Urinary problems including sludge and bladder stones cause significant pain in rabbits and require dietary management and prompt treatment to prevent chronic suffering.
Urinary sludge and stones cause chronic pain in affected rabbits. The gritty calcium deposits in the bladder cause discomfort during urination, and more accumulated sludge causes constant bladder irritation. Rabbits with severe sludge may adopt hunched postures indicating abdominal pain. Bladder stones cause acute pain and potentially dangerous urinary obstruction. Since rabbits cannot communicate pain verbally and are naturally stoic, urinary problems are often advanced before diagnosis. Regular monitoring for signs of urinary discomfort and appropriate dietary management to prevent sludge formation are important welfare responsibilities.