Symptoms of Kidney Infection or Failure in Horses

While not common, kidney conditions can happen in horses. Due to the nature of a kidney infection, you should seek immediate treatment before the problem becomes a crisis due to waste products accumulating and poisoning the animal. Identifying a kidney infection or failure in a timely manner is important to ensure proper treatment of the horse.

  1. Background

    • Similar to kidney infections in humans, symptoms include difficulty or excess urination, excessive thirst, sore back and strong-smelling urine. Kidney trouble can make a horse very uncomfortable. Often the animal becomes lethargic or depressed and their coat becomes rough. Gingivitis from tartar accumulation as well as edema formation from excess fluid not properly eliminated can also occur. Because these symptoms are often attributed to a variety of other illnesses, it is important to investigate the possibility of kidney infection or failure.

    Urination Symptoms

    • Many kidney infection symptoms show up in the urine. These include an inconstant stream of urine or changes in the consistency, such as smell, color and thickness. The urine stream can be thick and darker with a strong odor, or conversely it can be very pale in color. A healthy horse typically consumes five to seven gallons of water each day, producing one to three gallons of urine. A kidney infection can cause the horse to expel more water than it consumes or, conversely, lead it to consume much more than usual. Acute renal failure is a temporary but rapid failure of the kidneys, often triggered by cessation of waste excretion and water imbalance.

    Weight Loss

    • Kidney infections can lead to loss of appetite due to the increase of waste in the blood. Chronic weight loss is typically a sign of chronic renal failure, failure that gradually destroys the cells in the kidney that regulate fluids and waste. While chronic failure can follow acute renal failure if left untreated, it can also result from toxic poisoning or other causes. The weight loss is usually progressive, occurring over weeks or months. Like most kidney infection symptoms, weight loss can result from a variety of diseases, so it is important to look at weight loss in conjunction with all other symptoms.

    Identification and Treatment

    • A veterinarian can compare a blood sample and urine sample to medically identify a kidney infection. Adding Rosehip tea to the horse feed is a simple yet effective initial treatment for kidney infections. This tonic consists of four to five Rosehip teabags to one liter of boiling water. Replenishing fluids can also help reduce stress on the kidneys. Take your horse to a veterinarian for proper identification of kidney failure and other medical treatments.