Kidney and Urinary Tract Disorders of Rabbits

Mineral deposits (often called "sludge" or "sand") and stones in the urinary tract are common in pet rabbits and are often suspected when blood appears in the urine. Causes include too much calcium in the diet, heredity, infection, dehydration, and metabolic disease. Treatment might involve surgery to remove the stones, oral medication to make calcium-based stones less likely to form, and lower-calcium diets. Moving adult rabbits from high-calcium, alfalfa-heavy diets to grass hay can help decrease recurrence.

Older rabbits can also develop kidney failure. Annual blood testing can help detect it early. Treatment can include increasing fluid intake with vegetables and, in some cases, giving fluids under the skin at home.