Putting on weight..

[MissBunns]

Bunny went to the vet yesterday and from the last time (a few months) she has lost weight. The longer Jack is around her the less of a gentlemen he is. At first he made sure she was eating, had enough, didn’t step on her, etc. Now he literally rips food from her mouth, smashes her when he walks/jumps around, and is completely selfish! So I know that I have to feed her separate so she’s getting what she needs. But..

I have no idea how to put it back on with her. Jack wouldn’t be a problem, but Bunny’s tummy is soooooo sensitive.

I can’t give her lots of pellets, fruit, etc. because she’ll get poopy butt.

Is alfalfa horrible for them if it’s only for a little while? What about sunflower seeds? Which foods should I give her in tiny amounts that will start fattening her up again? She went from 3.2 to 2.8. Which is a lot when she’s already so tiny. I feel so bad that I let this happen.

[MimzMum]

I wouldn’t recommend seeds of any kind. A bunny’s digestive tract is so incredibly twisty, not only can things like seeds become lodged in nooks and crannies, but I just don’t think bunnies digest seeds well at all.
Alfalfa is good for baby bunnies, but not so much for adults, although I’ve used it in moderation with my older lop when he began losing weight recently, then I was able to discontinue it as he plumped up again. It is full of calcium, which can be too much for some bunnies’ bladder or kidneys. You’d have to keep an eye on her urine, to be sure it wasn’t becoming chalky.

It’s always best to ask your vet what they would prefer your bunny eat also.

[MissBunns]

Yeah, I knew seeds weren’t good for them, but I just thought that was to have them on them forever. I guess I won’t try that.

The alfalfa will definitely be used in moderation for her, and I’ll watch her like a hawk so we don’t have any internal issues. That’s my nightmare with alfalfa…

And yes, I’ll talk to my vet, but again, Bunny is unusual. She’s sensitive to everything. I hoped someone on here had experience with sensitive buns. :/

[jerseygirl]

Ditto with the sunflower seeds. I recently learnt they (and other oily seeds)can cause the rabbits system to heat aswell and can trigger them to shed.

What about trying some rolled oats? Also some wheat hay. I don’t know if it would be fattening but I’m told it’s slightly higher in calories then oat hay.

There are some specialty feeds too your vet may be able to advise on. For recovering rabbits and older rabbits I think.

Reading this and your other thread, definitely get her teeth checked out. Weight loss is another sign that her teeth could be troubling her.

[MissBunns]

Ahhh! Rolled oats! How could I forget about that? I’ll be sure to pick some up, along with oat hay.

It isn’t her teeth. Her teeth are perfectly wonderful. I wish it was, because then at least I would know. But the vet looked, hoping it was her teeth, and her teeth are great.

Unless there is something that can be wrong with her teeth that you need x-rays for? I just want answers :/

I am going to probably say that the weight thing is Jack though, because this whole weight thing has only been an issue since he came into the picture. She’s still eating just as much, as happily, as before…she just probably isn’t getting as much as she used to since he takes it all (literally, he takes it and hides it)

[KatnipCrzy]

Did the vet say that she needed to gain weight???

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