Horse drinking excessively?

[mlh619]

Background - 3 year old pasture gelding brought in for training this spring, sent here for miles, was kept in a pasture until 6 weeks ago when I was gone, trough ran out of water came back to fence knocked down around dugout and horse now has deep cut on back of pastern. Owner didn't tend to it until a week later because it looked like it was healing fine... maggots were in the wound so horse goes to vet and get it cleaned and bandaged with instructions to clean and bandage etc. Horse is now moved into barn where there is clean water for cleaning and a small turn out pen (60x80 or so). 2 weeks after being there alone in the pen (there are other horses around just not within touching distance) horse is now very thin (2.5-3 on a 10 scale for body score) and scraggly looking. Grass ran out in pasture so the other horses came in.

Fast forward to now - Gelding has been a pen another horse for approximately a month on free choice hay, salt and water. Mare has packed on the weight gelding looks better but still ribby (up to a 3.5 or 4 on the scale). New problem is that he is drinking upwards of 20-25 gallons of water a day by himself. It is around freezing here and everyone else is drinking about 10 gallons a day maybe. When you tie or work him he will drop and dribble for about 1/2 hour before he actually pees. it isn't a constant dribble but a little here and a little there. Once he actually pees it is very clear with very little smell and there is an incredible amount.... It is so diluted. Talked to the vet and they said it could be kidney problems, diurectic hormone problems or psychological problems as he has never been in a pen before. (He is very quiet and has never seemed stressed or anything at being brought in other than the weight loss, he doesn't pace or anything). Urine and blood have been sent in for analysis.

So anybody got any ideas or every experience this???

[dunamovin]

Might be diabetic. That would account for weight fluctuations and thirst also causes kidney problems.

[bubbleslove]

There are also some horses who boredom drinkers, like cribbing or weaving. I'd get a work up done by the vet first though, to make sure it's not something serious.

[crittermom]

I would certainly have a vet out sooner than later. Sounds like kidney issues to me.

[mlh619]

The horse has already been to the vet, we are waiting on results. Since he lost the weight when he was brought in we are leaning towards it being from the change in environment and having to be in a pen by himself when he has never even been out of the pasture before. It will be interesting to find out whether it is a psychological problem as when the water barrel goes dry for a few hours and we go and water he will stand there and drink 10-15 gallons (we bring the water in 5 gallon pails) right off the bat and stand and wait for more. When it freezes he doesn't eat the ice like some of the other horses at the barns but will wait for fresh water.