Urinalysis Parameters in Apparently Healthy Horses at the Polo Club, Kaduna

Urinalysis is a rapid and non-invasive diagnostic tool for detecting renal, metabolic, and systemic diseases in equine patients. Reference urinalysis parameters for horses maintained under Nigerian climatic and management conditions are, however, poorly documented. This study characterised urinalysis parameters in 40 apparently healthy thoroughbred and Nigerian pony horses maintained at the Polo Club in Kaduna, North West Nigeria. Mid-stream urine samples were collected by natural voiding during morning exercise routines. Physical properties including colour, turbidity, and specific gravity were evaluated immediately. Chemical analysis was performed using commercial dipstick strips, and microscopic examination was conducted for casts, crystals, red blood cells, white blood cells, and epithelial cells. Mean urine specific gravity was 1.036, with a range of 1.025 to 1.050. Urine pH was consistently alkaline, ranging from 7.5 to 8.8, which is characteristic of herbivores on a forage-based diet. Calcium carbonate crystals were detected in 78 percent of samples, consistent with normal equine urinary physiology. Trace to mild proteinuria was recorded in 15 percent of horses, particularly post-exercise. Microscopic haematuria was present in four animals, warranting further investigation. These findings provide baseline urinalysis reference data for horses in Kaduna and contribute to improving clinical diagnostic capabilities at Nigerian equine facilities. The data also highlight the inadequacy of applying small animal urinalysis interpretation criteria to equine samples. Keywords: urinalysis, horses, Kaduna, renal, reference values.