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  Discussion on Not excessive drinking but large urine output
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Member:
shirl

Posted on Thursday, Aug 12, 2010 - 7:58 pm:



My 18 year old Arab as recently been showing signs of excessive urination though not drinking more than usual. Does this call for a blood work-up? I'm aware of Cushing signs but the amount she drinks doesn't reveal as such. She appears well and happy otherwise. Eats well, could lose 100 lbs. but has no fatty pads. Any ideas/help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Shirl}
Member:
scooter

Posted on Thursday, Aug 12, 2010 - 10:56 pm:

Shirl what do you mean by "showing signs" of excess urination? I know mine have been drinking and peeing more with this heat. Does she have her own water trough so you know her daily intake? What does her diet consist of? Could she be in heat?

Hope Sedona is OK
Member:
mrose

Posted on Thursday, Aug 12, 2010 - 11:11 pm:

Hi Shirley. I hope the lovely Miss Sedona is o.k. I know how special she is to you.

Has the color of her urine changed at all? Or the density of it? Does she seem to strain at all? If you don't do so already, I'd try and measure her water intake as Diane suggests.
I imagine you've read the article on Pre-cushings and well as the part on Cushings? I think even with that the horses drink more as well as urinate more though.
Member:
shirl

Posted on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 - 12:39 am:

Thanks Diane and Sara,
Well to put it bluntly, she pees a lot! :o) She does have her own water barrel and drinks more than she usually did when it has been hot. Still not as much as full blown Cushing's horses but I don't want it to get that bad. Maybe I'm paranoid having lost my Sierra to laminitis brought on by Cushings, which was not caught in the early stages because "she don't look like she has Cushings". Heard that from two vets till I put my foot down, changed vets, and yes she had it.

She has a Pea Gravel area she pees in (how's that for proper) and generally I find 3 very large, wet areas each night and a couple each morning.

She eats about 6 lbs of Bermuda hay 2x a day, along with a Cup of Lakin light as a treat and a cup of Mountain Sunrise All Bermuda Pellets with her Ceytle M. supplement for her arthritic fetlock joint in the AM.

No straining at urinating that I can see from a distance. You'll laugh at this but soon as she sees me come, she'll nicker to me as I come down the drive, run to her Pea Gravel and pee so I never see the color. Guess she don't want to have to "go" anywhere but her spot as she has freedom to roam the property till she gets her dinner/breakfast.

Thanks for your help and yes, Sara you are right, she is very special to me. We seem to have a very special bond I've never had with any other horse, like we read each other's mind. Sierra was my beloved too, but as you know they are all different in special ways.
Again, thanks to both of you and I'll wait for more opinions and one from Dr. O, but I'm thinking of calling the vet and get her's also - maybe do some blood work.

Shirl
Member:
shirl

Posted on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 - 12:41 am:

Sorry Diane, forgot to answer one of your questions. No she's not in heat.

Thanks, Shirl
Member:
paul303

Posted on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 - 1:03 am:

The drinking and peeing are certainly signs. My mare lost interest in food, and life in general. she got slow as molasses. Of course, the odd hair growth and shedding are a big factor.

By the way, I was told for over 3 years, that "she doesn't LOOK like she has Cushings".
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 - 9:51 am:

Hi Shirl,

I hope she is o.k., and it's just one of those things that goes away and leaves you scratching your head!

I love how she is trained to pee in the pea gravel, lol!
Member:
shirl

Posted on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 - 3:32 pm:

Thanks Angie, Sometimes I think it's my paranoia having lost Sierra via Cushings. I made a point of talking to the guy that cleans a lot of the stalls and he says they are all in a peeing mode, so it may just be the heat and humidity and the fact she's older than she was last year. :o) Will keep watch.

Shirl
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 - 7:49 am:

Hello Shirley,
For a horse to pee a lot more she must drink a lot more or become dehydrated and that happens rather quickly so we will assume she is drinking a lot more. This could be physiological response to very hot weather. There is no standard amount of PU/PD with Cushings so you cannot rule it is or out by the amount. For a description of possible disease causes see HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Urinary System » Excessive Drinking and Urination, Polydipsia / Polyuria (PD/PU).
DrO
Member:
shirl

Posted on Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 - 11:35 am:

Thanks Dr. O.

I did read your article before posting - sometimes I'm just a "nervous nelly" due to past experiences. I'm taking a deep breath!

Thanks, Shirl
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