Chalky Pee

[Deleted User]

My bun started having chalky pee whenI changed from zupreem pellets to sherwood forest pellets.
I took the newspaper with the chalky pee to the vet. 
This is what he said and I don’t know if I agree or not because I don’t know that much information about it so I am doing some research on it.
“Stop giving the pellets from Sherwood. Give NO more than 1/8 cup pellets (go back to the zupreem, because he was not making the chalky pee on that) BUT not even every day. Just every few days and only like treats.”
I thought that rabbits should have pellets to make sure they got all the vitamins and nutrients they need? He said pellets are only fed by meat rabbit farmers.

I am using the following chart to try and figure out which pellet I should get him. And Im still confused!
http://www.therabbithouse.com/diet/rabbit-food-comparison.asp

I have had him 3 months. He is almost 2 years old. He is a Lionhead. He weighs 4.5 pounds. 
He came with crackers and spaghetti. I knew he should not have that. I bought the zupreem pellets because it was the best I could find at the time. Did my research and bought what I thought to be the best SF. Not knocking any brands here at all. I simply am trying to understand it all. 
Long story to ask would it be okay to feed no more than 1/8 cup of pellets every few days?

 He gets unlimited hay. Which he has learned to eat just in the last 2 months. He was never given hay by previous owner. He get fresh veggies twice a day. He likes romain, cilantro, escarole, celery leaves, parsley, squash, and berries. (Last 2 as treats and not daily) Dried papaya and an occasional raisin. Once in awhile he eats small piece of banana or carrot as a treat too. Ive tried many other greens and veggies and he refuses to eat them. So instead of waisting money buying them Ive just decided to give him what he likes. 

Ive also tried apple branches and he don’t even want to see them. He gets mad to even have them around him. In the spring I am going to plant a nice little garden for him.

Also, can the chalky pee turn into bladder sludge?

Any suggestions on pellet brands? Or, just stick with the zupreem. 

Sorry so long…Thanks!

[Bam]

Chalky pee now and then is not worrisome, it’s just the normal way an adult bun expels surplus calcium. But chalky pee every day – that’s more questionable. Your vet is, according to modern science on rabbit nutrition, correct about amount of pellets – rabbits are frequently overfed pellets. Over-weight and a too rich diet are the most common causes for pet rabbit illness. Show- and meat rabbits get pellets to plump up quickly and then be bred, they need extra calories and pellets provide that. Show/meat rabbits are not raised for longevity, but we who keep our buns as pets of course want our bunnies to live really long, healthy lives.

Rabbits are individuals and a great brand of pellets might still not suit all individuals. Then we have to go with what suits our particular rabbit. If the Zupreem pellets agree with him, then go with them. I looked at them in the chart, and they seem fine to me. The most important bunny food is good quality grass hay. Rabbits need high fiber, low calorie food. They should eat often, and they are very prone to over-eating, so it’s important to feed really skinny food.

If he eats hay now, he will get the nutrients she needs from it + 1/8 cup pellets + fresh veg. The fresh vegs you are giving him seem like a good variety.

[Luna's Mom]

Hello, I bought sherwood forest to transition Luna to because her poop is really dark and I had read some where that had helped. She is normally on small pets select. She gets 1/8 cup in the morning. I mixed them 1/2 and 1/2 yesterday for the first time and last night when I cleaned out her box there was white chalky looking residue on her box. She has never had that before and after reading your post I wondered if I should just leave her pellets alone and maybe she just has dark poo? She has her pellets in the morning with a sprinkle of dried flower and herbs and 1 oxbo cookie treat. She has unlimited timothy, meadow, oat, and botanical hay throught the day. Between 7 &8 she gets her greens usually 4 or 5 different one’s with a mixture of basil, rosemary, or mint. On Tuesdays and Thursdays she gets a little apple or banana with her salad. At bedtime she has tiny pieces of dried papaya or mango or herbs in her treat game to get her in her cage for bed. I just thought it was weird after we had both fed sherwood that happened. Luna seems to love the pellets and they are a tad smaller than sps, so I thought that may be why they are so appealing to her. Anyway sorry so long, but what are your thoughts about the pellets?

[Deleted User]

Well I really liked the sherwood pellets. They were nice green color, smelled good etc. And Bun liked them! But with the chalky urine I am putting him back on the zupreem since that what he tolerates better. 

Do you like the small pet select brand?

 

[Luna's Mom]

Yes I do like them and I love how the store donates to rescue groups and that they are a small company that hand packages there hay. The reason I was trying sherwood is Luna’s poo is really black and I had read some where that sherwood pellets had helped there bunnies poo not be so dark. Luna has done fine on sps, but when I started giving her sherwod she picks those out and eats them first and comes back later to finish the sps. So I think I am going to give it a bit and see what happens. I also liked that sherwood does not have the sweetness of molasses in them. Over all I think they are both a healthy pellet and both companies seem to really care about animals!

[Wick & Fable]

Hi Tracy. Wick is not nearly as old (3mo) or as heavy (1.1lb) as your bun, but what your vet says matches what I’m familiar with in terms of rabbit pellet diet. Wick only receives 1/8c of pellets, but every day since he is still young. It seems like a very small amount of food and he always loves the pellets, but honestly if I left him with a bag of pellets, I’m sure he’d just eat the entire thing, whether or not he was actually hungry. He is actually on the Adult Oxbow pellets instead of the Young Oxbox pellets due cloudy/chalky urine. Although it was recommended for young rabbits to be on alfalfa pellets, there was too much calcium, so after eating, Wick would always have cloudy pee. He was switched to the Adult blend, which is mainly timothy rather than alfalfa. He has the occasional cloudy pee, but it’s negligible.

The worrisome stage for chalky pee is mainly, when it dries, do you see small crystal/powder? This could build up in your bun’s track! All in all though, if you’re worried that your vet recommended too little pellets, I don’t think you need to worry, especially if you give your bun fresh veggies twice a day!

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Deleted User]

Hi Wick,

Yes, when the urine dried it was powder like. I took my finger and ran through it and it was on my finger like a fine chalk dust.

I think, I understand, If the powder gets thicker it can become stone like or sludge and cause havoc on the urinary tract.

Wow, the things I learn for my little guy, wouldn’t have it any other way!

So, if I stop the SF pellets (which I have) and his urine is almost normal again, am I safe to believe his bladder and tract is clean from the chalky stuff?

 

[Wick & Fable]

If you’ve caught it early, I’d think your safe. Just observe if he’s peeing less than usual, or showing signs of pain. Worst case scenario would be a surgery required to remove the stone, but these don’t develop rapidly to my knowledge.

You raised this concern once it started happening, so I think you’re fine. Wick has had many instances of chalky pee before he was switched to the grown-up pellets. Chalky pee can also come from feeding rabbits too calcium-rich vegetables, so you can look into your rabbits fresh veggies diet as well! Washing the vegetables thoroughly beforehand help things run through the intestines and bladder better.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Author]

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