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FORUM HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Losing weight

  • This topic has 9sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 5 years ago by LBJ10.
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    • Bernard2020
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        Recently Bernard has been seeming a littler skinnier to me. So I weighed her by weighing myself and then weighing myself while holding her and then subtracted the weight. I’m not sure if that’s a reliable way according to that she weights 2.8 pounds which is way less than she used to. Her vet keeps records of her weight and this is how it has been:

        6/26/2020 (before spay/weighed at vet): 4.75

        9/16/2020 (after spay/weighed at vet): 4.44

        2/18/2021(weighed at home): 2.8

        Could it just be different because I’m using a different scale than the vet did? She has been more active recently so that could be why? Is this something I should take her to the vet for? Or just keep an eye on? I haven’t noticed any other symptoms.
        Thank you


      • Bernard2020
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          I forgot to add that I was giving her alfalfa pellets (I thought they were Timothy) until about November, then I switched to Timothy. So maybe she was only over weight due to the fattening alfalfa pellets?


        • Bam
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            It is fairly difficult to get an accurate reading on normal human scales because a bun weighs so comparatively little. Plus your own scales are obviously not calibrated like the vet’s scales are. I dont know if you could perhaps borrow scales from someone or buy one? It doesnt have to be anything fancy or expensive. I put my bun in a bowl and weigh him on digital kitchen scales. It’s safest to do it on the floor in case the bun decides to get the h out of Dodge, so to speak.

            If she actually has lost all that weight, she would’ve had to be quite obese to begin with for it to be a normal effect of stopping alfalfa pellets. Have your vet said anything about her being  overweight?

            Do you have pictures?

            Here is a web site with pictues that illustrates varous degrees of normal body shape vs obesity or skinniness in a rabbit:

            http://www.therabbithouse.com/diet/rabbit-weight.asp


          • Bernard2020
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              I know someone I can borrow a kitchen scale from, I’ll try that. Back in July the vet said she was overweight and told me to cut back in the pellets. I don’t think she was extremely overweight, just pretty chunky. Thanks for the link!

              This was her last night:

              and this was her in July:


            • DanaNM
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                While it’s true there can be variability in weight between vet’s scales and home scales, I’ve never experienced it to be that much weight… usually it’s on the order of ounces difference.

                She looks noticeable thinner now, and just from the photo I would consider that to be underweight.  Looks like she lost 1.6-ish lbs, about 37% of her body weight from the post-spay weight. Unless you had her on a diet that was aimed at getting her to lose weight, I would take her in to the vet soon to see what’s going on.

                . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  


              • Bernard2020
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                  Ok, I’ll have to make an appointment for her to go into the vet. I hope it’s nothing serious. Do you know what it could possibly be?


                • Bam
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                    I agree with Dana, she has lost a lot of weight and unplanned substantial weight loss should always be investigated, both in humans and animals.

                    Several things could be the cause. Your vet will probably want to do bloodwork. Bloodwork is a very good diagnostic tool.


                  • DanaNM
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                      Agree with Bam, could be a number of things and bloodwork is usually the first step.

                      . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  


                    • Bernard2020
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                        Ok thank you both!


                      • LBJ10
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                          I agree, she looks noticeably thinner. I would have the vet check her teeth and do blood work. They may also want a poop sample to test for internal parasites.

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                      FORUM HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Losing weight