Urination Frequency

[FjordBCRF]

The last couple of days, yesterday in particular, I have noticed what seems to be in increase in the frequency in which my gelding is urinating. He has been known to pee in cross-ties and isn’t fussy about where he is if he has to go.

On Saturday, he peed while I was trimming his feet which was a first. Yesterday we hauled out to trail ride and he peed before we left in his stall (almost in the cross-ties again), on the trailer home (its a 10 min haul and it wasn’t a LOT of pee), and again once he was settled in his stall. That was when I started to get a little more hyper aware.

He IS a good drinker; and slugged down half a bucket before we hauled out yesterday, and got to drink some creek water. The weather here has been unseasonably warm as well and he is a body clipped, but still hairy fjord that is sensitive to heat. I also do give him electrolytes to keep him hydrated, we had a colic scare a couple autumns ago that seemed to be related to dehydration. This time of year, he gets a quarter ounce of Apple a Day 2X day plus his salt lick, which he loves. I increase them in the hotter months based on the product recommendations.

I normally don’t clean his stall anymore, but did yesterday and Saturday because I had some time to kill, it seemed like more wet spot than normal yesterday, but it was at the 24 hour mark. Normally February weather here is in the 20’s and we’ve had a stint where its high 40’s up to low 60’s so Im hoping that is the culprit. Urine is all normal color, no visible discomfort or anything. This week we are still projected to be in warmer temps until Friday when it goes down to 30, but were back up again Saturday/Sun in the 40’s and 50’s.

Any thoughts? Its coming up on spring vax time so my initial thought was to keep a close eye, mention it to the vet and see if we need to check any bloodwork. Any other thoughts?

[trubandloki]

@FjordBCRF

Yesterday we hauled out to trail ride and he peed before we left in his stall (almost in the cross-ties again), on the trailer home (its a 10 min haul and it wasn’t a LOT of pee), and again once he was settled in his stall.

This does not seem like an unusual amount of peeing, depending on how long your ride was. I suppose if your trail ride was only 20 minutes it would be weird. But before you left he peed. He drank while riding, he drank right before you left. Then he attempted to pee in the trailer (and it probably did not work out for him, you say it was a small amount) so he finished his after ride pee once he got home.

I agree with your thoughts on keeping an eye on him and talking to the vet about it if you are still worried.

[FjordBCRF]

That’s a good point, we were out about 2 hours or so. I usually average 2-3 hours at the barn a day and often times don’t see him pee once so it was noticeable in that respect. I got to the barn around 11:30 and left around 4:45 so that was a longer day than normal. Glad it doesn’t sound excessive!

[OzarksRider]

Keep an eye on him and definitely mention it to your vet. It could be just a fluke, but it might also indicate something wrong. For example, if he’s peeing frequently but small amounts that could indicate an irritated bladder, either from a urinary tract infection or a stone. Or if he’s peeing frequent large amounts it could indicate a kidney problem or an endocrine problem such as PPID. It’s significant if this is a persistent change from his usual pattern.

One of my horses pees frequently and noticeably more than my other horse. He’s always done this, doesn’t have any other symptoms, and seems healthy and happy. But if my other horse, who goes hours without peeing, suddenly started doing this I’d be concerned.

[sascha]

@OzarksRider

if he’s peeing frequently but small amounts that could indicate an irritated bladder, either from a urinary tract infection or a stone.

or something as simple as a bean.

[FjordBCRF]

The only smaller amount seemed to be on the trailer, but it was hard to gauge. When he peed while I was trimming him…it was definitely normal. Up close and personal for that

[Montanas_Girl]

This was the only significant symptom my PPID horse had prior to his diagnosis. I’m not saying that’s definitely what’s going on with your guy, but it’s a red flag for sure.

[PaddockWood]

My first thought was PPID too. If it’s a change from the past then it’s a change. What is his age?

[FjordBCRF]

He’s young, will be 6 in April. I already run annual insulin and T4 on him (have been well in normal ranges) due to his breed and a mild case of laminitis spring of 2021. He lost and has kept at least 150 pounds off since the laminitis, all bloodwork from that came back normal and no rotation. He’s been in some kind of light/moderate work 5-6 days a week since spring last year and the vet is happy with his weight. No issue with shedding other than he starts at the end of Dec each year and I’m covered in hair until spring, lively and energetic, especially this time of year. No other visible PPID concerns.

[PaddockWood]

Well it shouldn’t be PPID at 6. Did your vet think the laminitis trigger was obesity?. Is it common that Fjords get laminitis so young? Do you have your nutrition tight meaning minerals in balance and hay tested?

[FjordBCRF]

We attributed it to spring grass. He was on pasture 12-14 hours in a 20 acre pasture with 3 others at the time and even with a grazing muzzle, it was too much.

Diet is dialed in with a nutritionist; we’ve had no issues since he lost the initial weight which was two springs ago. He basically gets a small base of beet pulp to carry vermont blend pro, flax + vit E, digestive supplement, electrolytes etc. Two grass hay flakes AM/PM in extreme slow feed nets, 6-8 hours drylot turnout with a netted round bale (in if the weather is shitty), and he has an auto feeder for a couple ounces of teff pellets every hour overnight so he’s always got a little bit of something in his stomach.

I did just cut him back on hay. We moved barns over Christmas and our new barn has very nice second cutting hay which started to add some extra pounds (and some extra energy!), the rounds are first cutting. I tape him every few weeks just to make sure we stay on track.

I can’t speak to fjords being prone to getting laminitis young, but being a drafty pony breed, they are certainly predisposed and you have to really be on top of their management.

[PaddockWood]

Well you sure have a solid program going and it sounds like it was the weight. Maybe his more frequent urination is just the heat and more salt etc lately.

[FjordBCRF]

It was a steep learning curve at the time having never had an easy keeper before, but I caught up fast!!

That’s my hope too. All seemed pretty normal on the pee side of things today so I was happy about that.

[IPEsq]

You can do bloodwork to check kidneys etc just in case.

[PaddockWood]

Me too. Back 25 yrs ago my Arab was dx’d IR and it began such a valuable, but painful learning curve. I worked w Dr. Kellon and began testing my hay etc.

OK, I do remember more frequent urination being part of the IR curse right? What have his insulin numbers been?

[FjordBCRF]

His was 25 this fall; vet was very happy with that and said you want to stay under 50.

[PaddockWood]

Yeah that sounds good. It’s good to have all that data. Sounds like maybe just the warmth and extra drinking.