Crystals in urine

Question
What does it mean if a bunny has lots of crystals in his urine? My little boy bunny started weeing in a more red colour and drinking excessively, I took him to the vets who asked for a urine sample and the test results showed no blood but lots of crystals, what does this mean.  They said they can operate to clean him out, is this a major operation and is it the only option? Please advise?!

Answer
Dear Rachael,

Rabbits excrete excess calcium salts via the renal system, and it's normal for the urine to have chalky residue and crystals in it.  The urine can also vary in color from pale yellow to orange, red, or even dark brown upon exposure to the air.  This may be due to plant pigments or other things the bunny has been eating, and as long as it's not blood (which your vet has confirmed), it's nothing to worry you.

That said, there *is* a condition, caused by metabolic bone disease, that results in very thick bladder *sludge* being produced by the bunny.  This is not white an chalky.  Rather, it has the consistency of toothpaste and it's a dark yellow--the color of curry powder.  This is thicker, and harder to pass, so it can accumulate in the bladder, especially if a bunny has arthritis or other problem that keeps him from posturing normally and completely voiding his bladder.

You can read an overview of this type of problem (and related ones) here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/urinary.html

If your bunny has sludge, then surgery is NOT the answer.  A bladder *stone* might necessitate surgery.  But bladder sludge can be controlled with plenty of water intake (even via subQ fluid therapy under the supervision of an experienced rabbit vet) and very gentle bladder agitation and expression.  Don't attempt this without being instructed by an experienced rabbit vet, as you certainly don't want to injure your bunny!

In very severe cases of bladder sludge, a bladder *flush* can help get things back to normal.  But we have had good success with just fluid therapy and regular expression, to the point that we've had bunnies stop accumulating the sludge!

If your vet really suggested surgery to remove the crystals, I would be a little leery of how experienced s/he is with rabbit medicine.  Please check the list linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

to see if you can find another, more rabbit-savvy vet for a second opinion and other treatment options.

I hope this helps.

Dana