Horse Renal Failure Symptoms

As horses cannot speak for themselves, it is the duty of their caretakers to be aware of physical symptoms that can indicate ailments such as renal failure. Although many veterinarians will tell you that equine renal failure is not a common ailment in horses, it can still occur and has distinct warning signs. If your horse is experiencing all or even just one of these symptoms, to call your veterinarian for an examination.

  1. Weight Loss

    • While this symptom can oftentimes be attributed to a list of other ailments, it is especially indicative of renal failure. This occurs due to waste products accumulating in the bloodstream due to the failure of the kidneys to retrieve these products or break them down properly. As a result, the horse slowly loses its appetite and will lose weight to the point of threatening its health and not being able to support normal bodily functions.

    Urination

    • The average horse will drink 5 to 7 gallons of water per day, eliminating 1 to 3 gallons of it as urine. A horse with renal failure will eliminate much greater amounts of urine, regardless of the amount he is consuming; however, many horses can be observed drinking greater amounts of water to compensate for the excess amounts being purged daily. In addition, the color of the urine can differ from normal, as well as having a stronger smell due to the larger amount of waste products that it can contain.

    Lethargy

    • As your horse is silently fighting the battle against renal failure, its outward mood and appearance can start to change. This can come in the form of lethargy, where your horse is acting more tired than normal, or is easily worn out by exercises that it could once handle with ease. Depression may be another sign that goes hand in hand with lethargy, as your horse appears to lose interest in doing daily routines and is difficult to get started for periods of work or play.