Evaluation of urinalysis as an aid in the diagnosis of equine grass sickness.
To determine whether urinalysis can aid the diagnosis of equine grass sickness, samples of urine from 15 horses with acute grass sickness, eight horses with subacute grass sickness, 17 co-grazing horses and 17 stabled control horses were analysed. The samples from all of the horses with grass sickness had a significantly higher specific gravity, higher protein and creatinine concentrations and a significantly lower pH; the samples from the horses with acute grass sickness also had significantly higher glucose concentrations. These differences may support a diagnosis of grass sickness but they are not pathognomonic for the disease.
Fintl
C
C
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG.
Milne
E M
EM
McGorum
B C
BC
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006029:Glycosuria / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D006736:Horses; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013046:Specific Gravity; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003404:Creatinine