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  Discussion on Renal Failure in my 16 year old?
Author Message
New Member:
wanderer

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 22, 2017 - 8:59 am:

My TWH was retired from the show ring this spring. He is a now 16 year old that was never fat, but always an easy keeper. Also was stalled at the trainers - when he would come here in the winter he was kept in a separate paddock with his own run in stall with zero issues. He was unfortunately used as a teaser this year at the trainers barn - and when he came to me he was out of control. He had never bred in the past. The decision was made to geld him and his behavior returned to his normal placid self within 10 weeks. At the time he came to me and after gelding, he lost an immense amount of weight. He was eating his grains and his hay and eating grass in his paddock, along with drinking water but was never able to put back on the weight that he initially lost. Several vet visits from May thru the last of October showed normal vital signs and no cause for his inability to put on weight. Vet did draw labs the end of October. The labs in the out of normal ranges:
Albumin 2.5
BUN 30
Creat 1.1 (to show against BUN)
Potassium 4.9 (to show against BUN)
Sodium 134
Alb/Glob ration 0.7
Magnesium 1.6
WBC 11.1
RBC 6.1
HGB 11
HCT 30.3
Neutrophil 7448

How I am reading this is he had an infection (?) and possible muscle wasting? or is he going into renal failure?

He was prescribed a 21 day regimen of SMZ and placed on Purina Senior feed. He did put on approximately 50 pounds (via weight tape) in the ensuing 3 weeks when he was started on the antibiotic.

Unfortunately his first day off the antibiotics (this past Saturday) he choked with resulting vet visit to be tubed and oiled. He again choked on Sunday with a handful of grains, probably due to inflammation from the first choke. Stools are formed, no foul smells. Eating hay fine. Weight tape on Friday, day before choke, was 888 (still thin but was gaining). Weight tape this morning is 847.

Not sure what all I am dealing with. Vet says may not know until necropsy. I dont' want to give him too much proteins if in fact he is starting into renal failure. Am wondering if I need to have an endoscopic exam completed. And yes, monies are an issue.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 24, 2017 - 2:43 pm:

Welcome Victoria,
Knowing all the tests run and their values, your labs normal values, and the units of the measurement would help in interpretation. The most reliable way to answer your question about renal failure is to get a urine sample and measure the specific gravity. A complete urinalysis may help with the cause of renal failure if it exists. The article explains the use of this test for diagnosing kidney failure.
DrO
PS we have a whole article on weight loss at HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Weight Loss in Horses » Overview of Chronic Weight Loss .
Member:
lsweeney

Posted on Saturday, Nov 25, 2017 - 9:47 pm:

Victoria - I had two horses choke on Equine Senior. It is very sticky. I switched to LMF senior and haven't had a problem.

Also, when I feed it, I have a very large feeder. I spread it all around so that they have to really work to get a mouthful.
New Member:
wanderer

Posted on Sunday, Nov 26, 2017 - 9:03 am:

Thank you, both, for taking the time to answer. Dr. O, I'll be checking out the article on weight loss. Johnny hasn't had any diarrhea and has a healthy appetite. Since I started making a mash out of his feed, he hasn't had more choke issues. He does have a large corner feeder. I will speak with the vet regarding running a urinalysis.
New Member:
wanderer

Posted on Sunday, Nov 26, 2017 - 9:10 am:

Johnnys Chem labs: Range
ALP 124 76-262
AST 185 `94-431
Creat Kinase 148 130-497
GGT 9 9-37
Alb 2.5 3-3.9
Total Protein 6.2 5.7-7.5
Globulin 3.7 2.3-4.1
Total Bili 1.9 0.4-2.8
BUN 30 11-25
Creat 1.1 0.8-1.8
Glucose 73 49-102
Calcium 10.8 10.2-12.8
Phos 3.1 2-4.8
Chloride 99 96-106
Potassium 4.9 2.5-5.2
Sodium 134 132-141
Alb/Glob Ratio 0.7 0.8-1.6
Mag 1.6 1.4-2.3
New Member:
wanderer

Posted on Sunday, Nov 26, 2017 - 9:15 am:

Johnnys CBC: Range
WBC 11.1 4.3-11.4
RBC 6.13 6.3-10.9
HGB 11 11.4-17.3
HCT 30.3 32.5-46.5
MCV 49 39-55
MCH 17.9 14.6-19.1
MCHC 36.3 33.6-38.6
Platelet 78 70-250
NO parasites seen

Neutrophil 7448 2460-7230
Lymphocyte 2620 1450-5000
Monocryte 666 0-600
Fibrinogin 400 100-400
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Nov 26, 2017 - 11:22 am:

Neither is renal failure or infection well indicated on the lab values above and a complete UA still desirable. What is his water consumption like? Was the CBC taken following exercise as is recommended? I think a key finding is the low albumin as this may relate to the cause of weight loss: why is it low? Though there can be a plethora of causes, hepatic failure, protein losing enteropathy, protein losing nephropathy would be 3 key causes.
DrO
New Member:
wanderer

Posted on Sunday, Nov 26, 2017 - 1:55 pm:

Thank you Dr. O. The labs were drawn after some exercise, yes. Johnnys intake of water is 'good'. I monitor him when he's eating in his stall and he takes in on average 4 gallons with his meals. Otherwise he is pastured with the other 6 horses. He is definitely the Alpha Horse, so no worries that he is being forced away from anything he wants. I will speak to the vet re: an urinalysis. Thank you!
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