Change in diet and urine color

[Mordaith]

Hey folks. Recently I increased the amount of leafy greens that Fox gets. We have moved him on to alternating between Bok Choy and Romain Lettuce. I’ve noticed that his urine has darkened. Sometimes becoming a dark Reddish brown. So dark that it looks just brown until I clean it up (likely just because of the floor TBH)

 

Is dark brown unusual? I see Light Brown listed as a normal rabbit color. But I’m worried about things like dehydration.

 -Fox and Family

[Bam]

If he’s eating more greens, dehydration doesn’t seem extremely likely, greens esp romaine has a very high water-content. When my buns get lots of greens they drink less but pee more. Maybe you can judge by the amount of urine he produces, if the volume is diminished.

I found dark brown urine mentioned here (trusted source): http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/urinary.html

“Normal rabbit urine is usually pale yellow in color, but upon exposure to the atmosphere, compounds in the urine may oxidize to darker yellow, orange, red, or even dark brown. This isn’t unusual, and–by itself–is not necessarily a sign of a health problem. Urine that is very dark immediately when it emerges may indicate that the bunny is dehydrated, and should receive more water, either by mouth or–in more serious cases–via administration of subcutaneous Lactated Ringer Solution.”

Maybe that’s what you’ve read too. My bunnies’ urine change color/darken considerably when it’s been exposed to “the atmosphere”, but right when it’s fresh it’s usually not dark, so that’s what to look for, how the urine looks immediately upon peeing.

[Mordaith]

I hardly catch him as soon as he goes. Stealth washrooms. I’m keeping an eye on him this morning, a bit concerned that he may not be using the washroom at all. But yes. He has had a large increase of leafy greens.

Our vet recommends an increase of greens and decrease of pellets. And he seems to enjoy it so.

[Bam]

If he eats his vegs happily it seems unlikely that he’s dehydrated.
I have experimentally refrained from cleaning up urine spots just to see how they change color with exposure to air (yes, bunny people can be weird), and the color starts to darken more or less right away.
A new or different pee color is consistent with an increase in veg consumption, since it’s primarily plant pigments that color the pee.
Greens are good for bunnies and pellets should be fed in smallish amounts to adult, healthy non-pregnant/lactating bunnies, your vet is very right about that.

[Author]

Messages