"Yikes! My horse has bright orange pee!" Have you said this after going out to the pasture and seeing spots of bright orange or reddish orange pee spots all over the place? Did you panic and worry what in the world your horse has ingested to have peed such an odd color?
You are not alone. You are not the first - or the last - horse owner who sees this phenomenon and begins to mentally run through a list of all the possibilities. Check out most horse-related forums and you will find some horse owner pleading for help and very concerned about the welfare of their beloved horse.
"Could it be blood in the urine?" they ask. "Do you have black cherry trees in your pasture?" someone will answer back. Many people will assume such discolorations are signs of kidney infections, proof of red blood in urine, some type of poisoning, or even one of the dreaded signs of colic in a horse.
Okay, take a deep breath, and use your observation skills along with discovering some facts. First of all, horse urine contains excreted proteins in high enough amounts to cause oxidation when those proteins are exposed to oxygen. This means that when a horse pees his normal pale yellowish color, it ends up turning a bright orange, or reddish orange after the air oxidizes the proteins. That's why you will see stained bedding in the stall where a horse has peed and those bright spots in the snow. You are witnessing the result of chemical reactions of proteins. Your horse is fine.
Now, on the other hand, if the urine COMING OUT of your horse is discolored, there are some possibilities and concerns you need to be aware of. It could still be nothing to worry about. But don't ever waste time in wonder. Take your horse's vital signs and call your horse vet.
Red clover has been said to cause urine to appear reddish in color. That's because something called, "porphyrins" are excreted into the urine and turn red when exposed to the air. Like oxidation of proteins in horse urine that produce the bright oranges and reddish oranges, it is nothing to be worried about. It is not a serious issue as long as your horse is receiving a well-balanced diet and is not getting excessive amounts of red clover. If you are concerned about how much red clover is in your horse's diet ask your vet.
The time to begin investigating is when the urine is dark - such as a brownish or blackish color AS YOUR HORSE IS URINATING. You may be observing symptoms of kidney issues, (hematuria). It may mean there are liver issues, (bilirubinemia). There may be tying-up issues (myoglobinuria). In these situations remember the urine will be a darker color, either a brownish or blackish color and it will be present when the horse is actually peeing. The harmless chemical reaction of oxidation occurs AFTER the horse has peed and the urine has been exposed to air long enough to change to the bright oranges.
I hope this helps to ease your mind. The way I figure it, anything that educates horse owners - in measures great or small - provides us with more knowledge to ensure a healthy happy horse. Of course it also provides us with a normal heart rate again after seeing freaky orange spots!
Horses are amazing creatures. One can never know too much about them. If you own horses or have always wanted to own a horse, go to Horse of Course and you will find a special place just for "horse folk."
At HorseOfCourse.org you will find everything from tips on riding and training horses to farrier and vet care. There are also free horse games on line and a tack store!
Good luck to you in all your "horse" endeavors.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Long
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