Kidney disease is relatively rare in horses, but its symptoms are often nonspecific and therefore not always immediately recognized, meaning that treatment is often delayed. In many cases, kidney disease is a concomitant or secondary condition of other diseases.
Horses have two kidneys, each consisting of the renal medulla and renal cortex and surrounded by a capsule. The left kidney is located below the transverse processes of the first lumbar vertebrae, while the right kidney is located slightly further forward, below the last ribs. Along with the liver, intestines, and skin, the kidneys are among the most important detoxification organs in the body. The kidneys excrete waste products and breakdown products from protein metabolism as well as all other toxins. The kidneys also play a key role in fluid and electrolyte balance, the production of vital hormones, and blood pressure regulation. Several thousand liters of blood flow through the kidneys of a horse every day and are filtered there. The end product of filtration in the kidneys is urine, which is excreted via the urinary organs (renal pelvis, ureter, bladder, and urethra).
Kidney disease in horses can have a wide variety of causes. On the one hand, kidney damage can occur secondary to serious infectious diseases, colic, tumorous, muscular, inflammatory, or allergic underlying conditions. However, feeding errors (too much protein), high blood loss, dehydration, toxins, long-term or high-dose medication, or circulatory problems can also strain the kidneys and cause permanent damage. If the kidneys are no longer able to function properly, this is referred to as renal insufficiency.
A distinction is made between acute and chronic renal failure. Acute renal failure describes the sudden onset of impaired kidney function, which is not necessarily accompanied by damage to the kidney tissue. It can be caused by prerenal (upstream of the kidney), renal (within the kidney) or postrenal (downstream of the kidney) factors. Prerenal causes include major acute blood loss, high physical stress, colic, and other gastrointestinal disorders, all of which lead to reduced blood flow to the kidneys due to impaired cardiac output. Renal causes include medications, toxins, and all infectious and non-infectious kidney diseases. Postrenal acute renal failure is caused by an obstruction of the urinary tract and the associated backflow of urine into the kidney. This can be caused by urinary stones, enlargement, injury, or inflammation.
Chronic renal failure is a permanent dysfunction of the kidneys that is always accompanied by damage to the kidney tissue. Unlike the liver, however, the kidneys have very little or no ability to regenerate, meaning that damaged kidney tissue is irreversibly destroyed.
Due to the high compensatory capacity of the kidneys and the initially rather unspecific symptoms, kidney disease in horses often remains undetected for a long time. Only when more than 75% of the total kidney tissue is damaged does kidney disease usually become apparent in the chronic stage through clear clinical signs or changes in the blood count.
The first noticeable symptoms are usually very unspecific. The onset of detoxification disorders can lead to riding problems, tension, behavioral changes, or even perceptual disorders. Undetoxified urea has a narcotic effect and causes the animals to become sluggish and tired.
The characteristic symptoms of chronic kidney disease include frequent urination, which may later become bloody, increased drinking, and weight loss. A dull, lackluster coat and disturbances in the coat change also occur. In addition, fever, weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach ulcers, and fluid retention in the lower abdomen (edema) are often seen.
Acute kidney failure can develop independently from chronic kidney disease or from the causes mentioned above. Affected horses appear apathetic, can pass little to no urine, and have a rapid pulse. Acute kidney failure is always considered a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate veterinary treatment.
Although clinical examination and a detailed preliminary report can provide the attending veterinarian with initial indications of kidney disease, an accurate diagnosis and functional analysis of the kidneys can only be made with the help of comprehensive blood and urine tests. The parameters urea (the end product of protein metabolism), creatinine, and certain electrolytes are particularly important for this, but they should always be evaluated by the attending veterinarian in conjunction with all other blood values and the condition of the animal. An additional ultrasound examination can also be used to visualize and assess the position, size, and structure of the organ. This examination can usually only be performed in clinics by specialized veterinarians.
In cases of acute inflammation, it is primarily important to stimulate urine production and thus the excretion of toxins by administering appropriate infusion solutions. This is usually done in the form of a continuous drip infusion in a clinic. Herbal active ingredients such as nettle, dandelion, or birch leaves also have diuretic properties and can be used as a complementary treatment.
