Very Common
Less Common
You also might be observing
Observation
What you see. The starting point for addressing any equine health related issue is your observation.
YOU ARE OBSERVING
Urine appears Red or Orange on Snow
Summary
"Urinating red" is a common complaint during snowy weather, but taken alone with no other sign of illness, it should not raise concern. Depending on the plant pigments ingested, normal equine urine stains snow or ice a surprising red, orange of brownish color. The color results from oxidation of plant pigments contained within the urine, when they are exposed to air under cold conditions.
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Code Orange
Call Your Vet at Their First Available Office Hours -
Code Green
Contact Your Vet to Obtain Useful Advice & Resources- If the results of the Whole Horse Exam (WHE) suggest the horse is otherwise normal.
your role
What To Do
Assess your horse's general health using the Whole Horse Exam (WHE), paying particular attention to their attitude and appetite. Try to catch a urine sample before it hits the ground. If "free-caught" urine is red or if the horse is showing any other sign of illness, contact your vet and discuss the situation.In rare cases examination and urinalysis indicates that there actually is blood in the urine, which could be a sign of a more serious illness.
What Not To Do
Do not panic! This looks bad but is a very common occurrence in normal horses.
Skills you may need
Procedures that you may need to perform on your horse.
your vet's role
Your vet likely will not need to see your horse. If they do, they will evaluate general health, and will likely want to collect a urine sample to evaluate.
Questions Your Vet Might Ask:
- Does your horse seem normal otherwise?
- How does this horse's urine color on the snow compare to that of the others?
- Is this horse fed differently than your other horses?
- What are the results of the Whole Horse Exam (WHE)?
Diagnostics Your Vet May Perform
Figuring out the cause of the problem. These are tests or procedures used by your vet to determine what’s wrong.
Diagnoses Your Vet May Consider
The cause of the problem. These are conditions or ailments that are the cause of the observations you make.
Treatments Your Vet May Recommend
A way to resolve the condition or diagnosis. Resolving the underlying cause or treating the signs of disease (symptomatic treatment)
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Less Common