Chronic weight loss, intermittent hematuria, polyuria, and polydipsia in a 23-year-old Quarter Horse gelding.

The study presents the case of a 23-year-old Quarter Horse gelding suffering from chronic weight loss, frequent urination, excessive thirst, and occasional blood in the urine. Ongoing lab tests and examinations suggested that the horse might have had chronic kidney disease, accompanied by other issues in the renal or gastrointestinal system. Unfortunately, despite treatment attempts, the horse’s condition did not improve and it was euthanized. The subsequent autopsy revealed abnormalities in the kidneys and adrenal gland, which might have been the cause of the symptoms observed during the horse’s lifetime.

History of the Case

• This particular Quarter Horse gelding showed signs of substantial weight loss, frequent urination and thirst, and occasional episodes of bloody urine.
• This horse also had a prior medical history of equine recurrent uveitis, which is a recurring inflammation of the uvea of the eye. Over time, this condition led to the loss of sight in the right eye.

Clinical Findings and Conclusions

• Upon conducting CBC, no remarkable findings were observed. However, a plasma biochemical profile showed increased levels of some key markers, suggesting possible kidney-related problems. The patient displayed azotemia (high levels of nitrogen-containing compounds in the blood), decreased glomerular filtration rate (indicators of the kidneys’ ability to filter waste products), and imbalances of minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus.
• These abnormalities pointed to suspected chronic renal disease. Notably, the concurrent occurrence of hyperkalemia suggested that there might well be an acute component as part of this chronic kidney disease.
• At the same time, the horse had higher than normal protein levels in blood, indicating possible inflammation or potentially dehydration, and lower than normal levels of sodium and chloride, which further pointed to renal or gastrointestinal issues.

Additional Examinations and Treatment Efforts

• Additional ultrasound examinations of the abdomen and rectum revealed an enlarged left kidney and a large mass near the kidney, believed to be the left adrenal gland.
• During a cystoscopy procedure, blood was found in the urine coming from the left ureter. Further analysis of this urine showed signs of acute and chronic hemorrhage.
• Although the horse was given intravenous fluids and antibiotics as part of its treatment, there was no noticeable improvement and due to the poor prognosis, the horse was euthanized.

Necropsy Findings

• The autopsy revealed that both kidneys were unusually large, with several tan masses that had replaced 40% of the tissue in the left kidney and 10% in the right one.
• Some of these masses had cystic cavitated areas filled with a red translucent fluid and some soft green debris.
• The left adrenal glandular cortex and medulla were hugely enlarged due to several irregularly shaped firm masses.
• The urinary bladder contained cloudy and slightly red-tinged urine while destructives changes were present in the right eye’s vitreous, which has turned an opaque yellow to green, and a thick white band was found in the posterior uveal tract.