Hi all!
First of all, I would like to say that I hope anyone reading this post does so with a nonjudgemental lens because it is something I feel a little embarrassed about. My rabbit has been on a “weight loss journey” for the last couple of years. I am really proud of how far she has come and I hope she feels the difference in her day to day life.
The trouble is, according to the vet she still needs to lose 1 more pound. For reference, she is 8 lbs currently and the vet wants her at 7 lbs. I don’t really know what breed she is, but when I rescued her as a baby I was able to see her parents and they were some big ol’ buns.
I weigh her every two weeks to see how she is progressing, and in the last 3-4 months I have noticed her weight plateauing at the 8 lb mark. Up until this point, I was giving her very limited pellets, unlimited hay, and a big salad. She would get a treat about once every 3 weeks.
Since I noticed her weight plateauing at the 8 lb mark, the vet has cut out all pellets (so she is just eating the hay and salad). This was a few months ago and she is still stuck at 8lbs.
She has had her thyroid checked so we know that this is not the issue. She has healthy teeth and digestion.
Overall, she is a very happy and active bunny. As I mentioned, I am proud of the improvements she has made and hope she feels better, but if I can help her even more I want to do that too.
I feel bad giving her absolutely no pellets and I worry that she is almost in “starvation mode or something”, but I also want to do right by her and keep her at a healthy weight.
Does anyone have experience with this issue? I am seeking advice, validation, your own experiences, etc.