Urine Specific Gravity and Urine Osmolality in Healthy Pet Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus

Renal concentrating ability in mammals can be evaluated by determining either urine specific gravity (Usg) or urine osmolality (Uosm). However, in rabbits, reference ranges are currently lacking for Uosm, whereas those for Usg are considered wide and aspecific. This study therefore aimed to establish reference ranges for both parameters in healthy rabbits as well as study their correlation and the potential effects of gender, age and breed type of the rabbit, and the method and time of the sample collection on Usg and Uosm. For this purpose, morning and evening urine samples were collected from 98 clinically healthy, privately-owned breeder rabbits. Usg and Uosm were subsequently measured using clinical refractometry and freezing-point osmometry, respectively. […]