Why Does My Rabbit Drinks A Lot Of Water?

Have your rabbit's skin lost elasticity?

Does your rabbit's diet consists of many salty treats or just a few vegetables?

Does your pet exhibit any of the following symptoms: hot ears, listlessness, lying with its body stretched out, a wet nose, fast breathing, tossing the head back, nose twitching rapidly?

Is your rabbit in a hunched or straining position when urinating?

Does your rabbit also have an increased appetite and excessive urination?

Does your pet exhibit any of the following symptoms: loss of appetite, pain, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and mouth), diarrhea, lethargy and depression, weight loss, neurological problems?

Does your rabbit shows any signs that it's in pain?

The reason your rabbit is drinking more than usual may be because it's dehydrated. Rabbits can become dehydrated easily. Diarrhea is one of the main causes of dehydration, as it results in a huge loss of water. Diarrhea is a serious condition in rabbits and should be addressed by a veterinarian immediately. If you’re not sure why your rabbit is dehydrated, take them to a veterinarian.

Your rabbit could be getting too much salt or not enough vegetables. Salt will dehydrate your rabbit and veggies contain a lot of moisture so having too much salt or not enough veggies can be the cause of their issue and should be remedied. Try slowly upping your rabbit’s vegetable intake, but watch for signs of diarrhea. And if your rabbit has a salt lick, remove it. Salt licks are unnecessary for rabbits and can do more harm than good.

Your rabbit may be overheated. Drinking cold water helps to cool rabbits’ bodies from the inside. Overheating can be deadly. So, move your rabbit to a cool area immediately. If possible, place an ice pack within their reach.

Rabbits can contract a urinary tract infection. If your rabbit has a UTI they will have very dark, thick, cloudy urine and in extreme cases will yell out in pain when they urinate, you may also notice them in a hunched or straining position when urinating. Urinary tract complications will cause your rabbit to drink more as the more hydrated they are the less painful it will be to urinate. Kidney stones and bladder stones will also cause this reaction from your rabbit.

Rabbits can have type one and/or type two diabetes although for a rabbit to have type one diabetes is rare. Both type one and type two diabetes will have the symptom of drinking too much water. Other symptoms to look for are excessive urination and a highly increased desire to eat.

Many things can cause the liver to stop functioning as normal. It can become inflamed by viruses, or scarred and damaged by cirrhosis. It can even fail altogether, due to infection or consumption of a poisonous substance. Liver damage is considered severe. It isn’t always fatal, and if caught in time can be treated. Your veterinarian can conduct a blood test to check your rabbit’s liver function. Treatments will vary depending on what’s caused the issue in the first place.

When a rabbit is in pain they will either drink too much water or not enough. Pains that will cause a rabbit to drink more are usually caused by a dental issue, an injury, or an upset stomach. There are many reasons your rabbit might be in pain. Visit a veterinarian for an examination.

Some rabbits naturally drink more than others, if you have a rabbit that has always drunk more than 1-3 ounces per pound then this isn’t a reason for concern. Rabbits will also drink more when they are molting (shedding), and tend to drink more in the warmer months or if they live in an area with a warm climate.