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  Discussion on Kidney Problem ?
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 8, 1999 - 7:02 am:

Anyone out there ever have a horse with kidney problems. Well my 5 year old was diagnosed with this last Nov 98. But before that he had EPM. From what we can gather he had a two fold problem. He is now being treated by a Accupucturist and is responding very well. He was treated with herbs and I am now using Bucchu Leaf extract and Vit. C and just started him on a product called the Missing Link.

So let me know what kind of problems you have had and what you have done to help.

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 8, 1999 - 7:25 am:

What are the symptoms of the kidney problem. Has lab work been preformed and what were the results?
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 9, 1999 - 7:01 am:

This horse has a long history starting in 1996. He started kicking at his belly with both back feet. The vet I was using though it might be colic. But respiration, gut sounds and color were good. After this happened a second time he suggested I see another vet which I did. Several test were done one of which was EPM. He did have crystals in his urine. Ultra sound was done of kidneys but showed no stones. Treated him with 48 liters saline solution IV for two days. Blood work came back on EPM test was positive. So treatment was started for that and Spinal was done also at that time. Kidney was forgotten. This horse has had all the medications possible for EPM even Diclawzarl (sp). Last Spinal came back very low positive. But in the mean time he has had several episodes as I call them. Thinking he was having a relapse. I was very close to donating this horse to the Univ. of Florida Gainesville. Someone mentioned another Vet to see. I took this horse to her and she is also a Chiropractor, Accupunturist. She pressed on his Kidney pressure points and he went to his knees. She treated him with Chinese herbs and accupunture. His last blood test came back close to normal to Creatine. I have a video of how he started and I have all lab work done on this horse since 1996. It's very interesting reading. I now have him on his regular feed and Buccha leaf extract and Vit. C and also trying a new product called Missing Link which I hope will help him. We are starting to ride him again. I'm hoping this will help him and his Kidney problem. Anything else that you could help me with would be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in reviewing his records and seeing the video for your self I would be more than happy to send it.

Thanks,

Posted on Thursday, Jun 10, 1999 - 6:11 am:

Hello Elizabeth,
Has what is wrong with the kidneys been determined? The large number of crystals in the urine is the normal status for a horse. Compared to other species horses excrete large amounts of calcium which crystalizes in the urine.
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jun 10, 1999 - 12:53 pm:

No. They are telling me that there is no way to really know why it's happening. They can tell me that he has EPM but they can't tell me a reason for the kidney problem. I've tried to find out so that I don't let it happen again. Any ideas??? Thanks so much for your help.

Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 1999 - 6:18 am:

Elizabeth,
What were all the creatinine values giving me the date and circumstances under which they were pulled.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 1999 - 7:00 am:

The original creatinine was taken August "96" when they were trying to find out what was wrong with the horse. The level was quite high. Right off the top of my head I don't know the exact level. I believe it was 2.5 or higher. I have all this in my records. I will check on the other levels and let you know later. The next time it was taken was after having 48 liters IV'd into him after they thought he might have a slight kidney problem. Then others were taken in between. The last one was taken April this year after being treated by Dr. Peggy Fleming an Accupunturist, Chiroprator, Vet. This level was 1.5. This was the lowest it had ever been since I owned the horse. But let me check the dates and readings and I'll let you know. If you have a fax machine I could fax you a copy of his lab test that were taken.

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 16, 1999 - 9:24 am:

Dr. O Here are the lab results that you requested. 8/9/96 1st lab taken by original vet that was called. BUN 24.4, CREA 2.79, BUN 9, Total Bilirubin 2.98, ALT/SGPT 4, MCH 18.8, MCHC 41.0, RDW 38.5 and MPV 6. 2nd test by 2nd opinion vet 8/13/96: BUN 25.6, CREA 3.20, PHOS 2.68 and GLOB 4.47. on 8/15 24 liters of Lactated ringers was given as well as 8/16. Blood test taken 8/16. Results: CREA, Sirum 2.32, BUN/CREA 6, Bilirubin 2.41, ALK/PHOS 112, ALT/SGPT 3, RBC 6.95, MCH 19.0, RDW 40.1 and MPV 6.2. Then the following year 1997 he was taken to Univ. of Fla Vet Hospital. 8/19 CREA 2.2, 8/20 2.2 8/21 1.5 Vitros, 8/22 2.39 by dilution 8/22 1.8. Then Nov 1998 the CREA was 2.3 this was taken by a Vet, Accupunture, Chiroprator, She again took it April it was 1.9. Hope this helps, If you need anything else please let me know.

Posted on Thursday, Jun 17, 1999 - 6:18 am:

What breed of horse do you have? Where there ever any urinalysis done? What were the reults?
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jun 17, 1999 - 8:00 am:

He is a Quarter Horse age 5. This horse has had every test. I'll have to get my paper work to check on the urinalysis. I know that the Univ. of Florida Equine hospital did a clearence test on him and found nothing. So I'm still in the dark about this kidney problem.

Posted on Friday, Nov 26, 1999 - 10:34 am:

Hello Elizabeth,
I came across this post while cleaning up and see this remained unresolved. I guess I was waiting for the UA. Just in case you are still watching.

The values you give for creatinine and BUN above range from normal to a little above my lab's normals. There are other possiblilites for these rises including dehydration. I am still not sure your horse has kidney problems.
DrO
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