Your mare may be urinating a lot, a condition known as polyuria, primarily due to factors such as excessive water intake, dietary changes, boredom, or environmental influences.
Potential Causes of Polyuria in Mares:
- Excessive Water Intake: This is often the most straightforward explanation. Consider if your mare has access to a new water source, is experiencing hotter weather, or has increased her activity level.
- Dietary Changes: A change in feed, particularly to something higher in moisture content, could lead to increased urination. For example, lush pasture or the introduction of silage can contribute.
- Boredom: Mares, like all horses, can develop behaviors out of boredom or stress. Increased water consumption can sometimes be a manifestation of this.
- Environmental Factors: Changes in routine, introduction of new horses, or other environmental stressors can influence drinking habits.
- Underlying Medical Conditions (Less Likely, but Important to Rule Out): While the above causes are most common, increased urination can sometimes indicate a medical problem. These can include:
- Kidney disease: Affects the kidney's ability to concentrate urine.
- Cushing's disease (PPID): Can disrupt hormone balance, leading to increased thirst and urination.
- Diabetes insipidus: A rare condition affecting water balance.
- Psychogenic polydipsia: A behavioral issue where the mare drinks excessively.
- Medications: Some medications can have a diuretic effect.
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): While more commonly associated with frequent small amounts of urination, a UTI can, in some cases, contribute to polyuria.
What To Do:
- Monitor Water Intake: Observe how much water your mare is drinking daily. This provides a baseline to identify any significant changes.
- Assess Diet: Evaluate recent dietary changes. Consider reverting to the previous diet to see if the urination decreases.
- Rule Out Boredom: Provide adequate turnout, social interaction, and enrichment activities to reduce boredom-related behaviors.
- Consult a Veterinarian: Crucially, if the increased urination persists despite addressing the potential environmental and dietary factors, consult your veterinarian. Blood work and a urinalysis may be necessary to rule out underlying medical conditions. The veterinarian will be able to determine the underlying cause of the increased urination and advise on the appropriate treatment plan.
In summary, while increased urination in your mare is often related to manageable factors like water intake, diet, or environment, persistent polyuria warrants veterinary investigation to exclude underlying health issues.
