Rabbit Bladder Infection

Rabbits are popular companion pets found in many households today. With appropriate care, these animals can flourish in life. However, bladder infections can still creep up and cause problems. Fortunately, advancements in veterinary medicine have resulted in methods that can ease this problem. Discover the signs to watch for and the treatments available to protect your rabbit.

  1. Bladder Stones And Sludge

    • Bladders stones and sludge are the results of a bladder infection in a rabbit. As its name suggests, the stone is a hard, round substance comprised of calcium carbonate and can reside in the animal's urinary cavity or even come out in the litter pan. The bladder sludge stays in liquid form, but appears thicker than normal urine and comes out slower and in textures ranging from sand to toothpaste. Like stones, the sludge can form in the kidneys and must be attended to immediately by a veterinarian knowledgeable of rabbits.

    Calcium Considerations

    • Because a rabbit's bladder infection excretions are composed of calcium, you must consider the calcium intake of your rabbit. Unlike other creatures, rabbits may absorb this mineral disproportionate to what their bodies actually need. According to the House Rabbit Society website, Dr. Susan Brown, DVM, states the following: "Rabbits may absorb more digestible calcium from their diet than they need at that moment, and the majority of excess calcium is excreted through the kidneys." These facts suggest that an ionized calcium test, administered by a rabbit-savvy vet, can help identify issues for animals that are suspected of having high levels.

    Symptoms

    • Constantly monitor for bladder infection symptoms, as they may be barely detectable at first. If your rabbit begins urinating in areas outside her normal spot, or she starts having leakage down the back of her legs, these are signs of a problem. Further, contaminated urine may produce a rash along the genital area and belly. In addition, watch for a loss of appetite, as this can be a sign that the animal is in pain. These red flags are a signal that a rabbit veterinarian must diagnose the animal so that medical care begins.

    Treatment

    • The treatment of a bladder infection is dependent on various factors, such as number of bladder stones and the sex of the animal. For example, female rabbits can receive a non-surgical procedure called "voiding hydropulsion" if they have small stones. In this treatment, the anesthetized animal receives a flush so the blockage is pushed out through the urethra. This remedy is also used in the treatment of bladder sludge, but this time the substance is sucked out with a syringe as many times as needed to remove the infection. In the event that the rabbit has a larger obstruction or bladder stones, surgery is required.

    Prevention

    • As with humans, rabbits need a regular supply of fresh water at all times to ensure that they can properly flush things out. Make sure the water source, such as a bottle, is functioning and provide plenty of exercise for the rabbit so that she is more inclined to hydrate herself. Rabbits are also clean animals that are particular about where they go to the bathroom. Make an appropriate litter pan available and keep it clean so that the animal does not purposely refrain from urinating.