Normal
urine and “sludge” in rabbits
Healthy rabbit urine
Rabbit
urine always contains a certain amount of sediments. This is absolutely normal,
the system of rabbits works this way to excrete the too much of calcium in
their body.
MediRabbit
The absence of sediments in
the urine is indicative of renal failure. Sludge
MediRabbit A thick paste that becomes a solid
millimeter thick “cake” when drying. Sludge can be treated via a non-invasive
procedure. An effective way of washing the bladder without use of catheter, is the administration of subcutaneous fluids,
followed by a diuretic drug like furosemide by your vet. One time is usually
enough, it can be repeated in the next 24 hours. Another way is washing the
bladder after introduction of a catheter. The procedure is done on an
anesthesized rabbit. Since the procedure is accompanied by pain, the rabbit needs to be given
pain relief medication. A stone need to be removed surgically. Uroliths
Calcium and the formation of stones does not relate
to the calcium in the diet only. There is much more involved, that we do not
understand yet. One cause of uroliths (stone) may be increased pH of the
urine, for some reason or another (e.g. diet, presence of bacteria). The
increased urine pH favors the development of bacteria and UTI. Bacteria in
the bladder will, on the other hand, start to excrete waste (ammonium) and an
enzyme, urease that will break down the urea; both will increases the pH of
the urine. An increased pH accelerates the precipitation of struvite crystal
(struvite = magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate). Struvite stones develop only
in the presence of an alkaline pH. Commonly found bacteria are E.
coli, Proteus sp and Staphylococcus sp, rarely true
anaerobic bacteria are found. The presence of bacteria can be easily checked
by sending a sample of urine for bacterial culture (urine is normally
sterile). One can also keep the removed urolith, open it, and use the central
part for bacterial culture or have the stone examined for the crystals
composition. Indeed, some bacteria are associated with a particular type
(e.g. Staphylococcus is associated to struvite stones).
C. Macey A 1.9 cm bladder stone Photo: Hematuria (urine with blood traces) Thick urine, the presence of a bladder stone, a bladder
or kidney infection, or infection of the urinary or reproductive organs are
usually accompanied by the presence of blood spots in the urine.
MediRabbit Some dried blood in the urine
circle
MediRabbit Heavy blood loss, caused by a
cystitis in a female rabbit After
taking X-rays of the bladder, a vet may easily conclude that the rabbit has a
huge bladder stone. Many rabbits have been operated on, as a vet was
convinced to find the stone, and once the bladder open, nothing... Rabbit
savvy-vet will know to differentiate between a stone and the presence of
sludge/sediments. For more details, see: "Nephroliths and Uroliths (calculi) in rabbits" |
