What color of urine should a rabbit have?
Each caring owner always carefully monitors the health of his pets. If there are any changes in the state of the rabbit, this is always alarming and gives rise to thinking whether everything is in order with the pet. Many breeders know that the color of the rabbit's urine is a kind of indicator that signals problems in the body. The color of the urine plays an important role, since it becomes obvious from it what exactly is tormenting the animal.
Rabbit urine color and smell
Red-colored urine
Beginners often try to find the answer, what is the problem, if rabbits have red urine, why is it colored like that. This can usually be observed during the cold season. The owners are beginning to worry, as they believe that blood in the urine is a dangerous phenomenon. However, veterinarians say that the cause of red urine in rabbits may not be related to bleeding. Red urine is not uncommon, but bloody urine is uncommon.
Most likely, the rabbit's urine is red pigmented, because it is fed exclusively dry food, which consists of beta carotene or porphyrin. It is these food additives that tend to stain pet urine red. There are times when, after a rodent has eaten pine or spruce branches, he goes to the toilet with a bloody liquid, but this is typical only for one pet from the whole flock.
If it is the food that caused the appearance of such a color, you do not need to consult a doctor: this problem does not require medication and disappears within 2-5 days.
The body of a shy dog can react to the stress that a rabbit has gone through. The temperature in the room can also affect the color of urine in rabbits: if it drops sharply, then the color of the liquid can change from pure to dull red. In this case, the pet's liquid does not smell.
The effect of red (pigmented) urine can be caused by taking antibiotics (injections or pills), which significantly increase the percentage of pigments in the animal's body. If you do not give antibiotics to the rodent, several days have passed, and nothing has changed, plus new symptoms have appeared, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, you need to go to a specialist as soon as possible.
A bloody hue may hint at a pregnant rabbit's bladder problems. In such a situation, tests should be done.
White, cloudy urine
Turbid urine in a fluffy rabbit can be with an admixture of a red or straw shade, as well as half transparent. The reason lies in the fact that in rabbits the salts do not pass through the digestive system, but through the urinary canal. The liquid must absolutely not have various clots and drops of burgundy, red or any other color. If they are available, doctors recommend taking a pet in an armful and taking it to a veterinary clinic.
For young rabbits and nursing mothers, pure white urine is the norm. This is due to the fact that the body spends much more calcium on development and growth, as well as on the production of milk for feeding.To avoid a large lack of calcium, you can add fishmeal, chalk or hay to your mom's diet.
If scarlet spots become visible in the urine that do not spread, this may indicate a serious pathology. We can talk about internal bleeding, a coming out stone, an ulcer, etc. We urgently need to seek qualified help, because every minute can count. The veterinarian will examine the animal, take an x-ray, take tests, and already from the received picture it will be possible to understand what is wrong.
If rabbits have white, clear urine, this may indicate a lack of vitamins and minerals in the body or an excess of them. It is necessary to observe the pet, change its diet and, if the urine does not return to its normal color after a few days, contact the veterinarian. It is better not to treat a pet on your own, since it is impossible to know for sure what is wrong with it.
To understand what disease attacked your pet, you need to make him a general blood test, if he does not show anything, then another one who will check the internal organs and their work.
Yellow, orange shades
Possible health problems in a rabbit can be indicated by rich yellow and orange urine. Usually this color warns that there is not enough calcium in the pet's body.
Lack of calcium can lead to harmful diseases: diabetes and chronic kidney failure. Therefore, if within 2-3 days the color of urine does not return to normal, an urgent need to go to the doctor, and best of all - immediately after the appearance of such a shade of liquid. In a decorative rabbit, a similar problem occurs more often.
Dark urine
Urolithiasis for all breeds of rabbits, especially dwarf ones, is the norm. This ailment appears due to an excess of calcium in the body of animals: in tissues, in muscles and even in the blood. Also, the appearance of such diseases can be caused by the fact that the animal drinks little water. Calcium does not spread throughout the body, accumulates in one place and begins to deposit salts, which eventually turn into stone.
If the animal makes painful sounds during the bowel movement, and for a long time the color of the liquid does not change and constantly remains dark cloudy or brown, a sediment is visible in the urine, you urgently need to go to the doctor, since these are the first symptoms of an advanced stage of urolithiasis. In addition, various foods can cause a dark liquid:
- beet;
- carrot;
- spinach.
Many experts say that it is worst if the dark color of the bowel appears due to dehydration or sunstroke. In such a situation, the urine has a characteristic odor. This can cause severe dehydration in the animal, so it must be taken immediately to the veterinary clinic.
So, the color of the rabbit's urine is an indicator of the pet's health. It is required to very carefully observe the animal and its behavior, choose the right diet for it and try to avoid those foods that can change the shade of the bowel movement. It should be remembered: if the rabbit has atypically red urine, there is no need to panic, presenting terrible pictures of internal bleeding. In addition, this shade does not always indicate blood in the urine of a fluffy rabbit. The urine can also be brown and orange, which is also not good for health. Rabbit urine should be clear or cloudy.