white urine

[DawnT]

What does it mean when a bunny has white urine?

[jerseygirl]

Usually they excrete excess calcium in their urine so it can look cloudy. Also, when regular urine dries you can see a white residue which is normal. If the urine is whiter and thickish, then this is likely bladder sludge caused by too much calcium in their diet.

[DawnT]

I have noticed on occasion when I scoop their pans I have noticed some white in the liter what is from and is this ok?  Are they getting to much of some thing and not enough of something else?

When it comes to pellets how much should I give them  Mum is 15 months old and the boys are 11 months old.  They eat their veggies every night. 

 

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hi yelp 10, it sounds like there is an over-abundance of calcium in the diet and what you have described is bladder sludge.

Here is more info on bladder sludge:

http://www.rabbit.org/health/urolith.html

Are you feeding them veggies high in calcium?  Are they being fed alfalfa hay? – These items in the diet are usually the culprits.

Here is info on the calcium content of veggies:

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-5/calcium.html

[jerseygirl]

I don’t think it’s uncommon to see that white in the litter box. The litter takes away the moisture and leaves the residue. You do need to watch when it’s sludge though and adjust the diet. Scarlet has given heaps of info on that. What type of pellets do you use and how much do they get each?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Are your pellets alfalfa based or timothy based?

[Sarita]

This is not really bladder sludge – I’ve had many rabbits with true bladder sludge and it’s very pasty and thick. White urine is normal.

Nowadays most vets do not think that diet alone has much to do with bladder sludge either. They think it’s more metabolic rather than diet related. However I do think that many of them think that alfalfa based pellets are not good because of higher calcium alot moreso than vegetables which have plenty of water to dilute any calcium.  But like I said and if you read the article on HRS, diet alone is not truly the culprit…this is hugely misunderstood by rabbit owenrs.

Most bladder sludge rabbits are usually older rabbits who have arthritis or some sort of mobility problem. It seems to be that most of my true bladder sludge rabbits were also larger. Most rabbits with true bladder sludge will posture and truly have problems urinating and have urine scald.  And all my rabbits eat the same thing (exept some get no pellets) so I think it’s more likely genetic, size, lack of exercise, etc…moreso than the diet.

[jerseygirl]

Thanks Sarita, for the more up to date info. I never think to check the date of the information I read.

I asked about my rabbits urine in the 1st few vet visits and my vet said it was normal to have that cloudy appearance. I used to see a bit of the white on the litter too but it decreased over time. Always good to watch Cal content in pellets though! Also, as Sarita said, try up rabbits water intake. Serving wet veggies works for me.

[currya15]

Hi everyone,
I don’t mean to sound gross, but both my rabbits have been peeing white and it is making me nervous as can be. I noticed signs in one of them not being happy and hiding all day so I rushed him to the emergency hospital. he had an exam and xray that showed no signs of stones or sludge, or UTI. Can I ask what kind of diets everyone gives their rabbit because I’m obviously doing something wrong and it breaks my heart I may be hurting my baby boys.

Their diet consists of half a bowl of Oxbow Essential pellets at night (the bowl is no more than 3 inches wide, 1 inch deep) and 24 hour access Oxbow Western Timothy Hay.

[LBJ10]

You started a new thread. I’m locking this one.

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