Final answer:
Normal horse and rabbit urine samples typically have a high specific gravity, due to concentrated solutes, and an alkaline pH, influenced by dietary factors. These characteristics are normal for these species, but extreme deviations can indicate health issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unique features of normal horse and rabbit urine samples include high specific gravity and an alkaline pH. Specific gravity is a measure of the quantity of solutes per unit volume of a solution and urine has a specific gravity greater than pure water, due to the presence of solutes. Urine specific gravity is typically around 1.015 but can vary depending on factors such as temperature. For horses and rabbits, high specific gravity is associated with dehydration or dietary factors. The pH of urine can vary significantly, influenced by diet. In horses and rabbits, an alkaline urine pH is often observed, which can be influenced by the presence of certain ions like HCO3- after the consumption of food, leading to an 'alkaline tide' or by vegetarian diets that are base forming.
It's important to note that chronically high or low pH can lead to disorders like the development of kidney stones or osteomalacia. Thus, while these characteristics may be normal for these animals, extreme deviations can be indicators of underlying health issues.