Red pee

[Sanversera]

Thinking about something at the livery yard a while ago. One of the liveries horses is dominant but also quite stressy. He definitely bosses the others around but frets terribly when any are removed from paddock for riding or whatever . Small herd of four. There are also small individual turnout paddocks available. These tend to be used at weekends as it's easier for owners to catch up their horses and ride them. The gelding was turned out into individual paddock and I was hacking nearby. Saw gelding roll and have a bite of grass then he peed and it was red. I returned to yard and told owner. He appeared normal and an eye was kept on him. Apparently his pee went pink then pale pink then normal yellow over the next day or two. I've wondered what might have caused this. Owner wasn't overly concerned as he was eating and drinking and behaving normally,his usual excitable self. He was sold some months later and went to another yard.no other owners reported anything amiss with their horses and mine was ok.

 

[Denali]

So you’re asking if a horse pissing blood is okay way after the fact?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

So you’re asking if a horse pissing blood is okay way after the fact?

If you re read the post you will see within the description of what happened SantaVera is asking if anyone knows what may have caused it.

 

[Maddie Moo]

This is a good read - not sure if you have an account but it’s free and I enjoy their content as a lot of it is from vets or peer reviewed (just fyi I’m not in any way affiliated with the site or paid to promote it! ).

Causes of red urine

 

[Denali]

This is a good read - not sure if you have an account but it’s free and I enjoy their content as a lot of it is from vets or peer reviewed (just fyi I’m not in any way affiliated with the site or paid to promote it! ).

Causes of red urine

That article requires an email. Clearly I’m in the wrong of not being ho hum let the owner know when it comes to abnormal pee color.

I appreciate the education and would love to be able to read the article in its entirety.

 

[Birker2020]

Many years ago now I found blood in and on my horses bed. It was bright red. I managed to get a water sample and the vets analysed it with a dipstick and said there was absolutely no evidence of blood in the urine, and that it was a very reliable test snd that there was no evidence of raised glucose levels or keytones either.

The vet asked me what made me think there was blood in the urine so I told her about how I'd found bright fresh blood on top of my shavings bed and initially thought it was a bird or mouse the cat had brought in. But then as I started digging found blood mixed with urine in the used shavings.

I explained about how I'd checked him all over and could find no blood on him from mouth, ears, nose and bottom. I explained how I'd spoke to two separate vets from the practice that day who said to get sample and drop it off but there was no immediate panic as horse was well in himself with no symptoms to suggest there was an issue, was eating, drinking fine, etc

I was told that in order to get a sample for the lab to analyse for bacteria or infection the urine would have to be very recent. She agreed that my horse could wait until he was seen by the vet at the practice a few days later with an unrelated matter.

She said that if there was evidence of blood they would put a catheter up to get a sample and also have a look to see if there was a problem with his penis (presumably this is penile cancer that geldings his age were prone to) and get a sample to send away for checking for bugs.

I felt confident that my horse was OK in himself, but couldn't understand where the blood had come from as it was definitely there. I know what I saw and even took a few photos of the blood on his bed and on the floor and got a sample to take with me to our appointment. I felt like I was going mad and was confused how a sample some 24 or so hours later would not show blood. I know shavings when wet especially if containing red wood could look like blood but this was very red fresh blood I'd found.

At the appointment the vet tested for blood in the shavings sample I supplied and said there was barely a trace, it was minimal.

After a chat it was decided not to proceed with the catheter as they felt it was a one off, the horse was healthy and showing no symptoms.

The horse went on for another 7 years quite happily with no reoccurence of blood being found again and was eventually pts due to a totally unrelated issue. We never got to the bottom of what happened, it was really bizarre.

 

[Keith_Beef]

So you’re asking if a horse pissing blood is okay way after the fact?

OP told the owner straight away, and urine went back to normal colour...

Saw gelding roll and have a bite of grass then he peed and it was red. I returned to yard and told owner.

It's not like the horse was left uncared for.

