These bladder and urinary problems can be so hard to detect. I never find that mine quit eating with these infections.

Let us know what the vet says and vibes to Ani.

I’m sorry to hear this.

((((Aniseed!))))

Having had my fair share of sludgy rabbits I’m not convinced it’s related to food at all even though that’s always the route vets take.

How old is Ani? I find in some of the older buns the sludge is due to mobility – they cannot posture properly to urinate.

The incontinence has depended on the rabbit. Some have been and some haven’t been. It’s been another one of those inconsistencies I’ve had to deal with concerning sludge. I know that the bladder does stretch the bladder over time which causes the incontinence.

My last bladder sludgy bunny was very large too and she never ever recovered from the sludge even after a few bladder flushes – I know she was uncomfortable though and just lived with the sludge although she always had urine scald. She also ended up having some neurological problems in the end as well and the combination convinced us to let her go to the bridge.

My friend has an older netherland (about 8) and he has sludge due to mobility and it took her about 4 weeks of baytril to get him “better” so you may have to go longer on the baytril. He’s far from perfect though and pee’s everywhere as well. I’ve cared for him a few times in the past few months while she was away since he’s high maintenance. She’s had him metacam though for his mobility and we think that has helped alot too.

You might ask the vet to show you how to express her bladder which can help get the sludge out – my vets say that because our rabbits are on all fours when they have sludge it has a harder time getting out of the bladder and holding them upright so it goes down to the uretha and expressing the bladder helps it come out – I know none of those terms are “scientific” but I can’t think of the right words – hopefully it makes sense to you.

Another thing I tried with one of my sludgies was sub-q fluids every other day for awhile to try to flush him – did this help….I’m not sure but it didn’t hurt. I’m certain I never got his (Brando) sludge under control. My sludgies have also tended to be larger size rabbits too. Although my friend’s little rabbit is a 2 pound netherland. So I guess sludge doesn’t discriminate based on size.

Jack has ongoing issues with bladder sludge and he also had a stone removed. The strange thing is he never really showed sludge much until after his stone removal. I think it must be due to the fact that now we/he is flushing it out (hopefully preventing a stone), so I just may be seeing it more, where before he seemed to be the type that would show little symptoms, but create a big ‘ol stone!

Though my vet feels it is also genetics –how a rabbit processes calcium, she did suggest diet changes for Jack that might help. Not that diet caused the sludge or stones, as it’s just how Jacks deals with calcium, but that diet changes made with his issues in mind may make a difference. . Parsley and Dandelion are high in calcium, but they are also diuretics and can help flush the bladder out so those were still okay. He is also on a pelletless diet. You can see more about what is working for Jack at https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/Diet/JacksDiet/tabid/186/Default.aspx

Up until recently, I was giving Jack sub-q fluids about twice a week, but now it just depends on how much water he drinks and what his urine looks like. Some weeks, it will be clear and I am able to skip a fluid treatment that week, other times his urine shows more sludge and so I then we will administer the fluids. If it seems clear for a longer while, I still get suspicious that he’s just not excreting it and he’s developing a stone like he did before, so I may give him fluids to see if it will flush out what I call sand (sludge).

This seems to be working for him….so far. However, i must make sure too note that this is my first and only rabbit that has had this issue and my own experience is limited by the short period of time I’ve been dealing with it as a more serious issue. (year and half).

Sarita on the other hand has had quite a bit of experience dealing with this! I just wanted to offer what has been going on with Jack if that helps any.

I’m confused a bit. I thought it was normal to see calcium passing in rabbit urine? Sand and/or crystals. I suppose when it gets too much or overly thick it can cause real problems for sure. I know I saw it in mine when she was younger and less so now but both still pass calcium. How did they determine the sludge and infection in Ani? A urine test? Xrays? Fingers crossed also for Ani !

Sorry to hear Ani is having problems. Get well soon, Ani!!

I feed Martin’s Less Active and I’m very happy with it.

Jersey, I believe a lower amount of calcium is normal, (though, none of my other bunnies, besides Jack, have never urinated any sand or whitish urine in the slightest). I know that with Jack, the vet determined that the calcium levels were high and we tested often as we worked on water intake and diet, sub-q to get the levels down. What I don’t know is where is the line between normal and excessive actually is and what that would look like as Jack is my only bunny that excretes whitish urine, sand or thick sludge. I will ask my vet about what normal and abnormal comparisons may look like visually when I am at Jack’s next urine evaluation.

The other thing I need to correct is that i had said Jack did not have any problems with white urine until he got older, had the stone, etc, but I actually do remember Jack having some white excretions earlier on, but they weren’t very often so I never thought too much about it. Have no idea if that was just a prelude to his problems later on or if it was just a normal excretion back then.

Andi — I have been told that bladder infections can coincide with bladder sludge issues.   Doesn’t necessarily mean that is what is happening in your bunny’s case, but it is a possibility