Drinking/Peeing A LOT !!!

FORUM

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 26sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 9 months ago by Elliriyanna.

Viewing 26 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 07/31/2015 at 2:59 PM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  So Tenzin has always drunk a lot I didn’t think anything of it, I had nothing to compare it to.
  
  Tenzin is 3 lbs 14 ounces, SO he is big for a holland lop. He gets 1-2 cups of veggies nightly, he gets 1/4 cup oxbow adult pellets every morning and unlimited hay.
  
  But he drinks 16-32 ounces of water per day. He is not retaining any of it, he is flooding his litter box. I use cat litter ( Paper cat litter its totally safe) for absorbency but I am really starting to worry. He had a butt bath today because he peed so much he is starting to mat from standing in wet litter.
  
  I will change the litter box daily to avoid that in the future, thats not the problem. I am really worried about how much he is drinking, yes the room is on the warm side for him, but he has tiles and a fan. This can’t be good for him.
- 07/31/2015 at 3:01 PM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  Btw I did think his water bottle could possibly be leaking but I have found no puddles and i put a bowl under it and its dry ( and tenzin doesn’t drink from bowls)
- 07/31/2015 at 3:15 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17240 posts
  How long has he been doing this?
- 07/31/2015 at 3:26 PM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  Like I said he has always drank a lot. But its been a week or two that I have really been noticing this. At first I thought it was due to the heat wave , but now I am concerned
- 07/31/2015 at 3:34 PM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  I called my vet for a phone consult , but I would still love to hear from other owners.
- 07/31/2015 at 3:49 PM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  The vet said he may be diabetic. He said I can just use strips from the store and test him. If there is any glucose in his urine he is diabetic. But I shouldn’t worry yet. He could just be a bunny that drinks a lot.
  
  If he is diabetic he will need treatment.
- 07/31/2015 at 4:16 PM
  Eepster
  Participant
  1236 posts
  Diabetic is the obvious possibility, so I’m not surprised your vet thought it right away. It was the first thing I thought when I saw the title.
  
  I am concerned though that your vet doesn’t want to see your bunny and do blood work. Blood tests can pick up diabetes much earlier than urine tests will. Also, though diabetes is the obvious possibility, it isn’t the only one, so your bunny should be seen.
- 07/31/2015 at 4:32 PM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  I asked what I could try at home.
  He said if glucose is in the urine its a sure bet he is diabetic.
  
  If this keeps up I guarantee he will be seen.
  
  My vet will want to do blood work but we are taking this one step at a time.
- 07/31/2015 at 4:34 PM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  I need to know what else is possible. That’s why I posted here. Diabetes was my first thought but still.
- 07/31/2015 at 6:05 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  My understanding is that diabetes is rare in rabbits…could be dental – rabbits with molar spurs drink alot of water to relieve pain from molars.
- 07/31/2015 at 6:31 PM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  Yes diabetes is rare, and he asked other questions as well but tenzin eats like a champ and they just checked his teeth. I am not ruling anything out
- 07/31/2015 at 8:34 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17240 posts
  Could be a problem with the kidneys. Or it could be something as simple as a UTI.
  
  Without a blood test and urinalysis, we would only be guessing. Hopefully you can get it figured out soon.
- 07/31/2015 at 8:53 PM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  I will call and see about blood work, this was a bad time for me to be off work.
  
  I will let you guys know when I know something. Hopefully this is minor and treatable. Poor guy is only 6 months
- 07/31/2015 at 9:13 PM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  I am thinking with the timing that this happened … Its possible the stress of the neuter weakened his immune system enough for him to get sick.
- 08/01/2015 at 12:07 AM
  JackRabbit
  Participant
  5451 posts
  We’ve been through the same thing with our hollands. We had bloodwork done on both, and the results showed that Moshi was the one drinking all the water. Vet said his bloodwork was fine and that he was still concentrating urine so nothing was medically wrong. She said that she has seen bunnies become obsessed with the ball in the sipper tube and to try to switch to a water bowl. We’re still trying, but Moshi loves the bottle. The first time we put the water bowl out, we took the bottle away for a few hours. Marlee drank from it a little but Moshi dug his heels in a wouldn’t. When I put one bottle back, he practically wrapped his paws around it — looked like a toddler with a sippy cup! We’re still working on the switch.
  
  If the heavy drinking continues, I would definitely start with bloodwork. If all is ok, try switching to a bowl.
- 08/01/2015 at 1:08 AM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  I tried him on a bowl and he completely ignores it.
  
  I am going to call the vet about bloodwork. Unfortunately tomorrow is Saturday.
- 08/01/2015 at 1:54 AM
  JackRabbit
  Participant
  5451 posts
  If the bloodwork is normal, you can try putting a little apple juice in the water to get him to try it.
- 08/01/2015 at 2:23 AM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  I can’t get a quote or advice until Monday.
  
  How much did your rabbits blood work cost? Just kinda need to plan for it
- 08/01/2015 at 3:12 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  I’m just curious if the extra drinking has also coincided with the new rabbits arrival?
- 08/01/2015 at 3:24 AM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  I think it started before that so maybe it has been a couple weeks.
  
  But the new guys doesn’t have access to his water bottle and has no hormones. How would he affect his water intake?
- 08/01/2015 at 7:15 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  It probably doesn’t. I’m just speculating on non-health reasons really. I had just thought maybe Tenzin can see him on that side of his cage or pen then happens to drink while he’s over there. Or if he’s a bit put out, he might drink to calm himself. A vet once told me anything they do with the mouth can help release endorphins. I don’t know if that was rabbit specific or the true of many animals, like cats&dogs.
  
  I can definitely see how a rabbit might become fixated on the sipper spout and licking action. You hear of some that like to lick things a lot.
  
  Behaviour wise, some may drink out of boredom, some because they just enjoy it.
  
  Anyway, I definitely agree to check things out health wise first.
- 08/01/2015 at 8:38 AM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  The water bottle is on the opposite side of the pen. It’s almost against the wall I tried to put what they need far enough away from each other that even if they were bothered by each other it wouldn’t affect their eating and drinking.
  
  Since I am already up I may as well call the vet.
- 08/01/2015 at 8:43 AM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  They said it depends on what blood work he would need. But first he would need to be examined of course.
  
  I know it varies but could anyone who has had blood work done tell me how much theirs was?
- 08/01/2015 at 8:43 AM
  JackRabbit
  Participant
  5451 posts
  I don’t remember exactly, but maybe somewhere between $75 and $150? We spend so much at the vet (I am a worrywart!) that its hard to keep track. Cost will vary depending on area, whether the vet processes bloodwork in house, what lab they use, etc.
  
  Could the increased water drinking be coinciding with a heavy shed?
- 08/01/2015 at 10:27 AM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  He had his molt back in may, and doesn’t seem to be shedding much.
- 08/01/2015 at 4:19 PM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  I gave tenzin a 16 ounce bottle and a bowl.
  
  This way we can see if he needs the water or just likes the bottle.
- 08/02/2015 at 3:23 PM
  Elliriyanna
  Participant
  588 posts
  Well its too early to tell but last night went well.
  
  He drank a normal amount and only from a bowl. He didn’t touch his bottle even though its working fine. Which is very odd. He is still acting just fine.
  
  It was also cooler out last night which would have cooled his room. So I am not sure which , if either is affecting his drinking.
  
  He is eating great, acting normal, and didn’t have a flooded litter box this morning. I am crossing my fingers that this continues, that he just got a bit obsessed with his old bottle.
Author

Messages

Viewing 26 reply threads

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.