Red Urine?

Question
Thank you for your help.  She's only 8 months old so she gets into everything. So i'm guessing she's to young to have any kidney problems. Now that i think of it she did get into one of my magazines and she ate quite a bit of it.  She also ate some carrots so that might be it to. She goes for her spaying appt. this week so hopefully it will put an end  to her chewing habbits.  Thank you so much for your help.  
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Followup To

Question -
I have a house rabbit and she is still in the process of potty training.  She is not spayed yet.  I noticed that she peed blood and the area around where she pees is red. Is there any information you can give me.  I plan on taking her to the Vet but should i be concerned with the expenses i'm only a college student. Any advice would help.

Answer -
Hi Leslie,

I would not worry seriously about it being blood unless you know she was injured back there, or actually see blood stains (versus coloring) on towels she lays on, or took a blow around her kidneys.  Rarely when rabbits are passing blood do you actually see red in the urine.  As I don't know how old she is, but knowing she is not spayed, if she is older (4,5,6 or older) she could have some uterine bleeding, but that kind of spotting looks different than red urine and she should be spotting when she isn't peeing too.  

Pigments from wood chew toys, and various vegetables or pellet treats can cause their urine to change colors, into the red spectrum.  Carrots can get the urine that color (orange-red).  Interestingly, pine needles can change their pee fluorescent yellowish.

Take a look at what she's been eating and chewing on, and if you want, write me back with a list if you can't determine what it might be.

Lee

Answer
Hi Leslie,

ink dyes can cause urine color changes.

I hope your vet is an experienced rabbit vet with a record of successful spay surgeries.  If you are not sure, I would recommend going to the House Rabbit Society web page

www.rabbit.org\vets

and find a recommended rabbit vet in your area.  A good dog or cat vet doesn't equate to a good rabbit vet.

You don't have to fast your girl before surgery, in fact it would be bad to do so.  If you can't stay through the surgery and be around when she's coming out of it, bring along a little package of her regular pellets and a couple favorite foods so that they can give them to her to entice her to eat as soon as possible after surgery.  

This is a harder surgery for a female than neutering is for a boy.  The vet should (else you need to demand) pain medication for 4-5 days after that you can give to her in order to keep her eating.  Metacam (drug name: meloxicam) is usually the pain med of choice as it lasts a long time and is well-tolerated by rabbits.  They should also recommend to you to keep her from lots of activity (jumping, fast running) for at least the first week after.

They also may give you an antibiotic to reduce her chances of getting an infection in the incision or elsewhere.  Generally they would use baytril.

I would never let them do this if this is not a normal operation they do on a regular (weekly or so) basis, or if their success ratios are under 99%.  Rabbits are delicate and more touchy under gas, and you don't want them stopping breathing as it's very hard to rescusitate them even with the most experienced vet.

PLease write anytime and let me know how she does.  I'll be praying for you guys.

Lee