blood in urine

[Blackavar3]

We just noticed one of our rabbits has urinated on our white rug, unusual in itself, but the urine patch has a small amount of what looks like blood in it. It’s definately not one of the more ‘orangey’ pees that you sometimes see. We don’t know which of our two bunnies is responsible but I’m about to separate them temporarily to try and find out.

Our rabbit book suggests it could be a number of things, non of which seem to warrant an emergency trip to the vet out of hours (it’s nearly 10pm in Scotland).

Any suggestions as to what this may be and how serious it is? Both Clarissa and Hazel are hopping around our lounge as normal, eating and drinking normally and both seem very happy. Hazel was spayed about 5 weeks ago but made a full recovery very quickly.

[BinkyBunny]

We just recently had a discussion about this because normally red urine does not mean blood, there is sort of a dark rusty red that can happen with diet, extra A in the diet, antibiotics, even weather changes. Real blood is normally very bright bright red. But having a bunny who DID pee blood, I do know it can happen. In my case, my bunny Jack had a large bladder stone and when he got alot of exercise, it would scrape against the bladder wall and cause him to pee out bright red blood. The difference between the the red urine and blood was that they would dry differently. The urine would dry about the same color, where the blood dried just like blood does – turns from bright red, to dark red/brown.

The other thing that I took notice of was that when I sprayed hydrogen peroxide on the blood, it would foam up alot, where it wouldn’t do that with just urine.

I’m going to try and get the link to the photos that were posted by Jersey in the thread about this – it had photos of red urine and the blood. It may be helpful. Okay here is the link –

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aff/2/aft/105265/afv/topic/afpgj/2/Default.aspx 

(go to page 2)

[bunnytowne]

I would like to see that too.

Ruby has regular urine.  Then I notice on the sheet I cover her house with some dark dark brown on it.  And on the floor too when she pees outside the caqe.  She doesnt’ do it all the time.  Seems like the brown is when she pees outside the cage. The whole urine will be brown tho not bright bright red so it is probably from food.

She isn’t very active so I am wondering if something is wrong sort of like with Jack.  Or if it was just something I fed her.  She is healthy tho and is probably just food.

[Blackavar3]

Got the photo, thanks. To be honest it isn’t like either of those pictures, just a patch of urine with a small red streak in it (wish I could take a photo but I can never get them posted as the pics are too large).

There hasn’t been any more yet and they have both been running round our room, like they love to do at this hour. I’m planning to take them both to the vet tomorrow, do you think this is the correct thing to do?

[MooBunnay]

In my opinion that sounds like what I would do in that situation. I do know that BinkyBunny was told that if her bunny was straining to urinate, that could be an emergency so I would look out for that. If they are both eating normally and pooping normally, and also acting normally, then I think that you would be OK taking them to the vet in the morning. It sounds like it may have been something dietary, but either way, it is probably a good idea to take them to the vet just in case.

[RabbitPam]

I would definitely take them to the vet tomorrow.
If you can get a sample of their pee from their litter box, or soak up any new pee from the rug, bring it in with you. They may be able to analyze it and tell what’s wrong.

[RabbitPam]

Just had an idea. Can you take a soft tissue and gently wipe under each bunny? See if there is any red around their bums. Put the tissue in a bag if it is not clean and label which bunny it is from.

[jerseygirl]

If the red appeared in the middle of the patch of urine, then this is possible blood expelled at end of urinating. Definately get them seen by the vet and describe the urine patch to them. Important to get this checked out, especially with Does.

[BinkyBunny]

Seeing a red streak can also be typical of blood within the urine. It did help my vet for me to bring in the paper towel with the urine on it.
Let us know what your vet says.

bunnytowne – is it brown when it is fresh?  Then it’s likely just pigment, not blood. But if you are noticing her being less active, (note: Jack was still very active even with the bladder stone), then you just want to keep a close eye.  Is warm there now?  Maybe she is less active due to weather, but either way, anytime you see a behavior change, just watch and if it continues or gets worse, then a trip to the vet would be in order.

[Blackavar3]

We finally figured out it is Clarissa by isolating them and putting white towels under them both. Took her (and the towel) to the vet who gave her a thorough examination, she reckons it is a mild urinary tract infection. She’s on antibiotics for a few days which should hopefully clear it up, I’ll keep you posted.

[bunnytowne]

Yes BB it was brown when fresh too.   She normally isn’t all that active.  Not at all like Cotton.  thanks

[ZooLady]

I figured it was a urinary tract infection. Same thing happened to my dog before. They are painful infections. Glad you got her seen by a vet.

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