Helping with weight gain

[prince dorian the bun]

Dorian is recovered from stasis and sur, but lost about .1 kg. His appetite is not back at 100%, at least not for hay. He eats it just not quite as enthusiastically as before. I have been a little more generous with pellets with him (he usually gets about 8th cup, and adding about a teaspoon more). Anything else I can do to help him gain some weight back?

[Bam]

I had good result with adding some rolled oats (porridge oats) to my Vilde, who was a hard keeper. Rabbits often love rolled oats, its easy on the tummy and gives good energy. A few sunflower seeds and/or pumpkin seeds could also be beneficial. I have a young fosterbun who was very skinny when I got him due to a situation where his brother hadn’t let him eat much. I got him to gain 500 grams in a month with the aid of extra pellets, oats and some seeds. (He really needed that weight put on).

I know moderator Dana supplements her elderbun with Emeraid maintenance formula. It’d of course be best if you found something that you didnt have to syringe feed, since syringe feeding can be stressful for many (but not all) rabbits.

[Wick & Fable]

Feeding CC would be good, and my current vet recommends this over increasing pellets too much since CC is formulated to be more well-balanced than pellets, so it’s addition is less likely to cause any upset.

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.

[DanaNM]

Yes I was going to suggest Emeraid, critical care, or the sherwood recovery food, whichever Dorian likes best! My buns all love Emeraid, they are divided on the sherwood, and only Cooper likes critical care haha. You can also make “critical care cookies” if Dorian doesn’t like mush.

. . . 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.  

[prince dorian the bun]

How do I make critical care cookies?

I like the idea of oats, how many did you give @bam?

[Wick & Fable]

I found it easiest to mix the CC as a slightly thicker mixture (i.e., less water), put it in a plastic bag, cut off a corner, and pipe it as strips so they dried faster in the oven (200F for 15min+, depending on how long it takes to dry out). Then I would break apart the strips into pieces.

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.

[DanaNM]

Here’s a recipe! You basically make the CC into a thick paste and then dry them out at low temp in the oven: http://chinchilla-resources.com/chinchilla-resources/critical-care-cookies.asp

. . . 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.  

[Bam]

As for rolled oats, I started out with like half a teaspoon. Then I gradually increased the amount to 1 tablespoon per day, divided up into 2-3 servings. I gave him about 6 sunflower seeds (shelled) and 3-4 pumpkin seeds per day. Seeds are rich in fat, and fat stimulates gut movement. Good quality vegetable fat contains essential fatty acids which are needed for many bodily functions.

[prince dorian the bun]

Thanks everyone!  I’ll try making the cookies for sure. Dorian was not impressed by the oats, he ate one and ignored the rest. I will try seeds, unfortunately the sunflower seeds I have are salted. Usually I get raw, but didn’t last time (I like them in human salads), I will pick up some unsalted seeds next time I go to store.

I’m also offering him hay where ever he is and he’s munching that. Miu loves that too. Granted it isn’t ideal for me as I have a bit of a hay allergy,  but I can deal with it for a bit until he gets his strength back.

[Ana William]

It’s great to hear that Dorian has recovered from stasis and surgery, but losing weight can be a concern for rabbits. Here are a few tips that might help him regain some weight:

Offer high-calorie foods: Offer Dorian high-calorie foods such as fresh vegetables like carrots, parsley, and lettuce, or supplement his diet with high-calorie pellets and hay cubes made for weight gain.

Encourage exercise: Encourage Dorian to exercise by providing him with plenty of space to move around and interactive toys to play with. This will help to stimulate his appetite and increase his food intake.

Offer hay often: Offer hay often and in different locations to encourage Dorian to eat more. Offer hay before feeding other foods and change the type of hay you are offering to see if he prefers a different variety.

Consider offering wet food: Offer small amounts of wet food such as canned pumpkin or pureed fruit. This type of food is higher in moisture and may be more appealing to Dorian.

Monitor his weight: Monitor Dorian’s weight regularly and consult your veterinarian if you are concerned about his weight loss or if he continues to lose weight. Your veterinarian may recommend further diagnostic testing or treatment if needed.

It’s important to keep in mind that it may take time for Dorian to fully regain his appetite and weight, so be patient and supportive. If you have any concerns, it’s best to consult with a veterinarian experienced in treating rabbits.

[prince dorian the bun]

He loved the cookies! I don’t want to over do it, so what it a good amount?

And thanks Ana. His appetite is picking up more each day. Doing most of the things you suggested,  though I trying to keep the sugars low so his only fruit is a bit of banana to help with getting him to take his meds. Once he’s done I will scale that back even more.

[DanaNM]

Yay for cookies!

I’m honestly not sure on the amount, but I think if you aim for around a tablespoon or two of critical care per day, that’s probably a good amount for just supplemental feeding. If he starts eating less hay then you’ll know to scale it back.

. . . 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.  

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