BLADDER SLUDGE?!

[Rain]

Warning: This is very detailed. And gross. Horribly gross. I know the point of a forum is to help, but if you get easily nauseated I wouldn’t read this.

I picked up Rain’s litter box and underneath, I noticed a whole giant puddle of thick, yellow pee. It looked thicker than usually, but it doesn’t have that sandy coloring and look as bladder sludge does. (If I knew how to post pictures I would. I have no idea how to. ) And it was like swirling with white streaks. I think this might be bladder sludge. It looks like the white streaks are the extra calcium. It’s like dark brown on one side, and then thick yellow on the other with the white swirly stuff. The only vet clinic that I know about in my area is closed right now. And there are NO other reliable vet clinics near me that cure rabbits. What can I do? It doesn’t look like it’s completely sludge. It looks like it’s transforming into it though. 

He isn’t unhappy or in pain at all right now. Still a crazy mischevious bunny. He’s eating and pooping normal, it’s just the pee. 

Help! Any advice would be appreciated!  

Edit: Actually I found this on the internet and it looks a lot like what I’m describing. 

[sarahthegemini]

Hm, it would be very helpful if you could post a photo. Could you email a photo to a mod perhaps? Or upload to something like tinypic.com and copy the link.

Omg is that Rain in your avatar? She’s adorable! 

[Rain]

Oh, ha ha, I just edited. I found a similar photo to what I was seeing and then I just copy and pasted. Are you able to see it?

[Bam]

It’s not bladder sludge, but it is chalky pee i.e. pee with a lot of excess calcium in it. If Rain gets greens, you can serve them freshly rinsed and soaking wet to up her water-intake. That helps rinse out calcium.

Also look over her diet. What greens does she get? Kale and black kale and spinach are high in calcium. Fennel and romaine and dill are low in calcium. What hay is she getting? Alfalfa hay is high in calcium. Most grassy hays are great nutrition-wise (because buns have evolved to mainly eat grass). What pellets is she getting? Amount?

The color of the pee, ranging from light yellow to almost brown, with bright oranges and reds in between, as a rule comes from plant pigments. Buns can produce red per spontaneously though, and that’s still perfectly normal.

[sarahthegemini]

Yep I can see it, just thought a photo of Rain’s specifically would be best but if they’re basically the same you probably don’t need to post a photo of hers

I’m not an expert so we’ll wait for someone else to advise BUT I think seeing some calcium deposits is totally normal. I believe sludge has the consistency of like dried toothpaste which doesn’t look to be the case in the picture. But as I said, I’m no expert so let’s hang tight for someone more knowledgeable lol.

[sarahthegemini]

Me and Bam posted at the same time

[Rain]

He just gets one leaf of green leaf lettuce, a fourth of alfalfa pellets, timothy hay, and one simple rewards cranberry treat. And a smidge of oatmeal. (dry) He’s five months old, so it may be too much.

Thanks Sarah! That’s him from a baby boy!

[Rain]

Lol, no wonder. My computer got confused. Ha.

[Bam]

His diet sounds fine, but at 5 months it’s time to start transitioning him from alfalfa pellets to a Timothy-based pellet. Alfalfa is great for young growing buns, but at around 5-6 months the bun no longer needs the extra calcium and protein.

This type of pee could be a rare occasion-type of thing though, so it might very well just go away on its own. It’s if it persists that you need to make dietary changes.

And don’t worry about your post being gross. Pee and poop can reveal lots about a bun’s health

[Rain]

Ohh, thank God. So you’re supposed to stop alfalfa at six months? I thought it was when they were fully grown at eight months. Good thing you told me, or I would have continued this for much longer. I don’t think it’s rare occasion, because I saw it yesterday when I was cleaning his cage and today too. Actually I’ve seen it every time I’ve cleaned his cage, but I assumed it was because the pee was under there for a long time. But I just cleaned yesterday and saw it today, so then I knew it was a problem.
The thing is, Rain’s alfalfa pellets are almost gone, and it’s probably not enough for a month of transitioning. I can try though. By the way, when you transition between pellets, and they say for example, one fourth new pellets and three fourth old, does that mean I’m giving a cup of pellets to my bunny, or still a fourth, but it’s like broken in to more fourths? I’m confused!
Thank you so much bam! And Sarah!

[Rain]

And while I’m still here, I wanted to ask a quick question about hays. I tried to find a thread about this on BB but failed. I want to get Rain Oat Hay as a treat for New Year’s, but he’s been known to be a picky eater when it comes to hay. I know many rabbits like Oxbow Alfalfa hay. He didn’t touch it. Say that he doesn’t like his Oat hay as many rabbits like that too. What would I do with the hay if he doesn’t eat it? I don’t want to throw it away, especially since Oxbow is so expensive! Any ideas? I guess I could use it as a bedding as it is winter time and quite chilly for him.

[sarahthegemini]

I’ve always donated hays that my fussy pair reject

[LBJ10]

You could try using a topper to entice him to eat the hay.

[Rain]

Thanks LB. I tried that once, but he just ate all the topper and then left the rest alone.

[Wick & Fable]

If he’s a picky eater, I’d recommend not choosing oat hay. Wick is a picky eater and oat hay ruined him because he would only eat the seeds and nothing else, including Timothy hay. Try a small pack if you’re interested and make sure to watch how much he’s eating!

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Rain]

Okay, thanks! It’s been or something I like absolutely have to do, I just dont want him to get bored. But judging from his pee problems I don’t think I should change anything. Except pellets.thanks everyone for the help!

[LBJ10]

My boys like orchard grass. It’s a softer hay than timothy or oat.

[Author]

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