Bunny weight loss tips

[Azerane]

AKA My rabbit is fat

I feel quite ashamed as a bunny owner right now. When I adopted Apollo and Luna both were overweight and easily lost weight after coming to me (which I was quite proud of having made them healthier). I think Apollo was 3.5kg and Luna 2.8kg. I ended up with Apollo down to a perfect 3kg and Luna at 2.5kg

In the past year I know that Apollo has put on weight again but being a bit slack I never actually weighed him. Today I did and he weighs 3.6kg I feel dreadful that it’s gotten this bad. I knew he was fat but I didn’t know it was that bad.

Here’s my dilemma, their daily diet is unlimited grass hay (we were on oaten but when I was able to get meadow about a month ago I switched to that hoping that the lack of oat seed heads would make the difference). 1 tablespoon of oxbow pellets to share, and leafy greens.

I will admit that I have been slack on feeding greens since the cats came along, and maybe it is a diet with not enough greens that is making him chubby. They get a treat maybe once a week and it’s always half of a quality bunny cookie each. I haven’t been giving any apple or carrot etc.

I am concerned because I don’t want him developing other health issues as a result, but I really don’t know where to start with his weight loss apart from more reliably feeding leafy greens, which is only going to result in him eating a little less hay.

Any suggestions? It’s his New Year’s resolution to not be a chubby bunny anymore

[DanaNM]

I wonder if it was the oat hay? I know my buns selectively eat the oat seeds vs. the stalks, so maybe your switch to meadow will do the trick with enough time?

Or maybe a different cut of timothy? I think orchard is the richest.

I think also encouraging movement might help. Not sure how old your two are, but I know as Bertha gets older she runs around a lot less, so I’ve been encouraging her to move around and forage for her pellets. As they get more free-roam time, they also seem to actually roam less. so I’ve been trying to change up their arrangement of hide-outs and toys to get my lazy loafs to explore a bit more.

. . . 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.  

[DarthVadar]

How old are they? As rabbits age, their metabolisms slow down, even if their appetites do not. What worked before to keep them healthy might not anymore.

[Azerane]

I intended to have replied already but had to double check their age from their adoption thread and got distracted reading that and in stitches laughing at the naming war.

Anyway, I’ve had them 2 and 1/2 years which puts them at 4-5 years. So they’re not old, but not young bunnies anymore either. Luna has no trouble with her weight, though I do think she is more active.

The only trouble with the meadow is that it’s not keeping their poops well sized, so I’m going to have to add oaten or wheaten back in. Timothy and orchard aren’t really an option because both are imported and very expensive here.

I do like the suggestion of rearranging their pen more often, I do agree that it will likely inspire more activity.

[DarthVadar]

At 5 years, rabbits begin to show signs of aging. Its like being about 40 in people years. So their metabolism probably is starting to slow down.

[jerseygirl]

Not fat, cuddly!!

Seriously though, it could just be a combo of his breed (mix) and having a compact body. Could you start doing the regular weigh-ins again and see if there is fluctuations? It could be that day he was retaining more fluid then normal.. idk.
Would he be scarfing more of the pellets then Luna?

Potamus has always been chubby looking -the majority of her life really. She got all the milk as a baby. But she has a compact body and 1 inch fur so that contributes to the look. After her recent head tilt, she did drop some weight and she has more defined look. A waistline and flatter planes over the hips. It’s surprising how quick that can happen.

All my buns eat oat, the seed heads and all, and they all have a varied look. Ailis is big due to her breed. Tim is slim always. Gooses weight fluctuates between good and underweight. Yet they all eat good amount of hay.

[Azerane]

That’s true DV, but he’s not allowed to show signs of aging yet I feel like I only just got them.

JG, oh he’s definitely fat, lol. I know the New Zealand Zealand him makes him really plush in the fur and also just prone to having a little more of a layer, but he really has put on a lot of weight. He’s always looked chubby, but it’s more than that now. I wouldn’t mind if he was at 3.2kg but that extra 400g is more than 10% of his body weight, which is huge for a little bun.

They share the pellets pretty evenly, Luna is always first at the bowl because she’s greedy and a bit smarter than he is, haha. Sometimes they don’t even finish them straight away. I think you’re right I’ll have to start weighing him regularly again, and thinking about it they’ve always been on oat hay so it’s not le I changed to that absess he gained weight.

I suppose I just really want to avoid it getting worse or any potential future health problems, because I know even a little bit of excess weight can be really tough on the body as it ages.

[jerseygirl]

I wonder if you could give an oaten hay and straw mix? So when they finish the hay, they only have straw until you give a new lot. It’s still good fibre.

[Wick & Fable]

Wick gained some weight (unintentionally) when we were in between leases and he had to stay in a smaller pen for over a week. He got a bit chubby….

To help with weight loss, I used a clicker to make him do circuits and work for pellets and food, haha.

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.

[DarthVadar]

Posted By Azerane on 1/03/2019 2:08 AM

That’s true DV, but he’s not allowed to show signs of aging yet I feel like I only just got them.

Lol i feel ya. I got mine 4 years ago and still call them my babies 

[DanaNM]

ooh the clicker is a good idea!

. . . 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.  

[Azerane]

It’s been almost 2 weeks and Apollo hasn’t lost a single gram yet To be fair I’ve been slowly building up their salad sizes again to prevent any potential gut upset and I’ve only just rearranged their pen today.

I have to work out how to start exercising him. He likes treats, but he’s not big on following for treats or taking food from hands. I’m going to have to find something that he really really loves and isn’t too sugary to undo the exercise we’re doing.

[Dface]

Its always hard when their diet is good and theyre just lazy ?
Have you thought about more interactive feeding-instead of getting pellets, they come in a treat ball, so work is required for them, or sprinkling them in a dig box(i used a childrens ball pit) to make them go digging and rooting.

Also, wont help with the mess, but giving hay in stuffed tubes, or boxes that they have to break or work for can help, as long as they are willing to work(no point if they juat decide to starve rather than work for it)

But otherwise Id say maybe cycle in different elements to their environment to keep it intresting. Mine show great excitement about their cage everytime i clean and slightly reorganise things

[jerseygirl]

Maybe bringing them into different spaces for an hour would help? Rabbits are normally curious and will go exploring. It could be tricky to do with the kitties though. It’s a shame we cannot just let them run outside when they like. Jersey and Rumball would do that, but Id be too nervous these days to allow my current bunnies to. Plus, they’re unaccustomed and it would be more stressful then enjoyable for them.

[Azerane]

A treat ball for pellets is a good idea, I’m not sure how successful it will be with a pair, but I’ll certainly give it a go. I have one in the box of bunny items I need to sort through

Yes, I’m not too keen on hay mess everywhere, lol. Plus Apollo is a serial out of box pee-er if he has the chance. I’d prefer not to encourage that. Maybe I could hang some hay up high on the second level so they have to stand up to pull it out, could be fun Hooray, mess

JG I had thought about the different space idea, the cats can be shut away that’s not too much of a concern as I do that when I let Dory out, but if I let them out of the pen to run around, will I end up with pen chewers who always want freedom? The other option is to take them to a different room that they can’t see from the pen, but all those rooms have carpet and a bed to hide under.

[Q8bunny]

Honestly, given your buns’ respective sizes, you’re not feeding them too much AT ALL. My money’s on the hay. We discovered twice now that hay (once orchard grass and once meadow) had alfalfa mixed in and Chewie became a tiny butterball SO quickly (a matter of weeks).

But a decrease in activity might also be the culprit. Maybe the buns play or explore less (alone or with you) since there are two kittehs now?

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