Introduction

• Cause: diet high in calcium, dehydration and low water intake. Also, factors that prevent normal urination such as obesity, inflammation and infection of urinary tract, lack of exercise and spondylosis.
• Signs: creamy thick urine, perineal fur staining, dysuria, abdominal pain, urine scalding.
• Diagnosis: radiographic examination, ultrasonographic examination, palpation of the bladder, urinalysis.
• Treatment: flushing of the bladder, supportive treatment and treatment of the cause.
• Prognosis: generally good. Prognosis can be poor in severe cases when renal failure has been diagnosed.

Presenting signs

• Creamy thick urine, discomfort, pain, inability to urinate properly, reduce appetite.
• Hypercalciuria can also be subclinical and diagnosed incidentally.

Acute presentation

• In severe cases, the rabbit shows discomfort, hunched back, is reluctant to move and presents with dysuria and oliguria.

Age presentation

• It has been reported that the incidence of hypercalciuria is higher in animals 3-5 years old.

Breed predisposition

• This problem affects all breeds, however heavy and giant breeds may be more prone to obesity and inactivity → hypercalciuria.

Cost considerations

• The cost depends on the severity of the case, and will consist of sedation, investigation, medical treatment and hospitalization of the animal.

Special risks, eg anesthetic

• Risks are generally low and are due to the possibility of renal failure and side effects of anesthesia.

Pathogenesis

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Outcomes

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Richardson V (2012) Urogenital diseases in rabbits. In Pract 34 (10), 554-563 VetMedResource.
• Clauss M, Burger B, Liesegang A et al (2011) Influence of diet on calcium metabolism, tissue calcification and urinary sludge in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 96 (5), 798-807 PubMed.
• Keeble E J (2007) Clinical snapshot. Hypercalciuria and cystic calculi. Comp Cont Educ Vet 29 (6), 326, 328 PubMed.
• Türkmen M, Kavukçu S, Işlekel H et al (1997) Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity in rabbits with experimental hypercalciuria. Pediatr Nephrol 11 (4), 481-484 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Mancinelli E & Lord B (2014) Urogenital System and Reproductive Disease. In: BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine. Eds: Meredith A & Lord B. BSAVA, UK. pp 191-204.
• Keeble E & Benato L (2013) Urinary Tract Surgery. In: BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Surgery, Dentistry and Imaging. Eds: Harcourt-Brown F & Chitty J. BSAVA, UK. pp 190-211.
• Oglesbee B L (2006) Hypercalciuria and Urolithiasis. In: The 5-Minute Veterinary Consultant: Ferret and Rabbit. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. pp 277-279.
• Pare J A & Paul-Murphy J (2004) Disorders of the Reproductive and Urinary Systems. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents Clinical Medicine and Surgery. Eds: Quesenberry K E & Carpenter J W. Saunders. pp 183-193.