Straining when urinating

[peepi&warri]

Peepi has been straining almost every time i’ve seen him go pee since Friday. Other than the straining he’s perfectly normal: peeing and pooping normal amounts, eating, acting normally. I’m worried he has a urinary tract infection.  About a year ago he had the same straining and it turned out he had a UTI.

I just made a vet appointment for him, but it’s not until Friday. Is there anything i can do for him until the appointment? Will making sure he gets extra water help flush bacteria out?

My poor little guy. He just had a bad episode of gas/stasis a few weeks ago and his poos finally have gotten back up to a size I’m happy with and now this. 

Here’s a current piccy of the little guy.

[KytKattin]

As this has happened before, is there any chance that the vet can prescribe the meds for treatment now? It is worth a call. Or maybe they will let you bring him in early to be tested before your appointment. I don’t know exactly what goes into diagnosing a UTI, but if it is a test, see if maybe they can test early. ((((healing vibes))))

[Sarita]

Can you drop him off to get the vet to see him faster rather than make an appointment? I do this all the time and it just works out better for the vet. They can see my rabbits between surgeries and appointments.

[peepi&warri]

This is a new vet that I’m going to, so I don’t think she’d prescribe without seeing him. I’ll see how he’s doing this evening, if he’s still straining a lot, I’ll call again and see if there’s any way they could see him sooner.

[kralspace]

I don’t have any advice, but that is one seriously cute bunny.

[jerseygirl]

OK, I’m hesitant to mention this as I really don’t know it’s value…I have read cold tea or cranberry juice can help combat bladder bacteria. Maybe a small amount of cranberry juice in his water? If anything, it might have him drinking more.  Maybe even dilute Calendula(marigold)  tea ?   (((Peepi)))

[BinkyBunny]

I know with one of my vets they would have drop-in times (first come, first serve) as an option if you needed to get in before your regular appointment. Maybe your new vet has this option.

Keep us updated.

[peepi&warri]

He’s been doing better yesterday and this morning. I’ve seen him go potty quite a few times without jerking and when he does, it’s not as much as it was over the weekend. So I’m just going to wait until Friday. I want to take Warri in for a checkup too and this way I can get them seen at the same time instead of making two trips, especially since the vet is kind of far away.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Good stuff-and yes pushing fluids is the first thing my hospital does when a UTI is suspected-sometimes symptoms can be just dehyrdation and sometimes just having fluids can help a lot. So wet veggies until then-but sounds like he’s doing well enough to wait and you can rush him in if that changes Keep us posted!

[BinkyBunny]

Anything to update about his vet appointment?

[peepi&warri]

I was able to collect a urine sample from Peepi right before I left (plastic wrap over the litter box works quite well, in case anyone would like to know). She did a urinalysis and it came up clean, though she did note there where quite a bit of calcium crystals. The only thing she can think of since there’s no infection is he had some irritation from sludge/calcium crystals. So she wants me to try an up his water intake to help flush it all out. I think I’ll try putting some juice in his water to see if that will get him to drink more. She also mentioned dandelion once they start growing since its a diuretic, but I don’t have access to any fertilizer free lawns.
Otherwise, both boys got a clean bill of health, trimmed nails and cleaned anal glands (Warri’s were pretty clogged).

She loved Warri’s coat, kept saying how thick and soft it is. She figures Warri has some rex in him since is coat is (apparently) quite luxurious. That does make sense given he has callouses on his hocks and is a chubby.

I quite liked this vet, much better than the one I went to last time. She’s also HRS recommended, so yay!

[MimzMum]

Adding healing vibes for dear Peepi ((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))

So much like my Mimzy he is! ^_^

[mocha200]

he looks like my mocha

[peepi&warri]

Thanks MM! I hope your Mimzy feels better. (if you can keep a secret… he’s always been one of my favorite BB bunnies)

Oh, I forgot to say that I haven’t seen him strain at all today and yesterday, so he seems to be pretty much back to normal.

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By peepi&warri on 02/05/2010 09:17 PM
I was able to collect a urine sample from Peepi right before I left (plastic wrap over the litter box works quite well, in case anyone would like to know). She did a urinalysis and it came up clean, though she did note there where quite a bit of calcium crystals. The only thing she can think of since there’s no infection is he had some irritation from sludge/calcium crystals. So she wants me to try an up his water intake to help flush it all out. I think I’ll try putting some juice in his water to see if that will get him to drink more. She also mentioned dandelion once they start growing since its a diuretic, but I don’t have access to any fertilizer free lawns.
Otherwise, both boys got a clean bill of health, trimmed nails and cleaned anal glands (Warri’s were pretty clogged).

