Two buns, identical diet, totally opposite urine ????

[jcottonl02]

Both my buns, Benji and Pippin are on exactly the same diet. Granted, Benji sometimes leaves things, Pippin sometimes leaves things, and they both have their favourite things to eat, so I guess that would impact on their urine colour and consistency.

I was cleaning their litter trays, and was just so surprised to see the difference. I wish I had taken a picture now. Darn. Just to clarify- their urine hasn't changed. It has always been like this, but I just have never seen them so side-by-side comparable before.

Benji doesn't drink much water, but Pippin does, so I understand that Benji's urine will be darker than Pippins, which it is.

Benji's is quite a dark orange (not red, definately orange, but quite dark), and just normal consistency, with no deposity bits or anything.
Pippin's, on the other hand, is a light colour- very light orange, almost near to whiteish. It also has a kind of sediment in it, which is white and looks to me like calcium deposits. Now- I don't think this is a 'bad' thing as such, just part of the diet causing this right?

But then why on earth doesn't Benji have this?

They both eat various veggies every day, and fruit treats, pellets and Timothy hay. What is causing this excess calcium, and why doesn't Benji have it if he is on the exact same diet?

Also, even though Benji doesn't drink much water, he eats loads of veggies every day- should his urine still be so dark? Even with all those veggies, which are all atleast 80% water?

Thanks- I am incredibly confused! :?

Jen

 

[elrohwen]

I would guess Pippin has mild bladder sludge. This is generally caused be a genetic predisposition I believe, and just made worse by diet which is why you're seeing it in one bun and not that other.

You mentioned switching pellets in your other thread - getting them on a high quality pellet with less calcium should help.

 

[jcottonl02]

Thanks for your reply, Elrohwen

Ah okay- so less calcium in the pellet is better for Pip then? Well the one I am using seems to have quite high calcium, so that makes sense.

I am not entirely sure it could be bladder sludge- it's not thick and a yellowy colour, it is whiteish and quite chalky. Is it stilled classed as 'bladder sludge' even if it's just calcium deposits- which I am guessing is all this is? :? I wish I had taken a picture. I will tomorrow, I think, and show you, as I think it would be easier to see than describe it.

But why does Benji not have it too? Same diet, with calcium? Genetic predisposition you say? That would make sense. Benji hasn't got ANY calcium that I can see in his urine- none at all, which is what is so confusing. It doesn't suggest anything wrong with Benji does it? That he is not passing all this 'excess' calcium that seemingly they are getting? Or do different bunnys process different amounts of calcium?

Jen

 

[elrohwen]

I don't know if it's considered real bladder sludge, but I think it's concerning enough that a diet change would be in order. A little whiteness in the urine is ok, but the deposits worry me.

I think different bunnies just process calcium differently so some will have problems where others don't. I know a girl whose boy bun cannot have any pellets, ever, because of severe bladder sludge/stone issues. Most buns handle pellets just fine, so her boy just isn't processing it as well as other buns do. I don't know a lot of specifics about how they process calcium, just that not all of them process it the same.

I bet a chance in pellets would clear up the deposits.

It doesn't sound like there's any problem with Benji's pee - lack of calcium in the urine is a good thing because it's not building up in the bladder the way it may be in Pip. And the red-orange pee is also normal - it could just be another case where his body processes nutrients slightly differently and results in orange pee.

 

[jcottonl02]

Thanks.

It's not so much...deposity. God this will teach me not to take a picture. It's more like a bit chalky....not any lumps or clumps or anything. Just generally....chalky and whitish..., not all through the pee, but mingled in.

I will change the pellets. I have enough to start slowly mixing some Oxbow in now I reckon. Get a little less calcium in now, and more fibre.

Concerning enough to try and change it right now? Start mixing some Oxbow into the Excel?
Thing is, he doesn't get LOADS of pellets. And he eats SO much hay (Benji doesn't eat loads of hay, but Pippin scoffs it back). I could understand if his diet was mostly pellets, no veggies etc. but he gets about 1/4 cup a day.

Jen

 

[pamnock]

Are the rabbits the same ages? The water intake would make a difference as well as individual metabolism/genetic predisposition as Elrohwenmentioned. Urine color can also vary in an individual on a day to day basis.

If they both appear healthy, I wouldn't be overly concerned.

 

[elrohwen]

How much does he weigh?

I don't think it's concerning enough to change his pellets right now, especially since you have a plan to do it in the near future. It doesn't seem to be causing her any problems.

 

[tonyshuman]

I wouldn't worry unless the white stuff is thick and sandy, not chalky. The crystals usually have to be bigger in size (ie feel like sand rather than dust) to be an issue.

 

[jcottonl02]

Pippin weighs about 6lbs. He isn't overweight for his size, or underweight.

No- Benji is going to be 4 years old in July, and Pippin only just turned 3 at the beginning of this month.

Yeah Tonyshuman- it didn't look sandy. It looked a lot more chalky but I will feel it tomorrow and take a few pics just for u to see.

Yeah- even though Benji does drink less, his urine has always been darker than Pippin's.
They both seem completely healthy- eating, drinking, pooping and peeing normally- completely normal behaviour- active etc.
Thanks for your replies guys

Jen