Urinary tract infection

In a rabbit, a urinary tract infection (UTI), also known as bacterial cystitis, usually a lower urinary tract infection involving the urinary bladder and/or urethra.

Symptoms

 * None in some patients
 * Frequent urinating in small volumes (pollakuria)
 * Urinating in places that are not regular
 * Urine scald
 * Beige to brown, thick urine in rabbits with excessive calcium in the urine (hypercalciuria)
 * Blood in the urine (hematuria)

Secondary UTIs are occasionally seen in rabbits with hypercalciuria, one of the most common problems seen in indoor rabbits. UTIs are most often seen in middle-aged rabbits of 3 to 5 years and obese rabbits with a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition.

Causes
Common causes of urinary tract infections in rabbits include the following:
 * Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas spp.
 * Inadequate exercise, cage confinement, or painful conditions (reluctance to move).
 * Inadequate water intake (dirty water bowls, unpalatable water, changing water sources, inadequate water provision)
 * Inadequate cleaning of litter box or cage may cause some rabbits to avoid urinating for abnormally long periods.
 * Urine retention (underlying bladder pathology, neuromuscular disease)
 * Obesity
 * Calcium or vitamin/mineral supplements added to the diet predisposes to hypercalciuria.