RO STAFF 2
Well-Known Member
See Also:
Urine - all about it!
Hydration
Sub-Q Fluids
E. cuniculi (Encephalitozoon)
Senior Rabbit Care
What is it?
The kidneys filter out toxic substances from the blood and make urine. Urine travels to the bladder, where it is stored until the bladder is voided (urination). Several different problems can occur in the bladder and kidneys. Old age can also lead to more problems with urination, including incontinence and renal failure.
Signs of urinary problems:
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1. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Symptoms: blood in the urine, bladder sludge, incontinence, straining to urinate, peeing outside of the box
Diagnosis: Vet will perform a urinalysis and look for and/or culture bacteria present in the urine.
Treatment: Antibiotics, maybe supplemental fluids. A culture and sensitivity test is preferred to determine what antibiotic the bacteria are sensitive to.
Prognosis: Good if caught early. Less good if infection spreads from the bladder to kidneys. May lead to bigger problems if kidneys are affected.
Articles
Bladder Disease and Bladder Stones in the Rabbit
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-5/bladder-disease.html
Urinary Disorders in Rabbits
http://www.petplace.com/small-mammals/urinary-disorders-in-rabbits/page1.aspx
Urinary Tract Problems
http://www.ontariorabbits.org/health/healthinfo4.htm
Urine Scald: A Symptom of a Greater Problem (Dana Kremples)
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/urinary.html
Hematuria or the presence of blood in the urine
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Uro_gen_diseases/Differentials/Blood_urine.htm
Urinalysis
http://www.greendale.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128&Itemid=34
Urinary Incontinence in Rabbits
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Uro_gen_diseases/Differentials/Incontinence.htm
RO Threads
Blood in Urine
Buck and Maxie
My Bunny's Pee is White!
Need help with my formerly well-trained rabbit!
Red Urine... Or Blood?
Symptoms of Kidney Problems
Urine Scald
2 and 3. Bladder sludge and/or stones in kidney (nephroliths) and/or bladder (uroliths)
Due to the high alkalinity (very basic pH) of the rabbit's urine and excretion of excess calcium in the urine, solid calcium sludge or stones can form in one or more parts of the urinary tract.
Symptoms: UTI, blood in urine, straining to urinate, urination in abnormal locations, incontinence, dehydration, urine scald, sludge in the urine. Note that dry rabbit urine will often be opaque and have white crystals--this is not something to worry about. Thick chalky urine will contain white crystals when freshly eliminated as well, and this is something to worry about.
Diagnosis: urinalysis, blood tests to assess overall kidney and liver function, x-ray or ultrasound to visualize the stone or sludge, palpation of the stone by a vet(can be painful)
Treatment: Initially, hydrate the rabbit (sub-q) and determine the root cause. It may be due to any of the above-mentioned problems (UTI, EC, renal failure,cancer), or dietary and genetic factors with regard to calcium absorption. Surgery may be needed to remove large bladder stones. Kidney stones cannot typically be surgically removed. If removed, the composition of the stone can be determined (usually calcium carbonate). Dietary sources of calcium should be minimized and supplemental fluids (sub-q) may need to be given regularly for a long period of time, especially if genetic factors are influencing the absorption of calcium.
Articles
Bladder Stones and "Sludge"
Bladder Stones and Bladder Sludge in Rabbits (Susan Brown)
http://www.rabbit.org/health/urolith.html
Nephroliths and Uroliths (calculi) in Rabbits
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Uro_gen_diseases/Mech_diseases/Urolithiasis.pdf
Stones and Sludge: Is too much calcium the only cause?
http://www.ontariorabbits.org/health/healthinfo4.1.html
Urine Scald: A Symptom of a Greater Problem (Dana Kremples)
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/urinary.html
Calcium Metabolism in Rabbits:
http://www.mahouserabbit.org/newsletter/calcium.asp
(broken link)
Lowering Blood Calcium
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-5/calcium.html
RO Threads
Calcium, Veggies, and the Older Rabbit
Luna:
Luna has stones in both kidneys
Chase:
Chase is peeing blood
Had to take Chase to the ER vet
Chase is back from his post-op appt
4. Encephalitozoon cunicului
(E. cuniculi, EC, E. cuniculi ( Encephalitozoon )
Please see threads on EC for information about this topic.
The parasite sheds spores through the urinary tract, so urinary problems are an early sign of the disease. At this stage, the parasite is contagious; may be treatable.
Urine - all about it!
Hydration
Sub-Q Fluids
E. cuniculi (Encephalitozoon)
Senior Rabbit Care
What is it?
The kidneys filter out toxic substances from the blood and make urine. Urine travels to the bladder, where it is stored until the bladder is voided (urination). Several different problems can occur in the bladder and kidneys. Old age can also lead to more problems with urination, including incontinence and renal failure.