 

[Exasperated]

Thinking about something at the livery yard a while ago. One of the liveries horses is dominant but also quite stressy. He definitely bosses the others around but frets terribly when any are removed from paddock for riding or whatever . Small herd of four. There are also small individual turnout paddocks available. These tend to be used at weekends as it's easier for owners to catch up their horses and ride them. The gelding was turned out into individual paddock and I was hacking nearby. Saw gelding roll and have a bite of grass then he peed and it was red. I returned to yard and told owner. He appeared normal and an eye was kept on him. Apparently his pee went pink then pale pink then normal yellow over the next day or two. I've wondered what might have caused this. Owner wasn't overly concerned as he was eating and drinking and behaving normally,his usual excitable self. He was sold some months later and went to another yard.no other owners reported anything amiss with their horses and mine was ok.

Was it actually blood (as some have assumed)?
About 20 years ago, we used a ‘nutraceutical’ product from Australia, our vet had to sign the import request, which was designed to prevent laminitis, active ingredient was virginiamycin.
The horse’s pee turned brilliant red - terrible shock!
Phoned vet in immediate panic, who was very laid back, said that starting fresh supplements / feedstuffs/ diet etc quite often causes similar, but that most owners miss it as rarely lasts long.
In this case, actually took several days to return to normal colour - horse never showed signs of discomfort.

 

[Exasperated]

Was it actually blood (as some have assumed)?
About 20 years ago, we used a ‘nutraceutical’ product from Australia, our vet had to sign the import request, which was designed to prevent laminitis, active ingredient was virginiamycin.
The horse’s pee turned brilliant red - terrible shock!
Phoned vet in immediate panic, who was very laid back, said that starting fresh supplements / feedstuffs/ diet etc quite often causes similar, but that most owners miss it as rarely lasts long.
In this case, actually took several days to return to normal colour - horse never showed signs of discomfort.

Just remembered the name - FOUNDERGUARD, but I think the principle applies potentially starting new oral products.

 

[Gloi]

We had a fright with red pee long ago. Someone had been feeding beetroot.

 

[Sanversera]

We had a fright with red pee long ago. Someone had been feeding beetroot.

Just remembered the name - FOUNDERGUARD, but I think the principle applies potentially starting new oral products.

Could be something like this. I have no more information unfortunately. I think if it was blood it would have happened again maybe but I don't know. I moved yards to a sole use place and over time have lost contact with people at old yard so can't ask around if anyone knows more and the horse in question was sold some months after this occurrence.Hence my post on here, just for my own curiosity really wondering why. Thanks all for your replies, it's an intriguing thing.

 

[Denali]

Maybe I’m overly cautious and worry too much. I unfortunately couldn’t read the article posted, but have since learned there are other causes for red pee.

My only experience with that has been with kidney infection or full blown kidney failure.

I do realize now how my post came off and am grateful to learn that there are other not so serious causes.

I apologize for my knee jerk reaction.

 

[khalswitz]

Red or reddish-black urine (that looks like it has blood in it but doesn't) can also be a sign of tying up (rhabdomyolysis) - this is called myoglobinuria. It's also associated with an excitable temperament. It's caused by myoglobin entering the blood stream after muscle breakdown and then being excreted via the kidneys and urine. It can cause kidney problems though so worth being aware of and getting a vet check if this is the cause.

 

[Hackback]

I think pink wee is fairly common. I experienced it with one of mine and the first thing the vet asked was if he was eating alfalfa. Apparently excess calcium is peed out and turns the urine pink. It doesn't necessarily mean blood (although always best to check I guess)

 

[Clodagh]

Red or reddish-black urine (that looks like it has blood in it but doesn't) can also be a sign of tying up (rhabdomyolysis) - this is called myoglobinuria. It's also associated with an excitable temperament. It's caused by myoglobin entering the blood stream after muscle breakdown and then being excreted via the kidneys and urine. It can cause kidney problems though so worth being aware of and getting a vet check if this is the cause.

I was going to say that, I had a horse that tied up a couple of times and red or very, very dark wee was part of it.

 

[CJoe]

I was going to say that, I had a horse that tied up a couple of times and red or very, very dark wee was part of it.

thats indicative of kidney/damage if tied up previously, I believe? could be wrong, I am not a vet but had similar with my lad.

 

[khalswitz]

thats indicative of kidney/damage if tied up previously, I believe? could be wrong, I am not a vet but had similar with my lad.

It’s caused by myoglobin from the muscle in the blood being filtered out into urine. It can cause kidney damage, but isn’t a sign of kidney damage per se.