Does Your Bunny Have Dark Urine?

The  normal  color  of  a bunny's  urine  is  variations of yellow-light to dark.  However,  the  bunny's  urine  can  change  and  become  orange,  pink,  red,  or  brown. 

There  is no  reason  to  panic  when  you  first  see  a  change  in  the color  of  your  bunny's  urine. This  is  called  red  urine. This  change  in  color  can  happen  in  healthy  bunnies  as  well  as  those who are sick. This  change  of  color  in  the  rabbits  urine  can  be  due  to  organic  compounds  and  plant  pigments  in  the  rabbits  food  source. If you have given your bunny any colorful treats recently, it can impact the color of his/her urine and poop. People the feed their bunnies with natural sources (colorful food), will often see these changes in colorful urine more.

Stress  impacts urine color as well as a  change  of  season.  Often when you are changing the bunny's food from one kind to another, it can cause a change in urine color. This can happen when a bunny sit transitioning to a new home. The weather can impact the color of your bunny's urine: the first cold  snap of  winter or the peak summer heat can cause stress to your bunny, and can  result in red  urine. Bunnies can very easily become overheated in the summer, so watch your bunny carefully. Is he/she breathing heavily and nose wiggling rapidly? Are your bunny's ears hot? Bringing your bunny indoors where he/she is not over-heated may be an easy solution.

Dehydration  will  concentrate  the  urine,  causing  it  to  become  darker  in color  and  intensifying any  pigmentation  that  is  present. 

If  your bunny  is  on  any  antibiotics or was on them recently, this  can also  increase  the  levels  of  pigments  in  the  urine. 

Most  of the time the change in urine color is not a medical issue. If a rabbit has certain health issues  related to the kidney, liver, or bladder this will also cause the same color change in the bunny's urine.  If  your bunny has been straining to urinate, attempting to go potty more often, or urinating in smaller  quantities such as only a few drops at a time a  bladder problem is likely. See below for some things to try, but if this does not resolve, you may want to take him/her to the vet.

When  naturally  feeding  rabbits  with  a  large  amounts  of  plants  in  their  diet,  these  natural compound’s  and  pigments  high  in  beta carotene: sweet potato,  squash,  carrots,  melons,  spinach,  and lots  of  other  dark  leafy  greens it  can  cause  this change in urine color.  Bunnies eating  pine  or  fur  needles  can  also  have similar results.

• Choosing greens lower in calcium and oxalates may also help:

  • Arugula

  • Basil

  • Bibb/Boston Lettuce

  • Bok Choy

  • Cilantro

  • Collards

  • Dill

  • Green Leaf Lettuce

  • Mustard Greens

  • Radicchio

  • Red Leaf Lettuce

  • Romain

  • Watercress 

This  change  of  urine  color  is  unpredictable  as  two  bunnies   on  the  same  diet  can  have different   results.  One  bunny  may  have  yellow  urine  and  the  other  orange.  

Most  of  the  times  darker urine  will  only  last  a  few  days  but   we  have   had   a  few  rabbits  take  up  to  a  month.

So do not panic and always pay attention to your rabbits behaviors, as spending time with your rabbits you will notice any issues and be able to take care of any issues soon than later.

If your bunny is struggling with dark urine, here are a few things to consider and/or try:

• Is my bunny dehydrated?

  • If my bunny is dehydrated, make sure your bunny has plenty of unlimited, purified water.

  • Is my bunny too hot (heat stroke)? If so, get your bunny cooled down with frozen water bottles.

  • Add a Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to water to build up electrolytes for your bunny. Choosing organic apple cider vinegar with the mother is best, but any apple cider vinegar will help.

  • When giving your bunny greens, spray them down with a mist of water to help re-hydrate your bunny.

  • Did you give your bunny colorful treats? This can also color the urine and is harmless

• Fortunately, if your bunny isn't drinking enough, there are many solutions to get them to increase their intake.

1. Let them choose their water bowl.

2. Provide Clean/Pure Water in a Clean Bowl/Water Bottle.

3. Mist Water on Their Daily Greens.

4. Put Fresh Fragrant Greens in their Water Bowl.

5. Add a Few teaspoons of Unsweetened Juice to their water.

• Does my bunny have a urinary tract infection?

  • Give bunny a Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water

  • Give bunny cranberry juice with no sugar

  • Give bunny pumpkin seeds

**If you are concerned, it is best to take your bunny to the vet, but hopefully some of these suggestions will help prevent a vet visit, as most of the time, red urine is not a medical issue :)