Signs of urinary problems:
- Bloody urine, called hematuria (swirls of blood, rather than an overall reddish color, which can be a normal rabbit urine color)
- Straining to urinate
- Urination out of the litterbox
- Excessively chalky, white urine
- Urine scald or stained fur: a condition in which the skin on the bottom and sometimes feet becomes irritated or stained, due usually to the bun peeing on itself
- Urinary incontinence (not being able to control when they pee)
- Generalized discomfort
- Passing bladder stones
- NOTE: A smaller volume of darker, more concentrated and stronger smelling urine is a sign of dehydration.
- Urinary tract infection (usually starts in the bladder)
- Bladder sludge
- Bladder and kidney stones (uroliths and nephroliths)
- Encephalitozoon cunicului (E. cuniculi, EC, E. cuniculi (Encephalitozoon) )
- Renal failure
- Cancer of the urinary tract (see Cancer)
[/align]
1. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Symptoms: blood in the urine, bladder sludge, incontinence, straining to urinate, peeing outside of the box
Diagnosis: Vet will perform a urinalysis and look for and/or culture bacteria present in the urine.
Treatment: Antibiotics, maybe supplemental fluids. A culture and sensitivity test is preferred to determine what antibiotic the bacteria are sensitive to.
Prognosis: Good if caught early. Less good if infection spreads from the bladder to kidneys. May lead to bigger problems if kidneys are affected.
Articles
Bladder Disease and Bladder Stones in the Rabbit
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-5/bladder-disease.html
Urinary Disorders in Rabbits
http://www.petplace.com/small-mammals/urinary-disorders-in-rabbits/page1.aspx
Urinary Tract Problems
http://www.ontariorabbits.org/health/healthinfo4.htm
Urine Scald: A Symptom of a Greater Problem (Dana Kremples)
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/urinary.html
Hematuria or the presence of blood in the urine
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Uro_gen_diseases/Differentials/Blood_urine.htm
Urinalysis
http://www.greendale.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128&Itemid=34
Urinary Incontinence in Rabbits
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Uro_gen_diseases/Differentials/Incontinence.htm
RO Threads
Blood in Urine
Buck and Maxie
My Bunny's Pee is White!
Need help with my formerly well-trained rabbit!
Red Urine... Or Blood?
Symptoms of Kidney Problems
Urine Scald
2 and 3. Bladder sludge and/or stones in kidney (nephroliths) and/or bladder (uroliths)
Due to the high alkalinity (very basic pH) of the rabbit's urine and excretion of excess calcium in the urine, solid calcium sludge or stones can form in one or more parts of the urinary tract.
Symptoms: UTI, blood in urine, straining to urinate, urination in abnormal locations, incontinence, dehydration, urine scald, sludge in the urine. Note that dry rabbit urine will often be opaque and have white crystals--this is not something to worry about. Thick chalky urine will contain white crystals when freshly eliminated as well, and this is something to worry about.
Diagnosis: urinalysis, blood tests to assess overall kidney and liver function, x-ray or ultrasound to visualize the stone or sludge, palpation of the stone by a vet(can be painful)
Treatment: Initially, hydrate the rabbit (sub-q) and determine the root cause. It may be due to any of the above-mentioned problems (UTI, EC, renal failure,cancer), or dietary and genetic factors with regard to calcium absorption. Surgery may be needed to remove large bladder stones. Kidney stones cannot typically be surgically removed. If removed, the composition of the stone can be determined (usually calcium carbonate). Dietary sources of calcium should be minimized and supplemental fluids (sub-q) may need to be given regularly for a long period of time, especially if genetic factors are influencing the absorption of calcium.
Articles
Bladder Stones and "Sludge"
Bladder Stones and Bladder Sludge in Rabbits (Susan Brown)
http://www.rabbit.org/health/urolith.html
Nephroliths and Uroliths (calculi) in Rabbits
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Uro_gen_diseases/Mech_diseases/Urolithiasis.pdf
Stones and Sludge: Is too much calcium the only cause?
http://www.ontariorabbits.org/health/healthinfo4.1.html
Urine Scald: A Symptom of a Greater Problem (Dana Kremples)
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/urinary.html
Calcium Metabolism in Rabbits:
http://www.mahouserabbit.org/newsletter/calcium.asp
(broken link)
Lowering Blood Calcium
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-5/calcium.html
RO Threads
Calcium, Veggies, and the Older Rabbit
Luna:
Luna has stones in both kidneys
Chase:
Chase is peeing blood
Had to take Chase to the ER vet
Chase is back from his post-op appt
4. Encephalitozoon cunicului
(E. cuniculi, EC, E. cuniculi ( Encephalitozoon )
Please see threads on EC for information about this topic.
The parasite sheds spores through the urinary tract, so urinary problems are an early sign of the disease. At this stage, the parasite is contagious; may be treatable.