Yellow foam? in bunny cage

[LaynaDon95]

I've never seen urine like that before....

 

[AinaWGSD]

If you have a picture, it may be helpful to narrow it down. With it always being in the same corner it really does sound like urine. It probably doesn't look the way you are finding it immediately after he urinates, it is probably something about the environment making it seem foamy or gooey (cold temps causing partial freezing, dry air partially dehydrating it, the fabric scraps soaking up some of the liquid, etc). Rabbit urine can be really gross. Left to build up over a couple of weeks or months it will create a scaly or gooey mess on metal that never does quite wash off completely.

 

[LaynaDon95]

I cleaned out his cage already. If it happens again I'll take a picture. Thank you for your help. Maybe it is just urine but it sure does look nasty. I've stopped feeding him veggies and we will see what happens.

 

[Ema]

rabbits are herbivores, but truth be told rabbits in the wild don't eat all that stuff we seem to feed our pet rabbits. while they might indulge in some radish leaves or other vegetable leafs from someone's garden they stick to the meadow grasses which are healthier for them, too many vegetables especially anything with a higher sugar count can and will make your rabbit sick, or obese, it also shortens their life span.

What ever the rabbit has it is definitely not Cocci, it is not his or her urine either, chances are the rabbit chocked on something he or she ate and brought it back, at which point what comes up will be a yellowy foam with what ever what causing the problem in the first place. This is the reason I asked you what you were feeding your rabbit in the first place.

Do yourself and the rabbit a huge favour, take him or her off all those extra vegies, the more vegie greens he or she eats the less they eat their actual pellet and hay and this can cause massive deficiencies that of course you cannot see form the outside by looking at your rabbit. stick to a couple things like romaine lettuce and another favorite like Basil or curley parsley or even spinach. as I mentioned, I only give mine romaine, and an apple slice here and there and maybe a slice of carrot once in a while. I do give them spinach when I buy it fresh and basil, but that is only during summer months and maybe like once or 2x during the summer.

Mind you in the summer I let nature take its course while I provide the pellet and fresh meadow hay, I allow my rabbits to be outdoors all summer long, they have a completely fenced in run, including the bottom with thick wire so the grass etc will still grow through it, there is a rabbit hutch out there that I never lock. If its warm enough outside, that is where they are at. they get to forage through the grass and eat dandelions, and clover, and I give them logs, they like to scratch at the logs I think they wear down their nails this way.

Anyhow I do just think that she hacked up what ever was stuck in her throat.

Ema

 

[LaynaDon95]

Makes sense. Thank you. We are working on building a rabbit hutch once the chicken coop is built. Until then we just put his harness on him and walk him around some sure the day.
I will take your advice and see what happens.
Thanks again.

 

[aprille218]

You may be over doing the vegetables a bit. The pellets are nutritionally complete and so adding anything much to their diet will throw off the vitamin and mineral content of their diet. Also rabbits have a sensitive digestive tract and sometimes they simply can't handle all the extras. Do just pellets and water for a week and see if the foam goes away. If it does, great! If not maybe take a stool sample to a vet in case it is coccidiosis. (Fresh, never frozen poo.) Any small animal vet should be able to find cocci in a fecal float.
Aprille

 

[LaynaDon95]

That's what we're doing now. (The pellets and water) I haven't given him any veggies since Saturday night? I think. Maybe Sunday morning. None since. Hopefully it'll stay that way.

 

[CALI CHICK]

That's what we're doing now. (The pellets and water) I haven't given him any veggies since Saturday night? I think. Maybe Sunday morning. None since. Hopefully it'll stay that way.

Dear Layna, I'm so glad you posted this question about your rabbit! I never would have thought to ask BYC, but it makes since that so many people who love their chickens also love other animals like rabbits.

Just last night I got in a big argument with a 4-H rabbit leader about feeding our Dutch rabbit TOO many greens!!!!!!! Like you, I had been advised (from someone else) to give our rabbits green, leafy veggies every day for one of their meals. We also provide Timothy hay and pellets. On the other hand, the Rabbit leader said maybe one romain leaf or dandelion leaf or piece of fresh spinach -AS A TREAT, occasionally. I was shocked and tried to argue that they needed the greens, don't they?

One of my other friends was there and mentioned that one of her horses will kill itself every spring by over-eating the pasture grass. In other words, animals in captivity often cannot self-regulate, especially if given too much of a good thing. So, I shut my mouth and decided this lady (4-H leader) might know what she's talking about.

Then, when I read your thread and so many of the responses, I'm convinced that their pellets, hay and water were formulated just right for them. Good luck with your lop ear bunny - they are so cute.

 

[LaynaDon95]

I'm glad my ignorance could help someone.

no more weird "goo" today. We'll try feeding him greens only as a treat and see what happens.
Thanks for all the advice!

 

[CALI CHICK]

Oh no, you aren't ignorant. The funny thing is, my son is SO happy that he no longer has to search the yard for dandelion leaves & my husband is glad that we no longer have to budget in the rabbit's gourmet meals of kale and collard greens into our grocery bill. From now on, we are just giving the rabbit small 'treats' of veggies too.

Glad to hear your bunny doesn't have any more of the foamy stuff!