Old age?

[sarah92]

I'm starting to worry about my rabbit Snowy.
Snowy will be turning 6 years old in October. And while she's never had any massive health issues I'm starting to worry about her and little changes I'm noticing...

So I'm wondering are there any things to look for as they get older?

Here is what I have noticed: She drinks HEAPS now, its just come into winter where I live and she is still drinking like crazy. Water bottles always run out on her so quick- and its not because they are dripping or leaking, I've got two rabbits and have swapped them around but she is always drinking heaps.
She now has a water bowl and I water bottle and is going through it very fast (change it every morning and again in the afternoon)

Her cage gets dirtier way quicker_ I have a double story hutch and my male Nudge lives on the top half and snowy on the bottom. They are both litter box trained and when I empty their litter boxes again snowy's is way messier.. its always FULL of wee.. where nudges is just normal wet with poo in there too.

I'm really starting to worry why does she drink so much?
I haven't really noticed that she is less active or anything.
The only other thing I noticed is she is not cleaning herself as well.. she gets a dirty bottom really quickly and its hard to keep up with it since her cage is so wet. Its like her bottom gets wet and them the chipsi (bedding) gets stuck to it.

Sorry If I've talked heaps in this post! hopefully someone can give me some advice!

 

[honore]

YOu really need to take her to the vet asap. She could have kidney problems. Also, what bedding are you using? You really only should use paper-based bedding (dye-free carefresh, or newspapers, or straw/hay). Other beddings, such as wood shavings, can make them sick. But please, please, please, take her to the vet!

 

[KeltonB]

I agree...a significantly increased water intake can be an indication of a kidney issue. One of my past buns had a problem like this. Good luck!

 

[Nancy McClelland]

I don't know if they are affected by diabetes, but higher water intake is a marker. Some of ours drink a lot and some don't. Lilli only drinks when she is out roaming and drinks very little from the bottle in her hutch. The most notable thing with our elder buns as they approach their "time" is that they slow down--eat and drink less and sleep more. Not always the case though--thought we were gong to have to put Molly down as she wasn't eating--she's 14 now--but it was just molar spurs, which is the very ist thing ever with her. Hoss our white New Zealand was very close to 13 and never had a problem or symptom. Came home one morning and he was just gone--sure do miss my big old boy.

 

[Pet_Bunny]

Any changes from the norm should be a concern.
As you know bunnies can go very quickly if they are not well, and many will hide their pain.
Right now you should be cleaning her cage more often and try to keep her dry and comfortable.

 

[sarah92]

Thanks everyone, I will call the vet today and make an appointment and let you know how it goes..
I really hope that there is something they can do to help

 

[sarah92]

Snowy went to the vet this afternoon. Ultrasound showed fluid in her uterus... They've take blood tests but think its either cancer or kidney problem
They took blood from both her ears are running tests that should be back by Friday..

I'm really worried for her but hopefully something can be done to help her

 

[tonyshuman]

Sorry to hear she's unwell but it sounds like the problem has been pinpointed. I would have suggested kidney issues as well. She's not terribly old, but an unspayed female of that age is bound to have some problem with her uterus. Diabetes is really uncommon in rabbits. It is possible that she is retaining fluid due to poor kidney function. They can put her on Lasix, which is a diuretic. Kidney disease/failure can be managed in rabbits to a point with some meds and supplemental fluids.

 

[sarah92]

Sorry to hear she's unwell but it sounds like the problem has been pinpointed. I would have suggested kidney issues as well. She's not terribly old, but an unspayed female of that age is bound to have some problem with her uterus. Diabetes is really uncommon in rabbits. It is possible that she is retaining fluid due to poor kidney function. They can put her on Lasix, which is a diuretic. Kidney disease/failure can be managed in rabbits to a point with some meds and supplemental fluids.

Yes I do believe its something to do with her kidneys and her uterus.. I hope they can do something to help her..
She is happy enough today bouncing around the back yard with her rabbit buddy Nudge..
You wouldn't even tell she is sick if she wasn't wee soaked

I wish I had of gotten her spayed but I got her when I was 15 and didn't have the money and mum wouldn't pay to spay a rabbit..

 

[tonyshuman]

Hindsight is definitely 20/20. Unfortunately we can't always do what we want to for our pets due to finances and other situations. I had a bunny with a type of cancer that they weren't very successful at treating at the time, and the treatment was often worse than the tumor because it was stressful and the cancer wasn't very painful or bothersome--just caused a cough and eating more slowly. In just the past couple of years, the treatments have gotten better and someone I know had a bunny with the same cancer go through the treatment and seems to be doing better.

 

[honore]

I agree with Tony's human. Hindsight is always perfect. I hope she'll be ok! Just keep up with her treatments, even if you think she is doing better. Unfortunately prey animals like rabbits tend to hide their pain and fake being well. If it's the kidneys, it could be as simple as putting her on medication.

 

[sarah92]

The vet called yesterday, she had sent the results of to two different specialists and they had different answers -.- one thinks its cancer and the other something wrong with her actual bladder...
So I am now making a record of exactly how much she is drinking for the next 5 days for the vet and then after that we will see where to go from there..
unfortunately the vet said to fix both you need to operate and its very risky to operate on a rabbit her age