Rabbit drinking excessivly

Question
Miss Noel (my bunny) has been drinking a lot lately.  I have changed her eating a bit, I have a bunny and a guinea pig and cant afford for them to have hay in their bowls constantly so I fill the bowls in the morning and before i go to bed.  SInce then my rabbit has been drinking a lot and peeing a lot.  Her stool is fine, she eats a lot when she can cuz im guessing she is hungry, she gets out of the cage to run around at least 30 mins every two days.  I know she should be out everyday but i cant do that.  is she bored or is something wrong?  i have to full her water bottle twice a day and it is not leaking.

Answer
Hi Ashley,

There are several possibilities here.  First, it might be normal for her as we have some buns that drink a lot of water.  It is possible that it could be a response to the change in her feeding protocols.  It could also be the early signs of a urinary tract infection.  The only way to properly determine if it's an infectin is a vet visit with a urinalysis and possibly a culture.  Infections in rabbits are difficult to resolve without proper anitbiotics.  There is also the possibility of bladder sludge or possibly some type of other calcification such as a stone.  This usually requires an x-ray or two to diagnose.  And there is always the possibility of a monster....E Cuniculi.  This is a protozoan infection that nearly every rabbit carries sub-clinically....that basically means it's there but the immune sytem is controlling it.  The initial presentations of an active EC infection is some degree of problem in the rear legs....most often the left rear.  It's known as a "neuro marker" and that just means that there is some type of neurological problem.  The leg problem may appear as a "lazy" leg in which the leg is briefly dragged or the rabbit may appear to stumble and looks like they have forgotten how to use that leg.  This is usually accompanied by some type of urinary problem...excessive drinking and urination, possibly wet from urinary incontenance and the urine may be smelly and very concentrated.  This is an indication that the spores of the protozoa are present and it's reproducing.  Most vets have never seen a true systemic case of EC much less treated one.  Kidney problems are also possible including renal failure or a condition similar to diabetes.  In all these cases, veterinary intervention is called for.

Since I can relate to affordability, at this point I would monitor her closely.  Let her drink.  Try to make sure her diet is as close to natural as possible.....low protein, high fiber (excessive proteins can also cause this problem). Keep water available to her at all times.  Closely watch her urine....if it starts getting very thick (like toothpaste), there appears to be blood in the urine or if she is straining to urinate....she needs veterinary care. But keep the water going above all.