15/07/2024
Interesting post:
Let's talk about bladders...
Bladder sludge is quite a commonly presented problem. Often a high calcium diet is blamed for this however it is not that simple.
Mobility (or rather the lack of) plays a very important part. Rabbit urine naturally contains a high percentage of large particles. If mobility is reduced due to obesity, arthritis, small enclosure etc then this means the large particles drop to the bottom of the bladder where it is harder for them to be excreted thus forming a sludgy layer.
If the rabbit is frequently active and mobile then these particles are suspended throughout the urine and more easily excreted.
My simple analogy is 'salad dressing'. Look at the difference between the two photos - one has been shaken and the other has not. You can clearly see how the larger particles are suspended in the liquid when the pot is shaken compared to the obvious separation when it is kept still.
So in short, when presented with a bladder sludge case be sure to investigate all the possible causes for reduced mobility and don't just get hung up on the diet!
**ps - We are not recommending to shake the rabbit like salad dressing...
Learn more rabbit specific tips at one of our training events!