Fatty

[Mykl]

I have a young girl, she’s about a year old, spayed, active, but fat. When she lies stretched out on the floor she bulges in the middle quite substantially. I’ve never over fed my rabbits, and her husband (who is quite capable of getting his fair share of food) is trim. My friend’s rabbits get a lot more food than mine but they aren’t overweight, even the greedy one! Could my girl have some sort of digestive disorder or thyroid problem?

[Benthebunny]

it depends on the breed and the weight. my bunny is three lbs, so he gets

2 tblspoons pellets a day

unlimited hay

and a cup of lettuce.

[Mykl]

But does your rabbit bulge in the middle?

[Q8bunny]

Can you provide a bird’s eye view picture of this? Some rabbits have wider rib cages that fan out, so to speak, when they’re on their tummies. Do you see a little waistline below the bulge? If yes, then your bun’s likely not fat. The best way to tell with buns really is by feel. When you pet your girl, can you feel het spine, hip bones, and shoulder blades as though you were touching pencils through a padded pencil case? That’s what a healthy weight rabbit’s skeleton should feel like. Hope this helps.

[Mykl]

Posted By Q8bunny on 9/01/2016 10:45 PM
Can you provide a bird’s eye view picture of this? Some rabbits have wider rib cages that fan out, so to speak, when they’re on their tummies. Do you see a little waistline below the bulge? If yes, then your bun’s likely not fat. The best way to tell with buns really is by feel. When you pet your girl, can you feel het spine, hip bones, and shoulder blades as though you were touching pencils through a padded pencil case? That’s what a healthy weight rabbit’s skeleton should feel like. Hope this helps.

Yes, I can feel her bones quite easily. There is no more padding there than on any other rabbit. I can’t go by weight as she’s not pure blanc de hotot and I believe the mix made her rather small for the breed.

I’ve attached a recent picture that’s bird’s eye view, you can clearly see she looks like she’s swallowed a ball. I’ve also attached a picture from March, when she was just reaching adulthood.

[LBJ10]

I don’t think she’s overweight. I’m just going off your picture though. If you can feel her bones as Q8 described, then I wouldn’t be worried.

[Q8bunny]

Her waistline is clearly defined (it tapers in, instead of muffin topping out) so I’d say she’s a healthy bun.

The ball you’re seeing is her ribcage spreading out to allow for all of her internal organs and her extensive digestive system to spread out a bit when she’s stretched out on her tum.

[Q8bunny]

PS: She’s a beauty! Those eye markings and long lashes are gorgeous. *swoon*

[LittlePuffyTail]

Agree with the others. She’s stunning!

[Melon]

she is so cute. both of my rabbits have the bulge in the middle.

[Author]

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