MY RABBIT IS PEEING BLOOD

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FuzzyWabbit

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Hi all,

So two days ago, I found a pool of red pee in the cage. At first, I thought it was pee with pigment in it, since my rabbits have been eating various plants. However, when I wiped it using a napkin and took a closer look, I saw blood in it. Im sure it’s blood because after a while, it turned brown and it smelled like blood too. Visiting the vet is not an option, as I don’t have extra money. I have 2 rabbits, and I’m not sure who peed out blood. My rabbits are about 2 years old and are not neutered. I don’t know if they are in pain. They seem normal though, eating, drinking and happily hopping around. However, they sometimes do the peeing position (front legs close to back legs and tail up) but pee does not come out. Can the rabbits recover on their own? Again, I cannot visit the vet, and I’m praying that they can recover on their own. I am super worried.

Thanks
 
Are they still having red pee? Can you get a photo of it? Normal urine can be very red depending on a few factors.
https://rabbit.org/red-urine-blood-or-plant-pigment/
If they are straining, trying to pee, then clean out the litter box so you can see if they are actually able to pee. If either of them are unable to urinate, then they need a vet right away. The attached article has more detail.
 
Not to be alarmist, but since they are female, intact, and 2 years old, one of them may have uterine cancer, since this is very common in unspayed rabbits. If it is caught early enough it can be cured by spaying, but since you said you don't have money, I assume you can't do xrays or ultrasound and then a spay if tumors are found. So here's what I would suggest:

1. Feel around their abdomens and see if you feel any obvious masses.

2. Call around for low-cost spay options. You're in rabbit central, just an hour from House Rabbit Society (HRS) headquarters, so there should be some options. I've put a link below to a list of Bay Area low-cost facilities on the HRS website, though I don't know how up-to-date it is (Monterey County SPCA is listed at $75).

3. Schedule them for a spay as soon as possible. That might be the cheapest way to find out if they have uterine cancer because during the spay, the vet will be able to tell whether the uterus is healthy or not, and they will do a brief health check before too. The chance for uterine cancer goes up dramatically once the rabbit gets over 3 years old, so if no cancer is found, the spay will prevent it so you won't have to worry about this again.

4. Keep an eye on them and, as someone already mentioned, make sure they can pee. Not peeing (or pooping) is a definite vet trip.

5. Lastly, and I sure hope this isn't the case, but RHDV2 is in your area, and blood coming from where it shouldn't can be a sign of this nasty disease. If either of them suddenly get worse or die suddenly, please call a vet immediately and follow their instructions. Hopefully you have already had them vaccinated, but if this whole blood in urine thing turns out to be nothing (as we are all hoping), please be sure to get them vaccinated as soon as possible!

Sorry to bring up the two scariest possibilities, but even if it turns out to be neither, both have preventive steps that you can and should take so you will never fear those possibilities again. Hope everything works out for the best. Anxiety over bunny health is the worst!

Some links:

https://rabbit.org/rabbit-center/https://rabbit.org/rabbit-center/low-cost-spayneuter-clinics/https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Uterine_cancerhttp://www.saveabunny.org/rhdv
 
Hi!
Obviously it is extremely important to bring them to the vet ASAP, but knowing you can't, these are things I suggest...I would say start by inspecting both rabbits, making sure the blood actually came from their urine and not their vagina or a wound or other.

Are you bunnies drinking enough water? Try to stay near by and observe if maybe only 1 rabbit is drinking the water, and the other is not. Just because the water bowl is emptying, doesn't mean that both rabbits are drinking. Dehydration can cause the urine to be darker and will also make their urine more concentrated, possibly in calcium. It essentially helps their kidneys dilute the urine. If one is not drinking enough, try to increase their water intake by drenching their greens in water, without removing the excess, so they get the extra bit of water while eating. You can also give greens that have higher water content like romain lettuce. Also make sure to change their water 1-2 times a day to make sure it is always fresh. Also make sure to wash their water bowl frequently, because they might not drink from it if it gets smelly or dirty.

Look out for any stones (may be very small like a grain of sand or big) or if the urine seems to be thick or paste-like, or if there are whitish stains. These most likely could be calcium crystals, from when their kidneys have trouble removing excess calcium, leading to a build up, creating a stone. These can be caused by a urinary tract infection (causing inflammation, making it hard to excrete the calcium), dehydration, excessive calcium intake, or even being overweight and sedentary. Look at everything you are feeding them and try to limit their calcium intake as much as possible, which is high in most pellets, certain greens, kale, spinach, brocoli, alfa-alfa, treats, supplements, etc. Passing a calcium stone could have caused the bleeding. Other important signs to look out for that may be related is difficulty urinating, reduced appetite, reduced stool (make sure its not all from the other rabbit), reduced energy, soiled fur, teeth grinding or hunched position (pain). However, be aware that these are all general signs and symptoms that may be cause by numerous other medical emergencies.

If it happens again, you can test the pee to see if it is actually blood or not. You can pour hydrogen peroxide on the urine, and if it starts to slightly foam or bubble, it's an indication that it is in fact blood, which is an emergency (STAT)!

Unfortunately, money can be tight and vet visits can be very expensive. However, without knowing the cause, it is impossible to know how much you will have to spend. Depending on the issue, the vet will give you estimates or options of what you can do, which aren't always pricy, and will essentially let you decide what you want to do. I recommend that the bare minimum is to bring them in for an evaluation which is usually around 50$ or less than 100$, i paid 80$ for my rabbit (Canada). If you do, make sure you bring in both rabbits at the same time, since we don't know who it's coming from, especially if they are bonded it will reduce their stress x1000. This may sound harsh, but as a rabbit owner, it is your responsibility to make sure you can provide for both rabbits whether it be food, space, or vet visits, otherwise it is neglect. I'm also currently in a tough spot and I brought in my 9 y/o rabbit for her first vet check up, which I have avoided doing for the past 3 years. I feel 1000x better now that I did, and I don't feel the constant stress anymore of being a "neglectful owner". She has several issues for which I could pay for multiple tests, but I'm taking one step at a time, and I started with her antibiotics which was a priority and it only cost me 50$. Who knows, maybe your bill will be on the lower end. If this happens again, and you absolutely cannot bring them to a vet, please please please look over you what you value and remind yourself that you want to do what's best for the rabbit, and not just for the sake of having a pet. Perhaps ask for a payment plan, start a gofundme, or crowdfunding to get the extra money you need (make sure this doesn't take too much time or drag on, because the longer you wait, the worse the condition will get, and the more you will have to pay). Not sure if they have an SPCA in California, but they often have a program to lower vet bills for people with low income. PLEASE, consider giving your rabbit to a rescue shelter or something along those lines where they might be able to take on the responsibility and properly care for your rabbit if you don't end up taking your rabbit to the vet.

Please give any updates you may have, I'm willing to help!
 
@FuzzyWabbit, this sounds like a really stressful situation. So sorry to hear it.

Where I live in New York, there are some animal rescue organizations and veterinarians that offer vet care on a sliding scale. You will usually need to demonstrate financial need.

How about calling around to those organizations and to your local vets and explaining your situation? At the very least, they can tell you what they would charge, if they can offer you any kind of discount, and whether they have a payment plan. If it's feasible for you, maybe you could offer to help in some way in exchange for care. Just a thought.

Good luck!!!
 

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