Urolithiasis

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Vashti

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I have a 20yr Arab mare, fit as a flea. Last October we returned from a ride, and she did a very 'bloody' pee. Vet out, antibiotics, waited....tried again, similar things, so thinking the big 'c'. So any attempt at riding ceased. But by Christmas my thoughts were taking a different turn, as her peeing habits the same, no weight loss, bright as a button. I had the equine vet out from my practice to scan last Thursday. Bladder/kidneys both looked good. But on vaginal exam he palpated calculi(stones) in the urethra. he couldn't assist the first out, so proceeded to arrange Equine Hospital for their assistance. That night she managed to pass one, the next day a second(7/8" at longest diameter), and the next day(Saturday), she passed another two, one twice the size of the larger one already passed. Subsequently she was straining more and n more discomfort.
Fortunately I found someone able to take us down to hospital last Monday. Three and a half hours of battling with five vets and all the tools in the stores, they finally succeeded in chiselling apart and retrieving a humungous 2" calculus from the urethra. It could not pass the urethral sphincter in one.
She is understandably very sore after her epic battle, but she is alive and PEEING properly once more.
Any contributions re foods to avoid or anything I can add to feed to help prevent or low down the formation of more would be very welcome.
I understand alfalfa can be one to avoid, so not buying any more alfalfa chaff.
She only has a small handful in addition to sugar beet shreds(soaked), and Blue Chip Dynamic, plus Superflex oil.

Her symptoms did not match that of stones, I was a vet.nurse for 11yrs so familiar with canine/feline calculi. But her early symptoms were miniscule until October, then horrendous. Then no blood and passing urine well, although smaller quantities. She was ok till the 'golf ball' came up against sphincter. Had she been 'just another horse', as 'decoration' without the one to one bond that we share, the outcome could have been worse. 12-18mths before there was 'something' about her habits as I made up her feed....but nothing I could put my finger on.

Please everyone watch for subtle hidden things....I will know if she tells me again, and they will be easier to flush out. Geldings are particularly vulnerable and bladders can rupture...no hope if that happens.
 
If your vet still has the stones he can analyse to see what they are made up, not all bladder stones are the same. Generally I think the recommendation is to keep the calcium in the diet low (as you say no alfalfa but also they suggest to avoid sugarbeet too). This was harder to do than I'd thought as everything seemed to have limestone added to it.
Need to encourage the horse to drink - table salt in the feed might help - I used 1 tablespoon in am and pm feeds.
Several things are recommended to acidify the urine - I never had much success with any of them though my horse's bladder problem (lots of sediment) didn't progress to stones.
I also use Global Herbs Eazipee.
Under the circumstances before you make any changes I'd run though with your vet first to be on the safe side.
Nearly forgot, some hays have higher levels of calcium than others so useful if you can check the mineral content of in your forage.
 
Hi Andalucian,
Mine has tap water sourced from the Severn. Many years ago we had local bore hole water which was gorgeous until commuter growth increased more demand than the borehole could provide.
 
Hi Sueonmull,
I am just looking for Eazipee now and it no longer has it on the Global Herbs website? Have they stopped making it?
I was advised against the salt due to upsetting the salts balance within the body, but did give her a couple of tspn the first night and more to help with water intake to reduce the 'sting'.
I was a vet. nurse so am aware of analysis, can be very helpful with canine/feline, and special diets available for the condition. Her stones were the really gritty coarse sandpaper type, not nice, the smooth ones would have been easier. She had to have the worst kind possible. I have whats left of them in a jar, some had to be sacrificed in order to find which implements would best nibble/break them open.
I have put her back on turmeric to help with the inflammation, still very sore in the urethra, and cystitis sensation apparent until she eats and gets onto hay, then she settles. Glad when these initial days have passed, but the worst nightmare day already over. Was like watching your daughter being gang raped :(
I have a job to acquire hay, so much big bale now, and then have to arrange to borrow truck or someone to deliver, everyones always too busy of course getting there own in. So not much leaway for changing, she has her years supply in the spare stable.
Thank you so much for 'input', the more info the better, always more to learn about some aspect of something. x
 
Vashti Eazipee is still available, it just doesn't show on some websites - just keep searching I'm sure you'll find it, if all else fails contact Global Herbs they are very good. The comment on water supply could well be relevant if is 'hard' water when she will be getting a lot more calcium. Living on an island we had limited hay suppliers, luckily the one I used grew Scots Timothy which is low in calcium, having your hay analysed will though give you an idea of how much calcium she is getting in her diet - grazing too may have issues, I think clover can be a problem. Ultimately you can only control what you can. I don't know if you give a feed balancer but the vast majority have a huge amount of calcium which isn't necessary. I stopped giving mine a broad spectrum balancer and eventually ended up on a bucket feed of straight oat straw chaff/micronized linseed, brewers yeast, seaweed meal, oil and salt, with adlib (but weighed) forage. Read every feed label as suppliers seems to add calcium carbonate/limestone to everything and it is often the carrier is some other supplements - I drove suppliers mad ringing round to check what was in their products. Obviously she will need some calcium but I'd be surprised if she wasn't getting enough from her hay. Stones take a while to develop so I don't know if your vet would be able to monitor by ultra sound - it's not that invasive and any sizable stones can be picked up early and flushed out when they are small. They can break down larger stones in the bladder with lasers now too.
Take your point about adding salt but unless she has other issues I think you'll find most horses tolerate it well and it does have benefits - perhaps one to discuss with your vet or nutritionist.
Wishing you luck, it's a worrying time. Hope you're girl is feeling a little lees sore very soon.
 
Thank you so much for all your knowledge sueonmull, writing down your feed recipe and going to suss out the blue chip label! Grazing is limited and I only have a fraction of a percent of clover. The hospital I had to take her to didn't have laser equipment at their disposal, I think it's probably time they invested in one! lol.
 
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