Can bunnies get kidney stones?

Urolithiasis, also called kidney or bladder stones, is a condition that is often seen in rabbits. The disease most commonly affects the bladder, but can also occur in the urethra, ureter and kidney. Rabbits can be afflicted with stones (uroliths) due to the unique way they metabolize calcium.

How do rabbits get kidney stones?

Kidney stones form in the urinary tract due to the deposition of complex compounds containing calcium in the urine. In rabbits, all the calcium that is consumed is absorbed, and urine usually contains 45-60 percent calcium (other mammals’ urine contains only two percent calcium).

Why do rabbits get bladder stones?

SOME FACTORS THAT CAUSE STONE FORMATION Inappropriate Diet: Excess calcium in the diet is excreted through the urinary tract where it may be deposited and form calculi in the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra.

What to do if a rabbit has multiple kidney stones?

Rabbits with multiple stones are difficult to test radiographically. Therefore, they require an ultrasound to locate multiple smaller stones. Sometimes a more thorough test of the bladder and kidneys may be done by performing an ultrasonography test.

Is there a cure for urolithiasis in rabbits?

However, there isn’t a known cure to prevent the stones from forming, or reappearing after treatment. Even in the best of conditions with the best of care, rabbits can acquire stones which are the formation of crystals within the urinary tract. This condition is also known as urolithiasis and can occur in any of the organs within the urinary tract.

How to treat urinary sludge and stones in rabbits?

Although long term treatment should be aimed at reducing the calcium content of the diet and increasing the water intake.

What kind of stones are in a rabbit’s bladder?

Bladder stones are hard concretions that are found in the urinary bladder. These concretions have a definite shape and have the consistency of a chalky stone. Most rabbit urinary stones are comprised of some form of calcium carbonate. Stones can be found in the kidney collecting ducts or the ureters as well.

Is there a cure for urinary stones in rabbits?

Prognosis is relatively good. However, there isn’t a known cure to prevent the stones from forming, or reappearing after treatment. Even in the best of conditions with the best of care, rabbits can acquire stones which are the formation of crystals within the urinary tract.

Can a rabbit have a stone in both kidneys?

Unfortunately, rabbits that have stones in both kidneys can have a poor prognosis because removing stones from the kidney is risky, and in these cases, management is usually the only treatment choice.

What to do if a rabbit has a stone in it?

Sludge and smaller stones are usually flushed out at the veterinary hospital while the rabbit is under anesthesia. However, in cases of large or painful stones, surgical removal by a procedure known as cystotomy is the recommended choice of treatment and is the usual treatment.

What are the treatment options for kidney stones?

If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney stones (urolithiasis), you may have several options for treatment. These include medical therapy, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL), and ureteroscopy. urethra (a single tube through which urine in the bladder passes out of the body).

Hypercalciuria and Urolithiasis in Rabbits. Kidney stones form in the urinary tract due to the deposition of complex compounds containing calcium in the urine.

Can kidney stones be cured by medicine?

Your doctor may prescribe allopurinol (Zyloprim, Aloprim) to reduce uric acid levels in your blood and urine and a medicine to keep your urine alkaline. In some cases, allopurinol and an alkalizing agent may dissolve the uric acid stones.

Does breaking up kidney stones hurt?

YesYes, that’s right. You’ll likely have less pain, because lithotripsy uses shock waves to break the kidney stone into small pieces that can pass from the body more easily than one large stone.