unusual urine color?

Question
QUESTION: My husband and I adopted a 2 year old rabbit last week after he had been rescued from a woman with over 150 rabbits.  He (Custard)is slowly learning to behave like a rabbit, finally.  He was checked by a vet and given a clean bill of health upon adoption.  However, today he did not urinate in his box (it ended up on the floor) and it is a dark yellow almost orange color.  It smells normal, but having never seen bunny urine (our other rabbit uses only her box)I am worried.

ANSWER: Hi Jill,

Did you get my answer to your question?  I am concerned my response didn't make it to you.  After I sent it, my computer froze, I never received the "cc" copy I send myself and your question reappeared.  If you didn't get it, please let me know and I will resend it to you.

Randy

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

QUESTION: Nope, I didn't get it.  Thanks for checking, and I look forward to your answer.

Jill

Answer
Hi Jill,

I was afraid of that.  I hate this computer.

You are most likely seeing normal bunny behavior.  He is just starting to feel comfortable in his new home.  Rabbits are very territorial and they mark "their" territory with urine....and many times they will spray their urine.  In the wild, spraying is a sign of dominance.  We use that to help train rescues with behavioral problems.  If they disply an undesirable behavior, we spritz them with water from a spray bottle.  A natural way for them to get a message.  When we have a rabbit come into rescue, we restrict them to their personal housing for at least a week to ten days.  This will allow them to understand where precisely their territory is.  If they are allowed free roam, they try to claim everything.  Of course, we do interact with them as much as possible by talking to them, or petting them or whatever...just in their territory.  I think I saw that you have a female rabbit there too.  If this little guy isn't neutered....things will get worse.  And is she isn't spayed....wow will things get worse.  Remember I talked about spraying urine as a mark of territory?  We had one that came in that was unbelievable.  He even would spray the TV....and when he was out playing....urine everywhere especially near any of the girls.  His name is Pistol Pete.  The color of their urine depends on the pigmentation of what they eat and can range anywhere from a yellow tint to orange or even reddish.  

I suspect this is normal behavior as he settles in.  Since there is no concentrated smell, that is a good sign that this is most likely not a true medical issue.  But still something to watch because of the way some of these medical conditions present themselves in rabbits.  Make sure he is receiving a proper diet for an adult house rabbit....unlimited grass hays and limited pellets and greens.  Too much protein (as in too many pellets or a lot of treats) can cause some urinary issues.  Make sure he is properly hydrated and is drinking lots of water.  Greens such as romaine lettuce or dandelion greens also help with hydration..but don't overdo the greens.  And if he isn't neutered, it would be in his best interest to do so.  Males can develop testicular cancer...and we have a cancer survivor in our sanctuary.  And unspayed girls have a nasty habit of developing endometriosis or uterine cancer.  My first impression here is nothing out of the ordinary.

A house rabbit's normal life span is 5-7 years.  Recently, with better husbandry and medical care, it seems to be creeping up and it seems to be getting closer to 10 years.  We know of one that made it over 13 years.

And thank you for taking a rescued rabbit.  We have found that rescues generally realize very quickly they have found their "pot of gold" and will bond tightly with you.

Randy