Abstract
Principles in the dietary management of urolithiasis which have been successful in small animal cases were implemented in an equine case. This article describes the dietary management of a horse which repeatedly formed calcium carbonate cystic calculi. Treatment management included progressively decreasing the ration calcium content to reduce the intake of calcium. In addition, urinary tract infections were controlled and urinary acidification was used to inhibit calcium carbonate formation. Successful management was achieved by feeding a 0.2% calcium oat hay ration and administering 175 mg ammonium sulfate per kg body weight orally twice daily for 7 months which produced a urine pH of 5.0. There was no evidence of metabolic acid/base imbalances nor skeletal depletion of calcium. The horse has been free of cystic calculi for an additional 30 months while adequately maintained on a nutritionally balanced oat hay ration. Reducing dietary calcium intake and urine pH are possible management procedures in the horse with recurrent cystic calculi.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 359-363 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of Equine Veterinary Science |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1992 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Equine