Overweight. Need help with diet and exercise.

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 6sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 2 months ago by mocha200.

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- 01/02/2012 at 12:17 PM
  mocha200
  Participant
  4486 posts
  I am pretty sure that Mocha is over weight. On these pictures he would be the fat and overweight pictures.http://www.therabbithouse.com/diet/rabbit-weight.asp I know this is not a way to tell for sure if he is overweight with out going to the vet but there are other things that make me think he is, like:
  
  He has a bulge by his neck that looks like a dewlap (but he’s a boy) ,
  
  when he bends down down to eat is cecals he has to move around to be able to reach his butt.
  
  he never runs around. I try to let them out for exercise and he is to scared to step out of my room. Lulu hops out just fine but mocha wont budge and ends up just chomping away on his hay instead.
  
  he is not good at jumping onto things and most of the time doesn’t make it. He can jump onto short ledges but doesn’t jump onto couches and up and down stairs like Lulu does.
  
  So, My question is how to make him lose weight. Here is his diet and exercise schedule.
  
  Diet:
  
  Unlimited water and hay
  
  He shares 4-5 cups of veggies in the morning with Lulu
  
  1/4 cup of pellets for Lulu and 1/4 cup for Mocha at night. Although I am not positive he gets that much or gets more because I spread out the pellets throughout the room, so I don’t know how much he gets.
  
  treats 2-3 a week. I am very picky about them.
  
  Exercise: He is free range in my whole room and is never shut in his 2×5 condo. I try to let them out into the living room/hallway as often as I can, but even when I do he doesn’t go out. If I pick him up and put him out there he sits in under the coffee table and wont come out.
  
  So my question is, Should I change his diet at all? maybe give him a little less pellets? How do I get him to come out and play to exercise?
- 01/02/2012 at 12:26 PM
  Stickerbunny
  Participant
  4128 posts
  When you give him treats, make him come to you for them if he will – my two have to run across the room to get their craisin, sometimes I make them run into their own room if I am putting them away and using a treat to tempt (so it’s two rooms away). Can also try putting the pellets in a treat ball, some buns like that and it causes them to work for the food. Cutting back on pellets might help, I had to cut down on what I give my two because Stickers was eating her share then eating half of Powders share and getting a bit pudgy. lol
- 01/02/2012 at 12:42 PM
  Sam and Lady's Human
  Participant
  2001 posts
  Might want to separate the buns for dinner time for a week to see how much he’s actually eating? Is that possible at all? If not, I’d cut back to 1/8 of a cup of pellets.
  
  We also use a treat ball for pellets, it makes it so they don’t just mow down on them.
- 01/02/2012 at 12:46 PM
  Elrohwen
  Participant
  7318 posts
  Keep in mind that he’s a lop – they have very stocky body types and almost always look fatter than other breeds. Both of mine are very solid and I always think Hannah is fat, but every vet she’s been to (three so far) have all said she was just fine after feeling her.
  
  It sounds like he gets a decent amount of food – the only thing I see is cutting back pellets to may 1/4c shared between them. That’s how much I feed my two and they’re in the same weight range as your two.
  
  For exercise I’d work on training. Just about the only way I can get Otto moving about is to work on tricks with him (I use pellets so the treats aren’t fattening)
- 01/02/2012 at 12:58 PM
  mocha200
  Participant
  4486 posts
  Ok, I used to make him jump over a jump for his pellets. I guess I should start doing that again. I think I may separate them for pellets and cut back. I remember right when Mocha and Lulu were bonded I tried doing that and Lulu could never finish hers. Thanks guys! If you guys have any tips on how make him not scared of the living room that would really help!
- 01/02/2012 at 1:21 PM
  Elrohwen
  Participant
  7318 posts
  I find that food conquers most fears 😉 Give him his pellets for coming near the living room and finally for going right in and he’ll probably come to like it in no time. What’s the flooring like? That makes a big difference too.
- 01/02/2012 at 1:49 PM
  mocha200
  Participant
  4486 posts
  All the floor in our house is wood. Even in my room, But I have a 5×7 rug that covers almost the whole floor. Also their is a 5×7 rug in the living room which is where the coffee table is, which might be why he doesn’t go any where else. Hmm, I guess I might be getting some rugs.
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