Rare Kidney Disease Reported in Horses

Two Quarter Horses referred to the equine clinic at Kansas State University were found to have Fanconi syndrome, a condition previously seen in humans as well as dogs of Basenji and Labrador Retriever breeding. The disease, which had never been diagnosed in horses, can cause high levels of glucose and lactic acid in the urine.

Animals with Fanconi syndrome have a defect in the kidney’s proximal tubules that prevents resorption by the body of important nutrients such as glucose from the urine. Affected individuals develop metabolic problems that lead to weight loss.

The affected Quarter Horses recovered after being treated with intravenous fluids and electrolytes. The cause of these transient cases of Fanconi syndrome is not known.