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  Discussion on Urinary tract founder complications?
Author Message
Member:
edwardsk

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 12, 2007 - 9:12 pm:

I have a 27-35 year old 12-hand gray welsh pony gelding. He foundered for the first time about 7 years ago and has several episodes since. When he first foundered he was very fat. I have been pulling weight off him slowly since, and stabilized him at a good trim weight about 3 years ago.

We have had an extremely hot summer, with highs in the high 90s for over 45 days. He lives in a dry lot, and there is some shade, but it's minimal for several hours a day. I noticed one day he was lying flat out on his side in the sun, and started bringing him in during the day to a stall with a fan, then turning him out at night. After about a week of this, he foundered.

This time it seems to be affecting all 4 feet. It's been several weeks. I have not fed him bute because of concerns over stomach and kidney problems. He is in the stall full time with fresh water, timothy hay, and very limited amounts of equine senior added after the first week.

The stall is not as wet or manure-y as it normally is when he is up. He went off his feed some for several days last week but is now back to cleaning up his grain and most of his hay. He spends a fair amount of time lying down each day and eats very slowly.

Tonight he urinated while I was watching. It was a pretty small amount and about the consistency of egg white. It was clear and normal in color and he didn't strain. His water intake is about normal for him when he's inside.

We haven't run any tests on him as he has foundered before and we assumed this was going to be the same pattern. Our vet says it might be any number of things causing this situation and his failure to improve, but because of his age doesn't recommend extensive diagnostics and recommends putting him down. I don't want to do that as long as he is still fighting -- i.e., eating and trying -- but don't want him to suffer unduly if he isn't going to get any better. Any thoughts?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Sep 13, 2007 - 8:28 am:

Hello Karen,
Sorry to hear about your pony. To answer your questions about the urine the article associated with this discussion covers the ranges of normal and further testing that can be done.

Karen are you monitoring how much water is being consumed? It is important that the pony drink adequate amounts and stay well hydrated. If he is staying hydrated, and perhaps even if he is not, I find it hard to understand given the conditions you set above not risking bute or even better flunixin to help the pony get well. The concern about complications seems misplaced if you are considering euthansia anyway for the very symptoms the NSAID's will help most.
DrO
Member:
edwardsk

Posted on Thursday, Sep 13, 2007 - 2:25 pm:

Hi, Dr. O. Thanks for your response. Yes, I am monitoring his drinking and he is -- this week -- back to normal. He did have a DrOp last week for about two days.

Good point about the bute/painkillers. I am nervous about it as I ended up with a mare with a bad ulcer (scoped) after a lengthy bute treatment -- but that was cureable and she's fine with no problems 8 years later. So, even if I have to treat an ulcer afterwards so what, as long as he's still living. I did bute for the first week, but guess I should start it back up again.

Any ideas why his urine is so thick, given that he is drinking a normal amount?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Sep 14, 2007 - 7:20 am:

No Karen I don't and there are many possibilities as outlined in the article and that includes normal. If this is a change over normal in this horse I would consider the diagnostics outlined in the article.
DrO
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