Making giant puddles…and drinking them

[sir-rabbit-pants]

 In the last couple days, Thumper has been leaving GIANT puddles.  In fact, we were at Hoppy Hour today and, after Thumper left a puddle, a guy said his Flemish Giant doesn’t pee that much at once; Thumper is a 3-pound Netherland Dwarf.  When we got home less than an hour later, another huge puddle and another three this afternoon/evening.  What’s odder is that he’s been trying to lick up these giant puddles immediately after he makes them; he’s so intent on licking it that I nearly have to push him away to wipe it up.  

Should I be concerned that he’s peeing so much?  And should I be concerned that he’s drinking it?

[KytKattin]

Yes. I think a vet visit is in order. If this is not normal for him, he might have some sort of kidney failure. There is nothing you can really do at home until you know more form the vet. Just make sure he always has plenty of clean, fresh water in the meantime.

[Deleted User]

How long have you had Thumper? Was he recently adopted?

The reason I ask is because when my Bighead first came home with me, he would drink his own pee. It was the strangest and alarming thing. I took him to the vet, and nothing (major) was wrong, but we suspected that his previous owners didn’t provide him with very much fresh water. We just kept offering fresh water in bowls in several areas and wet greens. He stopped the habit fairly quickly; within 3-4 days.

Do take him to the vet to make sure.

[Elrohwen]

I agree with the others that I would take him to the vet – that behavior isn’t normal and it’s possible he could have kidney problems.

[sir-rabbit-pants]

Thanks for the responses! I’ve had Thumper for about 9 months and this is not normal behavior for him. He always has a full water bottle (we tried a bowl but he preferred the bottle) but he hasn’t been drinking as much water as usual.

I also wonder if he could be a little stressed out. We were without heat in the apartment for a few days (crappy landlord).

I will call the vet today.

[RabbitPam]

Let us know what the vet says. In the meantime, try a supplemental low bowl of water in case he is having some kind of problem with the hanging bottle. (teeth possibly. Make sure the vet looks at his teeth, too.)  One other thought: sometimes those hanging bottles drip and leak, so I’m wondering if you’re sure the puddles are all pee.

Did you change litter? If he is given a clean bill of health by the vet, he may be needing a change of litter type, but it’s doubtful if it’s the same stuff he’s used well for a long time.

[sir-rabbit-pants]

We went to the vet today. Thumper left her a nice big puddle on the floor (easier to get a sample?). She agreed that his urine is very diluted. (I forgot to mention before that we were there a few months ago when Thumper had the snuffles. At that time, we were having some much smaller peeing issues so she did a UA which came back normal so we thought it was a behavior issue.) They took a urine sample and a blood sample (Thumper was such a trooper!). The vet said it’s likely either kidney disease or that he’s getting older; according to the Humane Society when his last owners adopted him, he should be about 5 years old now.

I get the results tomorrow…but I’m not sure which answer to hope for.   *EDIT* To clarify, I wouldn’t wish for Thumper to have kidney disease.  The vet says that if it’s old age, there’s nothing that can be done.  I don’t know which possibility feels better to HIM, but if the puddles are going to be a constant, his running space is going to be greatly restricted which will not make him happy.  This is totally train-of-thought…  Really, I don’t know enough about any of this.  I’ll just wait until I get the results tomorrow.

PS- @RabbitPam: I tried the low water bowl; he drank a little but still favors the bottle and no change in anything else. The puddles are definitely not water; he has a litter box under the water bottle for that reason AND he’s been leaving puddles places outside of his cage. And the litter has been the same for the last couple months and only a slight variation on what he had before that. But thanks for the suggestions!

[sir-rabbit-pants]

OK, I talked to the vet today. Thumper does NOT have any signs of kidney disease/failure….but something is fishy. His blood levels of something were off and she has absolutely no idea why or how (and she’s a bun-savvy vet). She said she’s doing some reading to find an answer to why this might be and plans to call me tomorrow since she’s going on vacation next week.

Is there a Dr. House for bunnies? (jk)

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Aww hope you have an answer soon!

[BinkyBunny]

I have heard of this happening with some bunnies who come into and from shelters and start eating more hay and drinking tons of water, and then drinking even their own urine.  (or they have been in neglect situations)   

But in your case, you’ve had him for a while and this is new behavior for him, (and of course we know he’s not neglected!) so I hope your vet can find something that fits. You may also benefit from a very rabbit-savvy expert, Dana Krempels, (not a vet, but she knows her stuff!). Here is the place you can ask her questions on allexperts.com. She is normally pretty good about answering within 48 hours. http://www.allexperts.com/user.cgi?m=4&expID=35789&catID=703

[RabbitPam]

Glad to hear it’s not kidney disease. Is he having any trouble getting in and out of the litter pan? Spockie had leg trouble which caused him to be incontinent so I bought him Palace Pet Bed rugs (website if you need to order some) when he needed them due to old age. They are machine washable and helped me stop worrying where he was in his cage at least.

[sir-rabbit-pants]

So the vet called today but we’re no closer to an answer. She’s reached out to some experts but hasn’t received any responses yet. Since she’s going out of town, we won’t have an answer for another week. In the meantime, she said to monitor his water intake and see another vet at her clinic if there’s an emergency before then.

@BB: The odd thing is he’s not drinking more water than usual; actually, it seems like less. He’s certainly eating enough. He always eats his food as though he’s been starved.

@RabbitPam: Nope, no trouble with getting into the litter pan. He has no trouble with jumping to the 2nd floor of his condo or the couch either. He’s a VERY active bunny.

[Danceteach]

I’ve read where drinking their own urine is not abnormal. One of ours does because he likes too. he does drink lots of water and food is not a priority to him. Hes never been hungery in his life. None ofThis seems to hurt him as he goes at life strong. Our other buns may be drinking theirs also but their litter configuration is different and we don’t notice it.

[BinkyBunny]

 Though Danceteach is right that is some bunnies drinking their urine is normal for them, but what concerns me is the change in behavior. If I am reading your profile  right, you have had this bunny since 2007 but yet this is a new behavior so that is what causes more of a concern and it’s smart to investigate what is happening here.   It is not impossible that this is just a rather icky new habit, but it’s good to at least see what else may be going on so keep us updated with what your vet says when your vet returns. 

[sir-rabbit-pants]

Actually, Thumper is about 5 years old but I’ve had Thumper for about 9 months. This is a new behavior at my home and at the home he was in for the year previous. And I’m concerned not just about the drinking, but the huge very diluted puddles themselves. In the last week, he’s continued to leave a huge one at least every hour he’s out of his cage…and they’re starting to show up in places he’s never peed before too. Something seems off about him too, but not anything I can put my finger on. For now, I’m just monitoring and waiting to see what the vet finds out.

[RabbitPam]

If the vet is stumped and doing some research into it (especially after she gets back) it sounds like you have someone who agrees with you about it being unusual and is doing what she can to find out why. I’m sorry the timing is such that you are kind of on hold for a week, but keep her colleagues in the loop if it gets worse. While you’re waiting for the vet to get back, you could email Dr. Dana Krempel. She may have some ideas.

[Deleted User]

I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t found an answer yet, but I hope you do find one soon.

[Author]

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