weird bunny urine?

Question
I own an approximately 7 month old male Dutch rabbit that has really dark red urine that looks like it could be blood. I've taken him to my veterinarian and he said that dark stools is usual for rabbits, but our other two (a mini lop and mini rex) don't have this problem. We have gone downstairs where we keep them and there is dark-colored urine everywhere--on his water bottle, in his food bowl, on the floor suurounding his cage, and a few feet away on some boxes sitting behind the cage. I don't know why he would have uring like this and our other two rabbits wouldn't. We keep everything the same with them (same diets ect.) What could be causing this problem?

Answer
Dear Jessica,

You don't mention whether this is a new problem, or something he's had going all his life.  If it's new, then I would ask the vet to check the urine for infection via culture and sensitivity test.  Please read:

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

and

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

The second article explains various urinary tract problems that can cause blood in the urine, if that's really what this is.   If you are not sure, and if the vet isn't sure, then there are simple tests one can do with dipsticks in the urine to determine whether there is blood in it.

Next big question:  Are you *absolutely sure* the bunny is male?  In unspayed, unbred female rabbits, uterine cancer is a very high risk, and the most common symptom bunny "parents" first observe is bleeding from the vulva.  If there is dark urine everywhere, then either the bunny is bleeding, or s/he's got an infection causing excessive urgency and need to urinate constantly.  If the bunny is female with uterine hyperplasia ("pre-cancer") or cancer, then spaying should be done as soon as possible by a rabbit-experienced vet.

If you feel your vet may not be as experienced with rabbits as you might wish, please use the list linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

to find another one for a second opinion.

I hope this helps!  Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana