Causes of Kidney Failure in Horses

Kidney failure can occur in horses due to blood pressure problems, dehydration, heat stroke, natural toxins that are ingested or high doses of antibiotics. Find out how to prevent kidney failure in a horse with helpful information from a farm manager and on-site veterinarian in this free video on horses.

Causes of kidney failure commonly go back to blood pressure. Conditions such as dehydration and heat stroke end up taking away the necessary blood pressure for the kidneys to have the nutrients they need to function. Natural toxins do occur in the environment. A horse will bypass these if other grasses are readily available for them to eat. Examples of toxic substances to horses are wild and cultivated onion; withered red maple leaves and white snakeroot. Sometimes medicines humans give horses can cause them also to have kidney failure. High doses of antibiotics in seeds, Vitamin D and Vitamin K given in improper amounts can all cause kidney failure. Mercury is highly toxic to horses and used to be used in skin topical. It can cause kidney failure and is no longer used. Extreme blood loss can cause kidney failure because it also drops the blood pressure of an animal. If you think your horse is suffering from kidney failure, it is necessary to have local Vet test your horses your own M blood to see what's going on.