Helping a bunny put on weight

[Dixie]

Hello! I recently brought home a new bunny, Bear, and I’m hoping to find some tricks to help him put on more weight! I don’t have any background information on him at all, as he was dumped in the shelter’s parking lot a few weeks ago. He was seen multiple times by the shelter’s rabbit vet, who determined that he is about a year old and aside from being super underweight, is very healthy. Bear was neutered last Wednesday, and came home that night! 

The first few days at home he had a surprisingly massive appetite, and would get insanely excited when I would fill his bowls (even immediately after getting home from his neuter). Now it seems like he’s realized he doesn’t have to worry about not getting fed anymore, and it’s harder to get him to eat as much as I would like him to! He is currently eating free choice timothy hay and timothy pellets along with an alfalfa cube each day and fresh veggies. 

Are there any tips or tricks you guys have found to help a skinny bun put on weight? It seems like we’re at a standstill with the weight gain, so I would love to hear any suggestions you may have! Thank you in advance!

[Wick & Fable]

First, is it distinct that he’s just not eating as aggressively versus he’s not eating because he’s ill? That’s an important difference to make sure we’re assuming correctly. If it’s health-related, a lack of appetite can be a symptom, rather than a result of lifestyle change.

Wick was underweight for a while when he was young. When this was discovered, my vet’s directions were “Feed him Critical Care, twice a day, as much as he will eat.”. This translated to Wick eating 5-8 large syringes of Critical Care, twice a day, for a week. His stomach was so big and massive after a feeding, it was so amusing. After doing that for a week, Wick regained normal weight and has maintained it ever since with no revision to his diet aside from removing the Critical Care. Perhaps this is an option you can discuss with your vet?

I will note that Wick willingly ate all that Critical Care. He loves it and I’d stop once he’d turn his head and run away with a huge, full stomach.

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.

[sarahthegemini]

What about sprinkling a bit of Alfalfa hay on top of his timothy? What a lucky bun to have a caring new owner

[Fluffykins]

I’d say more alfalfa hay. Maybe up the (healthy but fattening) treats for now? Dried pea flakes are meant to help put on weight. And as long as no other sugary treats are being given I’d give a tiny nibble of a seeded treat.

Try to ensure it’s just seeds that are safe for rabbits. Nothing else like corn and dried carrots and other junk. If he’s on veg, I’d also give more root veg, that’s supposed to increase weight gain.

It’s a fine line between putting on healthy weight and having sugar overload so if you do try the extra or regular treats route, please be aware of that.

Fluffykins was sick for a week and lost weight in that time; he wasn’t severely underweight or anything but I wanted to get it back up to what it was so if anything else was to go wrong health wise, he’d be in the best starting weight to fight it off.. I stopped ALL treats accept seeds. He’s only been better a few days now but I’ve given him a 10 minute nibble of his seeded treats (literaly only been a few days) but he’s already put on some weight. I think I did it for 3 days so far and I don’t need to do it anymore.

I had ordered some dried pea flakes at the start of all this but I don’t need them now – so I havnt managed to test that out.

I didn’t alter anything else, no extra pellets and no extra alfalfa hay (he gets one handful of alfalfa every few days, max twice a week). However, he’s still on alfalfa pellets.

He’s back to gobbling down his hay again YAY

[Sirius&Luna]

I thought seeds were bad for bunnies – but maybe thats because they’re fattening, which is fine in this context.

I’ve also heard that rolled oats are good for bunnies putting on weight, and they supposedly love them!

[Fluffykins]

Posted By Sirius&Luna on 11/29/2017 5:54 AM
I thought seeds were bad for bunnies – but maybe thats because they’re fattening, which is fine in this context.

I’ve also heard that rolled oats are good for bunnies putting on weight, and they supposedly love them!

Yep it’s the fact they’re high in fat and normally come with a plethora of other “no no’s” like grains and sugars.

I’m really strict with carbohydrate intake because that can cause so many digestive issues.. So I specifically got a seeded treat that was only seeds. Held together with honey which is why I stopped his other treats (because sugar again can wreak havoc with their digestive systems).

He normally hardly ever gets treats unless we are doing clicker training but when he was sick I was giving treats everyday (and quite a few pieces because I figured he needed the energy), so when I started the seeds thing, I stopped his other treats. Btw by other treats I mean dried (nothing else at all added) strawberries, dried herb (nothing else added, no sugar) drops, fresh carrot and Apple pieces. He didn’t want banana
:blinkit was my first introduction of it).

[Dixie]

Thank you all for your replies! I think I will start supplementing his diet with sunflower seeds as treats and alfalfa hay, and if I don’t start to see results I will consult his vet about adding Critical Care. He feels like a bag of bones compared to my other rabbit, so I’m hoping this route works!

[LittlePuffyTail]

How wonderful that Bear has a great new home.

I give my senior lop 2-3 TBSP per day as suggested by my vet to help him keep his weight on. He’s still much skinnier than I’d like but with his age and other health problems, I don’t think he’ll ever be where I want him. But the CC helps him keep the weight he does have.

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