Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My rabbit has orange/red urine. Is this normal or concerning?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Small Animal | Rabbit | Male | unneutered

My rabbit has orange/red urine

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on July 4th, 2017

This urine color could be normal, as rabbits can have red/orange urine due to the extretion of plant pigments within the diet. It's also possible it could be caused by a medical illness such as stones/sludge within the urinary tract, cystitis, uterine adencarcinoma, or polyps. Even though it often turns out that the color of the urine is normal due to the excretion of plant pigments, it's still important to have Waffles (love his name!) checked out by a vet to be sure. I would bring him into the vet in the morning for a health check.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Sometimes, red urine is absolutely normal in rabbits. It can be caused by excretion of porphyrins or plant pigments. Medical causes include urinary tract infection, bladder/kidney stones, tumors or inflammation in the urinary tract.
You can have him examined by your veterinarian or by a veterinarian experienced in treating rabbits. A urine sample should be collected and submitted for urinalysis and culture. This may diagnose UTI. Abdominal x-rays may be recommended to diagnose stones or masses.
0Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Mariya Gugel, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on February 8th, 2018
Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is normal for rabbits to have slightly dark, orange to brown urine. Frank blood is never normal. This color to the urine is due to the natural breakdown products of the plants they eat. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have about Bells!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on August 31st, 2017
We can see reddish/orange urine for a variety of reasons in rabbits. Some of these are not cause for concern- such as diet changes (for example eating carrots or spinach in some rabbits can cause a change in urine color). Stress or dehydration can be a cause (perhaps your bunny wasn't drinking as much or was stressed by the travel?). We can also have urinary tract problems such as infection or stones. You can read more about this at http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18+1803&aid=2839. It is always safest to have a vet examine your bunny to be on the safe side. If this is just due to diet or stress, the color should return to normal in a few days.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA
Veterinarian
Published on March 14th, 2020
Pigmented urine in rabbits is normal and is related to their diet (carotenes in particular). As long as there is no increase or change in thirst, frequency or straining to urinate then I would not be concerned and would continue to monitor as normal
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Food & Nutrition

My rabbit has rust-colored urine. Is it normal or cause for concern?

Normal rabbit urine often reflects their diet and comes in many colors of red-orange-yellow and is not of major concern unless there are obvious blood clots, discomfort when urinating or altered thirst/fever.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

Why is my rabbit peeing red? Are raspberries for meds the cause?

Rabbit urine can be naturally more of an orange color than other mammals. This is partly due to their diet and partly their biology. If Olaf's urine is normally more yellowish than this and remains this color when you stop giving him medication and extra fruit (which is high in sugar so generally only given as a special treat), I would discuss this with your veterinarian. One way you can monitor urine color in rabbits who are litter box trained is to switch to white CareFresh litter, which will allow you to see the urine color more clearly than most other litter types. I hope this was helpful!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My old rabbit has orange urine. Is this normal or diet-related?

Hello, and thank you for your question. It's amazing to hear Rusty is almost 15! If all the foods you mentioned are regular items in his diet, it is unlikely that any of them are a cause for the orange urine. Sometimes if urine is left out to oxidize in air (i.e. he peed on the floor instead of in the litter box), it can turn a reddish-orange colour. If Rusty is otherwise acting, eating, and pooping normally, I would keep an eye on him for now. If any of these behaviours change, I would recommend taking him to the vet. They can test his urine sample for any evidence of abnormal crystals or bacteria, and also assess the concentration of his urine to ensure his kidneys are functioning normally. His diet seems just fine. The only thing I would be cautious of is not to feed spinach too often, which it doesn't seem like you are doing since it is in rotation with other veggies. Spinach in large quantities can cause calcium crystals to form in the urine. I hope this helps, and that Rusty is happy and healthy!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My new female rabbit has orange-pink urine. Is this normal?

Hello, and thank you for your question. Bunny urine usually oxidizes the longer it is exposed to air, so it is normal for it to turn a shade of orange-pink as in the photo. However, if you notice she is urinating in unusual spots, or if she is acting off or eating or pooping less, then I would recommend seeking veterinary attention. It may be related to a urinary tract infection, bladder stones or crystals. In the meantime, ensure that Rose drinks plenty of water which will keep her urinating and flushing out any infection or crystals out of her bladder. You can do this by providing her usual green leafy veggies soaked in water for a few minutes before giving them to her. I hope this helps, and that Rose is well!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My rabbit has reddish-brown pee. Should I be worried or see a vet?

Hello. What you are seeing are porphyrin pigments in the urine. This is perfectly normal & may come & go. Make sure his pelleted diet is fresh & appropriate for rabbits. Rabbits absolutely need hay & grasses to live well & should be available to Snow all day long. You can feed other green leafy plants such as broccoli, cabbage, chard, parsley, celery leaves, watercress, kale, endive & carrot & beet tops. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My bunny has orange pee and isn't drinking after its friend died.

Usually orange or red urine in rabbits is due to plant pigment dicolouring it, especially beta carotene from carrots, so this is likely why the urine is orange. This is not so concerning but not drinking is. The bunny may be anxious following the death of its friend or could be sick with gut stasis or something else. Considering what happened to the other rabbit I would have this one checked over by the vet asap. Not drinking could quickly lead to dehydration and is a sign something serious is going on.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My rabbit's urine is red or bloody. Should I take them to the vet?

The first thing I would want to find is if the urine really has blood in it. Rabbit's urine can often look like it has blood in it, because they excrete a certain pigment (porphyrins) in the urine. This can be due to a diet high in carotenoids (carrots, mango, papaya, other orange fruits and vegetables) and stress. Blood in urine can also be a sign of infection. The best thing you can do is get the urine tested by a veterinarian. If Thunder otherwise seems fine, then it would be OK to wait a day or two and see if the urine does not look like it has blood anymore. Keep in mind that a rabbit's diet should be mostly grass and hay. Fruits and vegetables should be less than 10% of their diet. Also make sure that Thunder has a bowl of clean water available at all times.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share