• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Putting Weight on Sludge Bun

N

nickybunny1

Mama Doe
So Oliver had to have his bladder flushed again on Tuesday past. Vet said loads of sludge and Oliver was very sore for about 3 days after. He has been on pain relief and is lively enough today and bright. Poor baby. He has lost weight and I am wondering what high calorie low calcium foods I can give him. He dislikes most of the low calcium veggies. I am trying to source some apple branches and leaves. Do they class as food or is that a stupid question?
 
nickybunny1 said:
So Oliver had to have his bladder flushed again on Tuesday past. Vet said loads of sludge and Oliver was very sore for about 3 days after. He has been on pain relief and is lively enough today and bright. Poor baby. He has lost weight and I am wondering what high calorie low calcium foods I can give him. He dislikes most of the low calcium veggies. I am trying to source some apple branches and leaves. Do they class as food or is that a stupid question?
Click to expand...

Not at all a stupid question :D

Yes they do count as food!

Apart from low calcium water, here's a couple of links which may give you a few pointers.
Apologies if you've seen them before Nicky :D

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/ar...t-for-rabbits-with-urinary-tract-disease/view
(click at the bottom for a PDF form of the article)

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/free-food-for-rabbits/calcium-and-rabbit-food

Oats I found were fine for a sludge bunny and quite calorific. Parsnip and butternut squash, but I daresay he would turn his nose up?

I'm so sorry to hear he's lost weight .. Does he eat fresh grass?

.....adding one more link in case it's useful ....

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/calcium.htm
 
Last edited:
nickybunny1 said:
So Oliver had to have his bladder flushed again on Tuesday past. Vet said loads of sludge and Oliver was very sore for about 3 days after. He has been on pain relief and is lively enough today and bright. Poor baby. He has lost weight and I am wondering what high calorie low calcium foods I can give him. He dislikes most of the low calcium veggies. I am trying to source some apple branches and leaves. Do they class as food or is that a stupid question?
Click to expand...

Ouch, poor little man. I hope he is feeling much more comfortable now.

Apple branches and leaves are certainly food, my Rabbits can guarantee that !!

What is he eating at the moment ?

Did the Vet take a blood test this time to check his renal function?

A now retired but still very Rabbit Savvy Vet, Frances Harcourt-Brown has published this information on her very informative website. You may have already seen it, but I'll post the link just incase. As you can see, she advises against feeding any cereals such as oats as they may have a low calcium content, but they have a high phosphorous content which is not recommended.

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/ar...-sheet-for-rabbits-with-urinary-tract-disease
 
Poor guy, anything to do with the urinary tract always tends to get them down,

Kirsty had a mild (compared to Oliver) case of sludge late last year - he too lost weight. After trying feeding more low calcium veggies with no result - I've been giving him the Burgess Excel Dualcare Recovery Food (which comes in pellet form) with some water but not enough to create a paste. This has worked wonders for him and has helped him to put on about 300g. I buy a 700g bag from Viovet which only costs £3.14!! Might be worth a try with Oliver maybe?
 
Sorry for late reply guys. Thanks for those links, reinforces my need to forage more - well hawthorn and apple branches. No Jane Olivers renal function wasn't tested, should they have done, what would this show with regards to sludge? ? He is eatting hay bales, 2 - 3 romaine leaves, handful of coriander, small piece of cauliflower and half a cherry tomatoe. He also gets a grape in the morning and evening along with one fenugreek crunchie. He picks at those veg but does eventually eat them. I know both him and Cody loved the apple branches when I bought them off Fluffers. I am really excited because I have just contacted a lady with a pesticide free orchard who said I can have apple branches all year round !!!!!! Going this evening for cutting them so hopefully Oliver will eat more of these. I have decided to give Oliver some soaked oats just for a short time. I know Jane u mentioned about the phosporus which I understand I don't want too much for him but I an only going to give every other day for a week or two. He does like them. Max will try butternut squash and see what he thinks but I will guess . To be fair he nearly prefers his hay bales but I am not sure he is eatting enough of them. But it may be the weight loss was mostly post flush when he was sore. He is alot happier now and great not to see him lifting his tail to pee all the time. Lagamorphlion thanks for recommending the excell recovery food . I checked it out and the calcium level is 0.7 which is a bit high I think for him but thank u anyway.
 