She loved Warri’s coat, kept saying how thick and soft it is. She figures Warri has some rex in him since is coat is (apparently) quite luxurious. That does make sense given he has callouses on his hocks and is a chubby.

I quite liked this vet, much better than the one I went to last time. She’s also HRS recommended, so yay!

Sounds like you do have a good vet.   That’s great!  

Jack also has bladder issues, (bladder stone was removed last summer).  My rabbit-savvy vet also recommended a juice mix, and lately because  I was concerned about his weight, (he wasn’t fat, but he was gettin’ a little pudgy around his front legs)so I asked if i could cut back as he drinks two full cups a day of  10 – 20% juice mix with water. He also has a second bowl of plain water which he doesn’t drink much of.  So we tried to cut the juice mix down to one cup per day.  We tried it for two weeks and then had his urine tested again.  The result was too much calcium in his urine.  So we are back up to two cups which seems to be the right amount for how he his body is processing calcium.  (Note:  he’s 8.4 pounds), .

My vet did say that when I look for juice, be sure NOT to use the kind that “says from concentrate” and you just want to get pure juice—nothing added like corn syrup and/or added vitamins. I found that most organics were just pure juice and less sugar.  Jack was VERY picky, but for him I finally found one that he likes:  Tree Top 3 Apple Blend.   http://www.treetop.com/FoodService/…ductID=104   

My vet also recommended dandelion and parsley, which are both high in calcium, but because they are diuretics, they will  help flush out the system.  (I also serve them wet).   I get dandelion in the produce section of our local grocery stores.  

If it helps, you can check out Jack’s full diet regime here: https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINF…fault.aspx

[peepi&warri]

Thanks BB!

Well, I tried diluted apple juice and diluted cranberry juice. I don’t think Peepi touched either (Warri loves them though…).

So how do I get Peepi to drink it? I offered him plain juice in a crock and he kept sniffing it, but wouldn’t drink any. The closest I got was he licked the side of the bowl with cranberry juice in it. Then I offered it to him from a syringe, he drank the first syringe full of apple juice, but wouldn’t take any after that. I think syringes might confuse him, it doesn’t come fast enough so he gives up.

I guess my next thing to try is putting it in a bottle.

[BinkyBunny]

I actually had to go through several juices to find one that jack liked. He was picky. But don’t give up because Jack wasn’t sure what to make of it either, and it took a couple of days of pushing it. But I STILL had to go through juice choices to find the one that he would eventually drink.

You may have to do the same. He also liked when it wasn’t very cold – just luke warm or cool. It could be that the scent is stronger with a little warmth.

The bottle might work…worth a try. One VERY important thing I forgot to mention about juice water mix is it will grow mold pretty quickly, so you have to be diligent about cleaning thoroughly the bowls and bottles every single evening and morning. The sugars in them are just a mold magnet, and so I don’t leave juice water sitting for much more than 12 hours.

Also, I wouldn’t give straight juice, but at the most dilute with 50% and then slowly wean down the percentage.

During this time you do want to watch for any diet upsets. Jack has always had a stomach of steele, but I know if Bailey were still alive, this juice water mix would have wreaked havoc on her very sensitive system.  So you just have to watch closely how your bunnies react.  I also really  treats while he’s on the is water/juice mix.   The only treats I give are cranberries now and then (as that is a good Urinary Tract Treat)

FYI FOR OTHERS READING THIS: This juice mix was recommended by Peepis vet (as was by mine). It’s to help combat a more serious health issue. There is no reason to add juice to your bunny’s water unless your vet recommends it — so the advice I’m giving Peepis is really just for this situation.

[peepi&warri]

Woohoo! Peepi finally decided to try the diluted juice and he likes it!

They sure do pee a lot now. lol

[jerseygirl]

Good to hear! Peepi have less trouble peepee now lol. I mentioned some “alternatives” earlier without much background. I did just read though, about the herb uva ursi & the leaves being used for UTI’s . It’s mentioned in Rabbit Health in the 21st Century by Kathy Smith. I don’t have the book, I just viewed some content online. Anyway, might be worth discussing with vet if they’re open to herbal treatments.

[Author]

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