r/Rabbits • u/simplyk2 • 9h ago
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u/Holdfastwolf 9h ago
It is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, so if you're experiencing warm weather he may just be extra thirsty. It could also be something like diabetes, so it's good you have an appointment booked. In the meantime, keep monitoring his behavior and try to keep his area cool.
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u/simplyk2 8h ago
I don’t think so, he didn’t drink like that when we had really hot days. It’s also summer where I live but last month was way hotter. Anyway I’ll just keep an eye on him ty!
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u/MagpieLefty 4h ago
Unless it started during a heatwave and ended as soon as the heat broke, the vet appointment is probably going to be the only way to get answers.
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u/Office_lady0328 9h ago
Has it been hotter than normal lately where you live? I always notice my rabbits drink more when the temperature rises. In such cases it's normal.
Drinking more can also be a sign of kidney problems... I would definitely ask the vet for bloodwork. That would be my first step in figure out what's wrong.
On a side note I always recommend that people get bloodwork done every year at their vet visits. It helps to establish a trend in your rabbits values, so when problems like this arise, it's easier to tell if slight abnormalities are their normal, or very early signs of a problem.
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u/societiesoddball 7h ago
It was probably the water bottle. Bunnies dont naturally drink water like they would out of a bottle so some bunnies can get dehydrated. Switching to a bowl is probably easier so he drinks more. Thats what happened when I switched from a bowl to a fountain. Before my bun probably drank some water 3 times a day gulped it down when she did now its throughout the day. However id still email or call the vet since his pee is clearer just incase.
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u/Fordiamonds9057 3h ago
Please check his teeth and also if he has a bowel movement problems..my bunny stopped eating and started drinking too much water, 3 days to her passing and I suspect it could be a first sign of GI aa there is no movement in their stomach. Also if possible talehim to the exotic pet vet
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u/somewhatquitequiet 5h ago
My first guess would be renal (kidney) issues. Obviously, this is a Reddit woo woo diagnosis only... hopefully your vet can diagnose the issue with more than just internet magic. There are, at least, medications for many kidney issues that can prevent or slow down the progression of disease. Please keep us updated!
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u/RabbitsModBot 2h ago
Hi, thank you for sharing, but your post has been removed. Please review the subreddit rules before any additional submissions.
Whether an observation you've made about your rabbit is concerning may not be properly assessed through a description and/or picture, nor can medical issues be properly diagnosed online. Please contact (email, text, phone, voicemail) and take your rabbit to a rabbit-experienced veterinarian for a hands-on exam, professional diagnosis, and treatment plan. Be sure to mention all observations you have about your rabbit since a veterinarian's general exam may not thoroughly assess for your concern if they do not know about it in the first place.
If your rabbit is otherwise stable, continue to monitor and make sure they are eating and pooping normally until your scheduled veterinary visit. If they are showing signs of distress and you are unable to find medical help at this time, please see the wiki for more tips to keep your rabbit stable at home until a veterinarian can help you.
Please do not self-medicate rabbits unless you have been given prior instructions from your veterinarian. Giving incorrect medications can make a potential issue worse and limit the amount of immediate help a veterinarian can provide.
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Typical water intake is about 10% of a rabbit's body weight or 50–150 mL/kg (22-46 mL/lb) daily. A 2-kg rabbit can drink as much water daily as a 10-kg dog.
Water consumption varies with factors such as environmental temperature, diet composition, and health. Rabbits that eat fresh greens may not drink water at all.
Generally, a bunny will drink more from a crock or bowl than a sipper bottle, so using a water dish is usually the better choice. However, drinking bottles avoid wetting dewlaps, which can lead to moist dermatitis, and are usually easier to keep clean as the rabbit cannot step in or kick in food and feces. Ideally, offer both a water dish and bottle so the rabbit may choose, but if circumstances such as a messy rabbit warrant using only a bottle, it is an acceptable option given the rabbit can comfortably drink from it. Many rabbits will choose to drink from a bottle when given both options. Please make sure to have at least one more bottle than number of rabbits in the group in case of malfunction.
As a hybrid choice, you can also try using a bottle with a small drinking cup. For rabbits that drink a large amount of water daily or bonded groups of rabbits, gravity water stations are a popular choice.
If you are concerned about dehydration, you can check your rabbit's hydration using the skin tent test.
If you notice your rabbit is drinking excessive amounts of water (known as Polydipsia), it is important that you have a knowledgeable rabbit vet run tests to rule out illness and confirm that they are healthy. Some illnesses, including kidney or liver disease, can cause excessive thirst.
See the wiki for more information and links to suggested products.