nickybunny1 said:
Sorry for late reply guys. Thanks for those links, reinforces my need to forage more - well hawthorn and apple branches. No Jane Olivers renal function wasn't tested, should they have done, what would this show with regards to sludge? ? He is eatting hay bales, 2 - 3 romaine leaves, handful of coriander, small piece of cauliflower and half a cherry tomatoe. He also gets a grape in the morning and evening along with one fenugreek crunchie. He picks at those veg but does eventually eat them. I know both him and Cody loved the apple branches when I bought them off Fluffers. I am really excited because I have just contacted a lady with a pesticide free orchard who said I can have apple branches all year round !!!!!! Going this evening for cutting them so hopefully Oliver will eat more of these. I have decided to give Oliver some soaked oats just for a short time. I know Jane u mentioned about the phosporus which I understand I don't want too much for him but I an only going to give every other day for a week or two. He does like them. Max will try butternut squash and see what he thinks but I will guess . To be fair he nearly prefers his hay bales but I am not sure he is eatting enough of them. But it may be the weight loss was mostly post flush when he was sore. He is alot happier now and great not to see him lifting his tail to pee all the time. Lagamorphlion thanks for recommending the excell recovery food . I checked it out and the calcium level is 0.7 which is a bit high I think for him but thank u anyway.
Click to expand...

I asked about the blood test as in some cases of repeated bouts of bladder sludge the kidneys can eventually be effected. But your Vet obviously thought it to be unnecessary in Oliver's case, there is never one size fits all in how to manage the condition :)
 
nickybunny1 said:
Sorry for late reply guys. Thanks for those links, reinforces my need to forage more - well hawthorn and apple branches. No Jane Olivers renal function wasn't tested, should they have done, what would this show with regards to sludge? ? He is eatting hay bales, 2 - 3 romaine leaves, handful of coriander, small piece of cauliflower and half a cherry tomatoe. He also gets a grape in the morning and evening along with one fenugreek crunchie. He picks at those veg but does eventually eat them. I know both him and Cody loved the apple branches when I bought them off Fluffers. I am really excited because I have just contacted a lady with a pesticide free orchard who said I can have apple branches all year round !!!!!! Going this evening for cutting them so hopefully Oliver will eat more of these. I have decided to give Oliver some soaked oats just for a short time. I know Jane u mentioned about the phosporus which I understand I don't want too much for him but I an only going to give every other day for a week or two. He does like them. Max will try butternut squash and see what he thinks but I will guess . To be fair he nearly prefers his hay bales but I am not sure he is eatting enough of them. But it may be the weight loss was mostly post flush when he was sore. He is alot happier now and great not to see him lifting his tail to pee all the time. Lagamorphlion thanks for recommending the excell recovery food . I checked it out and the calcium level is 0.7 which is a bit high I think for him but thank u anyway.
Click to expand...


Nice to hear back from you Nicky and good news about the organic apple branches :D

I wouldn't worry at all about the oats :D I have given them to my elderlies for years and years, every day to keep weight on. My specialist vet is more than happy, and their urine has been tested and no sludge or anything from them! Tamsin (our esteemed admin) also recommends them :D

I also give sunflower seeds, which are high in fat and have good vitamin E. With banana they make a good and fattening treat for now and again.
 
After starting my buns on pumkin seeds about 6 months ago all's well and no signs of sludge : )) They are fattening so I try only to feed a pinch of them a day. Buns love them and I do too!!!.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Griff
Advice on VERY low calcium diet please
Replies
12
Views
683
Griff
Griff
Griff
Bladder sludge
Replies
3
Views
582
Shimmer
S
elaine84
Female bun with suspected bladder sludge
Replies
10
Views
706
Pets mum
Pets mum
Back
Top