Urinary Incontinence in rabbits

 

 

  

Bacterial causes

Urinary tract infection (UTI), by Pasteurella spp, Staphylococcus spp., or other bacteria

Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)

 

 Parasitic causes

Encephalitozoon cuniculi, in this case it is often accompanied by paresis of the hind limb

Toxoplasmosis

Presence of worms in the bladder

 

 Calcium related causes

Hypercalciuria (increased calcium in the urine)

  

Mechanical causes

Urolithiasis or the presence of kidney or bladder stones

Vertebral fracture and nerve damage at the sacral level

Subluxation or luxation of the spinal cord (usually at L6 level)

Deformation of the female or male genitalia

Ambiguous genitalia (e.g. hermaphroditism)

Gestation

   

 Nervous system causes

Trauma of the spinal cord, fracture or luxation

E. cuniculi

   

 Nervous system causes

Obesity, with a rabbit becoming “lazy” and unable to clean himself

Hypercalciuria (abnormal amount of calcium in the urine)

Renal failure

Polyuria / polydipsia

Urolithiasis, or the presence of kidney or bladder stones

Response to estrogen in recently spayed female rabbits

Pain

  

 Surgical causes

Response to estrogen after an  ovariohysterectomy (spaying) surgery

  

 Polydipsia (increased drinking)

Pain

Stress resulting in psychogenic polydipsia

 Thanks to Mary C. Cotter (USA) and Wendy Douglas (UK), for their input related to the possible causes of incontinence.

 

 

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