Bladder grit/bladder sludge

Bladder grit and mud are common diseases that can occur in our pets. These diseases are usually caused by feeding , as rabbits have a special calcium metabolism.

They do not take in the calcium they need, but absorb it in large quantities from their food. A healthy and varied diet is therefore important to avoid these diseases.

• Dried food , due to too much hay or herbs.
  
• Nipple drinkers can be a reason for insufficient water supply.
  
• Lack of exercise , due to being overweight, or not enough space to run around.
  
• Hereditary predisposition , through mother or father.
  
• Old age
  
• Vitamin D deficiency , due to a lack of sunlight, is extremely important especially when kept indoors - see our UVB lamp file!
  
• Illnesses that cause pain to your pets, such as kidney disease or arthritis . This is very painful and causes your pet to become quieter and therefore lack movement.
  
• Diet rich in calcium or oxalic acid , here care should be taken to ensure a varied and balanced diet.
  
• Obesity also makes our pets sick and can lead to a lack of exercise, which then has further consequences.

As you have already read, species-appropriate care and comprehensive information are not mutually exclusive.

As responsible owners, we must be thoroughly informed about everything that contributes to the appropriate care of our animals. It is important to be sufficiently informed in order to enable our beloved pets to live a fulfilling and species-appropriate life.

We can support our pets well here and should provide them with variety with a feeding tree or many other great options.

If you suspect that your pet has bladder grit or notices discharge like the ones shown in the pictures above, you should immediately see a pet specialist . It is recommended that an x-ray be taken from several positions to get a clear picture of the bladder. An ultrasound scan can also provide a very accurate diagnosis.

It is recommended to perform a blood test to check all values ​​and treat any abnormalities.

If the diagnosis is bladder gravel, the veterinarian will flush your pet's bladder.

It is important to choose an experienced veterinarian to avoid injury. Depending on the animal's disposition, the veterinarian can explain the next steps so that you can continue at home in your usual environment. Be honest if you don't feel confident about something, because this will not benefit either your animal or you.

It is important to talk to your veterinarian to take further steps and address your problems specifically.

A regular visit to the vet should be out of the question!

For example, you can offer them toys or create different climbing and hiding places in their enclosure.

The more exercise they have, the better their calcium metabolism is regulated and the less likely they are to develop bladder grit and sludge.

In addition, you can also offer them herbs and plants that are diuretic and therefore supportive for the bladder.

However, find out beforehand which plants are suitable for rabbits.

A species-appropriate and balanced diet, plenty of exercise and regular veterinary check-ups are essential for the health of our pets.

Take a look around our shop, where you will find many ways to get your loved ones moving.

• Hay should be avoided as much as possible, as it is also very rich in herbs and is therefore very dangerous.
  
  Here you can switch to a herb-poor hay, although this should of course be my main food
  
  “Thimothy Hay” would be an alternative to the other types of hay.
  
• Our darlings absorb 80% of their liquid through their food and therefore rarely or never drink from the bowl.
  Here we can offer fruit or vegetable juices drop by drop .
  
  Here you should always make sure that they do not contain any added sugar .
  
• Teas for the bladder and kidneys can also be offered diluted and provide additional support.
  You can get these supportive teas and juices in many online pharmacies.
  
• Exercise should be the top priority, so please pay more attention to variety so that your pets move more.
  
  Here we can recommend regularly rearranging your enclosure equipment.
  
  They want to explore and sniff everything, which regularly encourages their urge to move.
  
  Work for food, hang the food up so your darling has to stretch.
  
  This stirs up the bladder and allows the deposits to be flushed out more easily
  
• Here we can recommend our feeding trees or feeding stands .
  
  We have designed these in such a way that they not only offer variety, but also encourage your pets to work a little for their food.
  
• In addition, your loved ones should be covered with painkillers , as this can also lead to a lack of desire to move.
  Please talk to your veterinarian about this, as this should never be done without consultation .
  
• You can also find some great supporting herbs in nature that you can offer.
  
  Among other things, you can support your loved one with Rodicare Uro, UTI Kn, or Urologist AID.

From now on you should pay attention to a balanced, fresh diet .

Please do not make the mistake of feeding a low-calcium diet !

Everything should be in balance.

However, if the calcium and phosphorus content in your pet's food is too high , calcium will be broken down from the entire body to compensate and will then be drawn from teeth and bones, which will then lead to soft bones or thin and brittle teeth.

The situation is different if too much calcium is fed, as this can lead to the formation of bladder grit or, in the worst case, stones.

Therefore, it is really important not to feed just any old salads and the like, but to get comprehensive advice in order to ensure a balanced diet!

It is also extremely important that they have fresh and clean water available 24/7 , even in winter when kept outside.

• Please also read our page “ UVB Lamp ” to find a balance in indoor housing.
  
  Vitamin D deficiency in indoor housing is not uncommon.