excessive thirst and urination

Question
QUESTION: Hello.  I have a three year old mini-lop. She was in the vet in Aug. for stasis and has recovered. However in the last week or so has started drinking and urinating excessively. Yesterday she drank about 40oz of water (she weighs 7.7lbs).  Her fur around her butt has been soaking wet and she is peeing outside of her litter box.  Her behavior and eating habits are great.  Her diet has changed as result of the episode from stasis.  I do have an appointment with a rabbit savy vet this weekend but I would like to hear your opinion as well.  Could this be a result of the stasis?  
Marisa

ANSWER: Dear Marisa,

This is probably not due to the stasis, unless the stasis and the urinary tract problems are related because of an underlying infection.  Ileus/GI stasis can be caused by the stress/pain of a cryptic/chronic infection, and such an infection can cause damage to the kidneys.

Excessive urination and excessive drinking (PU/PD, or polyuria/polydipsia) can be signs of renal disease.  It would be wise to have bloodwork done to check her B.U.N. and creatinine levels, along with urine specific gravity, to make sure her kidneys are properly concentrating urine.

A bunny with a urinary tract infection may also be PU/PD, and will have a wet bottom due to urinary incontinence. Please read:

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

for a rundown of some of the most common reasons for this problem in bunnies.

I hope the vet is able to help your bunny get back on the track to good health, and I hope this helps you figure out what might be going on.

Take care,

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again!  My rabbits blood and urinalysis indicates a kidney 'problem' but not failure.  Here creatinine levels and specific gravity are off.  She is acting perfectly fine but is still drinking/urinating a good amount.  How long before this will progress?  My vet is doing another urninalysis of morning urine to better indentify concentration.  He said possible treatment would include administering fluids. I have read in other places on line this can do more harm than good?? What is your opinion on that as well.  I do trust my vet, and I know he has contacted another exotic specialist regarding Bun's test results to confer.  THANK YOU!

Answer
Dear Marisa,

More and more rabbit experts and vets are discovering that in the early phases of renal disease, excessive fluid therapy can do more harm than good.  You're messing with the concentrations of far too many things, and in my experience, a rabbit with early renal disease is very well able to manage his/her own homeostasis--as far as osmotic balance is concerned--if given unlimited access to fresh, clean water at all times.

I've known rabbits who managed themselves quite well for *years* with only intermittent subQ intervention, given only when the bunny seems to feel a bit "off."  And even then, conservative fluid therapy seems to do less harm than aggressive, multiple-times-daily subQ fluids.

If she's acting fine, if this were my rabbit I would NOT give her subQ fluids unless she seems to feel ill.  If her appetite decreases, or she becomes lethargic, then a few doses of subQ fluids can help her stabilize again.  But I would no overdo.

I hope this helps.

Dana