Problem with horse trying to pee?

Question

My friends 22 year old horse come to stay with us 4 days ago and he appears to have a problem urinating. He goes through the motions, ie: legs out, tail up but there is very little or nothing at all coming out. When he did manage to urinate it smelled very very strong.

He is drinking plenty of water now (although he wasn't when he first arrived) I don't think it's colic as he's still happily munching on his hay net and doesn't have any of the other colic symptoms.

I'm going to try and clean his sheath today to see if that helps.

I'm also going to put some peppermint essence in his water to encourage him to drink more.

Could it be that he's simply a bit dehydrated or could it be something else?

I have suggested getting the vet out, but so far they haven't.

He is on box rest just now because he was a bit lame when he arrived, but that's improving now.

Any advice given will be greatly appreciated,,,, thanks.

Answer 1

A horse where I work is the same. It takes him three or so tries to pee. Since it could be one of a few thing, a vet check is always a good idea, as whilst it is most likely minor, it could be serious.

Anything you could add to make him drink more is good. The fact it smells strong means that it is very undiluted and he probably hasn't drunk enough, probably because he's in a new place.

Wait a few days until he's settled in, the re-evaluate him, and see how he's going. If it's still the same, give the vet a call, but I suspect he just isn't drinking much still, because it's a new place.

Good luck

Answer 2

He may have been dehydrated at first perhaps due to shipping stress but if his p***s didn't come out of his sheath while urinating I'd suspect that his sheath needs a good cleaning. Of course if you are concerned about the well being of your horse calling the vet is never a bad idea.

Answer 3

Call the vet to come out, at his age don't take any chances.

Answer 4

i would defiantly clean his sheath. thats more that likely what it is.  if he grunts, makes noises or shows pain while urinating, then thats prolly what it is.

good luck.

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Answer 5

i think he might have a bladder stone. I had a mare that got one and her pee smelled awful. She would pee blood after i rode her too. I knew a gelding that had one too. He had trouble peeing and he too had the bloody urine after being worked.

If the horse was a gray it could possibly be a melanoma. I think a vet should see him soon and scope him or do an ultra sound. He is old and the surgery is expensive if he has a bladder stone.

I remember when my mare was diagnosed the vet had said if she wasn't peeing blood we would have not found the stone until she couldn't pee anymore.

I hope he gets better.

Answer 6

I think you should flush your horse out. If the horse is having trouble he may be clogged up somewhere down the line. I had a horse that did the exact same thing. I flushed him out and he got heaps better.

Answer 7

Have you beaned him lately?

Answer 8

ok my mare does that sometimes (not because she is in season) but when she drinks it comes out her nose because of some problem not serious but she didnt get enough water in her system and her pee was dark and icky.

the worst could maybe be cancer but likely

urine track infection

blockage because he wasnt drinking before

honestly i would see what happens while the vet is getting out there but if he doesnt pee and all its an emergency

Answer 9

Added to the fact he wasn't drinking would suggest a liver problem. While you are waiting for the vet you should make sure he is hydrated because dehydration will be a danger symptom.

Answer 10

Did you try giving him a bran mas with laxatives in it? Thats what I used for my horse and hes 18. It makes them go pee and p**p. Ya definitly clean his sheath..sometimes that little ball gets too big and they cant go pee! =] Hope this helps a little!

Answer 11

Well oftern when they are trying to pee and can't or don't it's beause of stomach ulcers

put corn oil in his food and give in a dosing syringe before he eats this will put a layer on the ulcers and help them heal up

is he eating?

ulcers often act up w/ stress...an injury or moving places...in this case both!

if you do the p.esence please also have a bucket of nrmal water in case he is picky and won' drink it

it could also be a bladder infecion

Answer 12

call a vet

Answer 13

I have a 14 year old gelding that has this same problem.  First of all, he does not all ways drop when he pee's.  He has been doing this since I got him at 4.  Had the vet out because people tell me that it was not normally.  Vet said nothing wrong with him, thats just the way he is.  I bought him home a couple of years ago and he has an open option of coming and going out of his stall.  Last winter he was doing that pee thing.  I called the vet.  She took a urine sample.  He had a higher concentrated ammonia crystals. She told me she wanted to do some more tests.  When I called this other vet, she has little more experience, she told me that in winter they don't drink as much water and higher concentrated crystals is not abnormal.  She told me to get a salt block.  She also stated that some geldings don't drop to pee in winter because its cold.  Their shealth gets dirtier.  So I got the salt box and I clean his sheath a little more.  He is better.  She also strictly told me not to put anything in their water.  She said they will get the salt they need.  Sounds to me that he is doing this because he was dehydrated, may take a while for him to get enough water in his system.  This is probably why you get that smell, its more concentrated.   I would still recommend you the call the vet.  This situation was for my horse, this one could be different.  

Unless a vet told you to keep him in a stall.  Put him outside in a area where he can't run at high speeds.  He might be arthritic and the worst thing for a horse is to be in a stall.  My horse bowed his tendon.  Vet says let him be outside.  NO bute.  He needs to excercise the tendon and if he feels the pain he won't run around and re-damage it.  He heeled within 6 weeks.  I got the ok to start doing light riding.  This is coming from a very well known laminthis vet!  He was right!  Always call a vet if you are not sure of whats going on.  If the person does not call a vet, call yours and tell him whats going on, he can advise what to do.

Answer 14

This sounds like a urinary tract infection similar to cystitis in humans - the "need" to wee is there due to inflammation of the urinary tract, but inactual fact the sufferer has an empty (or almost empty) bladder. The classic symptoms are frequently trying to urinate with little or no urine being passed. Also, the strong smell can be a sign of infection. Call the vet and in the meantime try to get a urine sample from this horse - the vet will need one so you might as well get trying now! Monitor his water intake - if he is drinking lots but passing very little urine then this is a sign of kidney/liver problems, which at his age would be no big surprise. He does definately need to see a vet though as he will be very uncomfortable. Cleaning his sheath certainly won't hurt but it may make little or no difference. To see if he is dehydrated, do a skin pinch test. Just pinch the skin on his neck and see how quickly it retractd and goes back to normal - it should be almost instant. If it takes a while or if it stays up, the horse is dehydrated. If this is the case you need to encourage him to drink more, adding peppermint essence may help but I personally find fresh apple juice (not from concentrate and with no added ingredients) helps a treat if ever mine won't drink. Add water to his feed too and soak his hay - any extra water intake is essential to a dehydrated horse. But you definately should call the vet to do blood and urine tests. Good luck with him :-)

Answer 15

Many good answers, if ever in doubt call a vet.

You say he is lame.  I have seen sore horses have problems urinating because of the pain.  Also a horse can act like that just from being nervous in new surroundings.

Hope everything works out fine.

http://www.saferhorseracing.com/gpage14....

Answer 16

He could have a bladder or kidney problem.  Either infection or stones somewhere along the line, or prostrate trouble.  Though I cannot remember horses having prostrate glands, but the rest of their equipment is the same as ours.  At his age it is possible.  I think he should be seen by a vet.  Can you take his temperature?  The fact that he smells indicates an infection or dehydration.

Answer 17

The first thing I would eliminate as a problem is to check and make sure he doesn't have a large bean blocking him up!!!

Answer 18

I no a horse like this. not 22 but still he does that.

It could be an infection from not having his sheath cleaned alot. give it a good clean and if it doesn't improve call a vet.

Good Luck