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Pippin is poorly again. Vibes please...

Thanks that's useful. Vet did mention they could refer us to a specialist but it's a really long way away so I wasn't keen on stressing them in the car so much. But I could ask if they will phone them and ask for advice. That's a better idea.

I'm not sure about urinary problems. She does wee near but outside the litter tray sometimes. Especially when she's poorly. But if I had gas I wouldn't want to hop into a tray for a wee.
There's no spotting and I've never seen blood.

Pretty sure she's not got sludge.
I'll pop a picture of her wee on here for you [emoji6]

What else might I look for. She's does drink more water than Archie but she eats more too.
f44a04d272e9c3d3a0f8f4d0078d24ba.jpg


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There is a bit of calcium deposit in the wee, but it's not a huge amount. Rabbits excrete excess dietary calcium in their wee. I am just wondering if the 'straining' is due to bladder pain (cystitis) and that any GI tract issue (the gas) is a secondary symptom.

I'd certainly flag it up to your Vet. He/She will be able to palpate your Rabbit's bladder, feeling for any signs of tenderness/thickening/sludge/stones. A urine test may be useful.
 
There is a bit of calcium deposit in the wee, but it's not a huge amount. Rabbits excrete excess dietary calcium in their wee. I am just wondering if the 'straining' is due to bladder pain (cystitis) and that any GI tract issue (the gas) is a secondary symptom.

I'd certainly flag it up to your Vet. He/She will be able to palpate your Rabbit's bladder, feeling for any signs of tenderness/thickening/sludge/stones. A urine test may be useful.
Yeah there's quite often a small patch of calcium but I think that's normal.

The straining only happens when she has gas and it's only once every 5 weeks except for this last time. I'd would have thought she'd have had symptoms more often if it had been going on over a year? Or maybe not?

I'm sure they've felt her bladder last time and said it felt normal but I will check next time I'm there.

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Yeah there's quite often a small patch of calcium but I think that's normal.

The straining only happens when she has gas and it's only once every 5 weeks except for this last time. I'd would have thought she'd have had symptoms more often if it had been going on over a year? Or maybe not?

I'm sure they've felt her bladder last time and said it felt normal but I will check next time I'm there.

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It may be a process of elimination to try to find out what is going on for her. Does her behaviour change in any other way just prior to a fur pulling episode ? Is she bonded with another Rabbit and if so who is 'The Boss' ?
 
Thanks that's useful. Vet did mention they could refer us to a specialist but it's a really long way away so I wasn't keen on stressing them in the car so much. But I could ask if they will phone them and ask for advice. That's a better idea.

I'm not sure about urinary problems. She does wee near but outside the litter tray sometimes. Especially when she's poorly. But if I had gas I wouldn't want to hop into a tray for a wee.
There's no spotting and I've never seen blood.

Pretty sure she's not got sludge.
I'll pop a picture of her wee on here for you [emoji6]

What else might I look for. She's does drink more water than Archie but she eats more too.
f44a04d272e9c3d3a0f8f4d0078d24ba.jpg


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Hi there :)

It's difficult to definitively diagnose sludge without a urine test and possibly an X-ray.

I would start with a simple urine test in the surgery (to test for infection) before embarking on expensive lab urine tests ...
 
It may be a process of elimination to try to find out what is going on for her. Does her behaviour change in any other way just prior to a fur pulling episode ? Is she bonded with another Rabbit and if so who is 'The Boss' ?
I thought she was itching her ears more the last few times so mentioned that to the vet. That's why we're trying ivermectin in case she is extra sensitive to mites and is causing a weird reaction in her. But he's pretty sure she doesn't have them and she doesn't have any other symptoms like scaly skin.

I thought she was digging more, so I thought about hormones etc. I asked the vet last night but he was pretty sure no one test for hormone levels on rabbits in the UK. Also the nice vet said that because she isn't "nesting" and she's eating the fur he said he's 99% sure it isn't that.

Yes she is paired with Archie who is the boss. Although he isn't particularly bossy. He will chase he if we take her to the vet without him. We try not to do this, but sometimes we can't catch both of them! Other than that they get on really well.



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Hi there :)

It's difficult to definitively diagnose sludge without a urine test and possibly an X-ray.

I would start with a simple urine test in the surgery (to test for infection) before embarking on expensive lab urine tests ...
Hi MM.

I wonder why they've not suggested this? I'll ask if they can do this in house.

My mum has suggested we try Bach flower remedies. Going to try crab apple which says it's for rabbits who obsessively pull fur!
Can't hurt while we wait to decide what we do next. X

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Hi MM.

I wonder why they've not suggested this? I'll ask if they can do this in house.

My mum has suggested we try Bach flower remedies. Going to try crab apple which says it's for rabbits who obsessively pull fur!
Can't hurt while we wait to decide what we do next. X

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Very interesting you mention crab apple .... I can say no more on this forum, but it's worth considering :)
 
Interesting.. we're going to try it tonight. Just bought some from health shop. Wish us luck x

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Good luck!

I hope it does some good - there are several ways to use it. I guess you are going to give it orally?
 
Good luck!

I hope it does some good - there are several ways to use it. I guess you are going to give it orally?
Mum suggested a couple of drops in their water bowl. I'm not sure she's going to drink it though. I'm watching to see. So far she's drunk from her bottle, but that's normal. She likes to have choose between the two. Tehee.

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