Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse straining to urinate and dark red urine - what could it be?
By Zantingh, Alanna J et al.·Published in Compendium (Yardley, PA)·2012·Littleton Equine Medical Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Case report: squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in a horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding was seen by a veterinarian after having trouble urinating and producing dark red urine for about 10 weeks, especially after exercise. A physical exam showed nothing unusual, and an ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder also looked normal. However, a urine test showed high protein levels and a few red blood cells. To help with the situation, the vet recommended giving Vitamin C to make the urine more acidic and providing a salt block to encourage the horse to drink more water. The outcome of the treatment was not specified.
Abstract
A 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding was evaluated after a 10-week history of occasional straining during urination and dark red urine production after exercise. Physical examination findings were within normal limits. After 2 weeks of clinical signs, ultrasonography had found no abnormalities in the kidneys or bladder. A freely voided urine sample revealed an elevated protein concentration (500 mg/dL; reference range: <100 mg/dL) and few red blood cells. Vitamin C supplementation was suggested to acidify the urine, as was provision of a salt block to encourage water intake.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23532760/