Acidosis in horses can be easily and cost-effectively detected using a rapid urine test. For this, you will need a urine test strip for animals, which you can obtain from a pharmacy, your veterinarian, or online. If the urine is too acidic, this is an indicator of acute acidosis.
To detect chronic acidosis already present in the tissues, a simple test strip is insufficient. In this case, the Sander urine test is more complex but can also detect acidosis in the tissues. This test determines not only the pH value of the urine but also the so-called acidity quotient (AQ), which indicates the urine's capacity to absorb acids and bases. This determines the amount of free acids excreted from metabolism.
To collect urine from your horse, you can encourage it to urinate by placing it on straw in its stall for a short time. Most horses will then urinate quickly. Use the midstream urine sample, as the first urine may be contaminated.