drinking urine

[SnowyShiloh]

This is SO weird. I just watched Phoebe Mae pee on the floor of her cage. This is unusual for her- she actually never does that. I went to get paper towels to clean it up, and when I returned, she was lapping the urine up off the floor :shock: She has a full water bowl a foot and a half away! What in the world? Why would she do this? What's wrong with her?

 

[Inle_Rabbitry]

Usually, when any animal drinks urine, it is a sign that they may have some sort of nutritional deficiency.

What exactly are you feeding your rabbit?

 

[SnowyShiloh]

She gets Zupreem Nature's Promise timothy pellets, timothy hay, greens and veggies, and the occasional papaya tablet.

 

[Inle_Rabbitry]

Well she's obviously on a very good diet So this would rule out any nutritional deficiency.

Unfortunately, while this means she may be recieving an adequate amount of nutrients, she may have a problem processing and absorbing her food properlly, i.e. kidney, pancreas,or intestinal problems.Or worse, she may have worms.

I would schedule an appointment with your vet so he/she can do some tests to determine the cause of this problem. Drinking urine is not normal, and though this is not an emergency situation, if you don't take her to the vet some time soon, you may not be able to prevent further internal problems that can arrise down the road.

 

[SnowyShiloh]

My vet is out of town and I'm very angry with the alternate vet. I don't think they care about animals at all. I do think she'd benefit from being seen though. She stopped doing this yesterday but has been peeing and drinking it some again today. It's so frustrating and messy and WORRYING, as if I don't have enough other worrying things happening right now (other bunny is sick, just had 3 baby birds die after caring for them around the clock for a week, the last baby bird is being plucked by it's parents and I'm going to have to handfeed him, I'm getting married in 3 weeks, an out of town guest is arriving on Tuesday to stay on our couch until the wedding so the house is a mess, and I'm going out of town for a week on Thursday). Everything happens at once it seems like.

 

[kirbyultra]

When it rains it pours So sorry everything's so hectic. I know I was a lunatic about 3 weeks from my wedding -- it's amazing how well you've been doing with the chicks, and it's been so hard. Stay strong...

The urine thing - I don't have any words of wisdom for you, but I think I read other past threads and it was said that it is possible hat it's nothing at all...

 

[Inle_Rabbitry]

I understand your troubles all too much Everything always seems to come down all at once. But with the bad, there always comes the good in the end and you have that to look forward to You have my best wishes and hope things take a turn in the right direction for you soon!

As for your bun, taking her to the vet can wait a little, at least untill things are stable and all the stress has subsided for you. She's certainly not at the point where anything is an extreme emergency.Her urine drinking habit could very possibly be something minor and easily treated once identified and it's great that you caught this early on.

Take care!

 

[Inle_Rabbitry]

I understand your troubles all too much Everything always seems to come down all at once. But with the bad, there always comes the good in the end and you have that to look forward to You have my best wishes and hope things take a turn in the right direction for you soon!

As for your bun, taking her to the vet can wait a little, at least untill things are stable and all the stress has subsided for you. She's certainly not at the point where anything is an extreme emergency.Her urine drinking habit could very possibly be something minor and easily treated once identified and it's great that you caught this early on.

Take care!

 

[tonyshuman]

I have seen it a couple of times and didn't worry about it. If it doesn't become a constant habit I wouldn't worry.