Anti-inflammatory or antibiotic medications should be avoided as much as possible, as they put additional strain on the kidneys. In the case of bacterial kidney inflammation, the veterinarian will administer an antibiotic that is as gentle on the kidneys as possible.
Due to the irreversible destruction of kidney tissue, chronic kidney disease is incurable. Unfortunately, there is no dialysis available for horses, so rapid intervention is particularly important, especially in view of the low regenerative capacity of the kidneys, in order to preserve and protect the remaining functional kidney tissue as much as possible. Please discuss the exact treatment plan for your individual case with your veterinarian.
In consultation with the veterinarian, the diet of a horse with kidney disease must also be adjusted. In general, great care must be taken to ensure that there are no harmful or toxic substances in roughage or concentrated feed. The animal must have free access to fresh, clean drinking water at all times. To protect the remaining healthy kidney tissue, the feed ration should be low in protein but contain all essential amino acids, which must be supplemented if necessary.
Acute renal failure that does not result from a chronic condition is generally curable. The prognosis depends largely on the time of diagnosis and the start of treatment. Chronic renal failure has a significantly poorer prognosis, as kidney tissue that has been destroyed cannot regenerate. With appropriate therapy and adapted feeding and care management, kidney function can be stabilized for a certain period of time.
Due to the many different causes, kidney disease in horses cannot be completely prevented. However, a balanced diet tailored to the horse's performance level with a protein content that is not too high and unrestricted access to fresh drinking water can already contribute greatly to ensuring that the kidneys function properly and to preventing possible damage.
Since the liver has a very high regenerative capacity and functional reserve capacity, most liver diseases in horses initially progress without visible signs of disease and are only diagnosed at an advanced stage.
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As in many other sports, doping plays an important role in equestrian sports when it comes to competitions and performance comparisons. Unlike in athletics, however, it is not the human being who tries to enhance their own performance by taking certain substances, but the animal whose performance is to be enhanced by administering these substances. Since the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the issue of doping in equestrian sports has also come into the public spotlight due to numerous proven cases of doping, which has resulted in considerable damage to the image of equestrian sports.
Tumors of the urinary bladder or urethra are relatively rare in dogs, but are often malignant. In most cases, they are transitional cell carcinomas. Older female dogs are primarily affected. A higher incidence has been observed in Scottish Terriers, Airedale Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, and Beagles.
This tumor, which originates in the spleen, is one of the most malignant cancers in dogs. The spleen tumor grows very quickly and spreads metastases to all other organs, often before the actual primary tumor is discovered. Older dogs between the ages of eight and ten are most commonly affected.
Leukosis is a tumorous disease of the hematopoietic system and, unlike in dogs or cattle, is relatively rare in horses. Lymphatic leukosis is the most common form in horses and develops as a result of the degeneration of cells in the immune system.
Tooth fractures are relatively common in dogs and are usually caused by playing with stones or sticks, biting, or accidents. This can result in small, sharp chips in the enamel or larger defects that expose the pulp (nerve and blood vessels). If the pulp cavity is exposed, the tooth should be treated as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection and preserve the tooth. The incisors, canines, and fangs are primarily affected. Young dogs are particularly at risk because their teeth are still developing and are therefore much more unstable than those of adult dogs.
Lens dislocation, medically known as luxatio lentis, is an eye condition in which the lens becomes detached and displaced from its natural position. By obstructing the flow of aqueous humor, this condition can quickly lead to a dangerous increase in intraocular pressure. If not treated in time, it can result in blindness.
The weather is beautiful this weekend and you are going for a long ride on your horse. But right at the start of the first gallop, the horse suddenly becomes very stiff and starts sweating unusually heavily. It hardly wants to move and is pressing its back down. However, these signs seem too severe for simple muscle soreness, especially since you haven't done anything with the horse in the last few days. Avoid any further movement of the horse and always contact a veterinarian immediately in such cases, as the symptoms described above are very painful and may be the first signs of a cross-ties. As this muscle disease occurs frequently after horses have not been worked for one or more days with the same feed ration, it is also known as "holiday sickness" or "Monday morning disease." However, horses that are worked regularly can also fall ill. Young horses of heavy breeds are particularly at risk. This disease was greatly feared in the days when carriage and work horses were heavily used. Today, it only occurs sporadically, mostly in easy-to-feed horses with good nutritional status.
