This sweet little lady hopped in for her routine 6-monthly health check, an especially important visit as she’s now 11 years old. Regular wellness checks play a vital role in keeping senior rabbits comfortable, healthy, and thriving.

Alongside her physical exam, where we checked her weight, listened to her heart, looked in her ears, eyes and mouth and checked for signs of arthritis, she also had her UPC (urine protein creatinine ratio) checked. Like many rabbits, she lives with a protein losing nephropathy, a type of kidney disease. While this condition can’t be cured, it can be carefully managed with ongoing monitoring and medication. Regular blood and urine testing helps us ensure her treatment is working effectively and allows us to catch any changes early, even those happening behind the scenes.

Why losing protein in your rabbit's wee matters

Kidney disease is common even in younger rabbits and often is without obvious early signs. Proteins lost through the kidneys include the proteins that build your muscles, allowing your blood to clot when it should. The proteins are also part of your immune system and carriers of medication around the body. The proteins themselves can do further damage to the kidney over time causing more extensive kidney disease and damage.

Common signs of protein losing nephropathy in rabbits may include:

• Drinking or urinating more (sometimes not in the litter tray)

• Weight loss despite a good appetite

• Muscle weakness

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We use regular check ups and monitoring of blood and urine samples to help keep her happy and healthy.