene to evrything so I do not have a bone to pick with purina. What I have noticed that is in bold as common thread here is all the horses I saw were recently switched to purina specialty equine feeds. All had same symptoms of repeated attempts to urinate and looking at side, pawing, running and rolling.
None had fever , blood work was all in normal range and several did extensive testing to look for infection in kidneys or anywhere for that matter. The owners were all knowledgeable and switched gradully to the new feed. That is how I arrived at my feeling that there is something in that feed that is causing some horses to have serious problems in the waste treatment area.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Friday, Sep 5, 2003 - 1:27 pm:
This is an important point Janette as it effects peoples ability to make accurate judgements.
Every new product that I have ever seen come out and rapidly assimilated into the equine management scheme goes through this sort of critique. We have seen similar claims with Quest, WNV vaccine, even ivermectin 25 years ago. As a result some folks put there horses at risk due to unsubstantiated claims that they have heard.
I can think of another common denominator in the disease outbreak you outline above: all of these horses or at least horse owners were known by you, if only in a casual manner. Does this mean that perhaps there is something about Janette that is causing urinary disease in these horses? You might say, "Well I have known some horses that did not get ill." But the same is obviously true of these feeds. Or you might ask, "What possible mechanism might be at work that I have such an effect?" Well there is no mechanism we are aware of, but neither is there with these feeds. Even if it were the feed perhaps this has something to do with the way it was stored, creating mycotoxins for instance, but if any feed were stored this way the same effect would occur. It may have nothing to do with it being a Purina product at all. I know my example above is a bit out there but it illustrates that without knowing how this occurred you cannot fairly lay the blame at a particular products feet.
If you are uncomfortable with them by all means feed somthing else, but I must address what I see as an unsubstantiated fear and place it in a balanced light.
DrO
|
Member:
Westks
|
Posted on Friday, Sep 5, 2003 - 4:42 pm:
Hi Dr O
LOL! ok point taken GOD FORBID I am the reason these horses are having problems . I would never touch a horse again if that were so.
I see what you mean and true I did not test their water, examine food storage etc. And I reiterate I do not have a problem with purina products except for the basic mixes offered especially for horses. I absolutely refuse to use products designed for quick results , with out regard to actual nutritional needs and the harm they ,may cause if used improperly (ie "more is better"). I have no way of determining if products were improperly used either, these people all called me to look at their horses. I do appreciate your reasoning and it helped me to be more flexible in my views ty 
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Saturday, Sep 6, 2003 - 9:43 am:
Thanks for the positive feedback Janette, it makes my day. Watching how people respond to new or contrary ideas really lets you know who out there is thinking.
DrO
|
Member:
Cjinid
|
Posted on Sunday, Apr 11, 2004 - 11:33 am:
I have read through all the posts on attempted urination and not sure if my 3 year old filly fits in any of they diagnoses. To start with she is the most loving of all our horses, the 1st one in line to be petted and always in your way. Last weekend we noticed her laying in the straw pile and wouldn't get up unless we forced her. Then she just went back and layed down or wondered off by herself, totally out of character. At first we thought it might be colic, but she didn't show any signs; she would eat and drink and even have bowel movements. She wasn't bloated, or rolling or looking at her sides, she just seemed really depressed. We then thought it was because we seperated her from our expecting mare, but that wasn't the problem either. Then we started noticing she was having problems urinating; she tries hard with only a few DrOps. Last night we noticed she had a snotty nose so we gave her a shot of antibiotics, which the vet gave us last week for another horse. Will this help with her urination problem also, or is there something really wrong. Our vet just says to keep an eye on her.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2004 - 8:56 am:
Cathy,
There is not enough information to know if the antibiotic might help. If she has infectious cystitis it might but this is unlikely to cause her to lay down and be depressed. If this is ongoing you need to have the vet out to check her out.
DrO
|
Member:
Cjinid
|
Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2004 - 11:33 pm:
Thank you DrO,
Was at the vet's today and he said she was in heat. I still don't understand the depression and the other symptoms, she has never done this before. Tonight she is acting totally normal again.
|
Member:
Mrose
|
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004 - 9:06 am:
LOts of fillies act pretty strange the first yr. they are in season. They don't seem to have a clue what's going on-esp. if they aren't in with older mares. Often they think they have colic, or they get crabby, ...remember, they are basically teenagers with their hormones raging (as are colts.) They often have about as much sense as teenagers, too
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004 - 8:20 am:
Though while maturing fillies do have irregular cycles I would never chaulk up laying down and depression to raging hormones. Get yourself a thermometer (see article on taking TPR in the Disease / First Aid / section. If there is no fever the most common cause n(but not the only cause) would be colic and if this lasts longer than 10-15 minutes I suggest you call the vet.
DrO
|
|
|
