overweight or okay?

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This topic has 5sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 10 months ago by Wick & Fable.

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- 01/09/2022 at 4:10 PM
  Ellen
  Participant
  37 posts
  I was curious if my rabbit looks overweight or not…I always get comments about how large he is and while these are from people who know nothing about rabbits it still makes me a bit anxious. I have looked up how to check for obesity based off feeling his ribs spine and butt and they are all fine! But i can’t help but worry …could anyone put my mind at ease and tell me what they think? Btw he is an english lop mix who is abt 7-8 months old and is on a pellet free diet
- 01/09/2022 at 5:26 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  It’s really hard to tell a rabbit’s weight from photos unless they are really under or over. To me, in the pics, he looks fine! And he’s SUPER cute!
  
  Feeling is the best way. You should be able to easily feel the bumps of the vertebrae (similar to how the knuckles of you hand feel) but not the boxy sides of them. You should also be able to feel the hip bones, but they shouldn’t feel sharp. If you’re really concerned a vet can give a better assessment. Since he’s already on a pellet-free diet there wouldn’t be too much more you could do anyway! You can also weigh him regularly to see if his weight stays steady.
  
  Bunny breeds vary in body shape, so perhaps your uninformed friends are used to seeing other breeds or wild bunnies.
  
  . . . 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.
  - 01/10/2022 at 5:55 AM
    Ellen
    Participant
    37 posts
    Thanks a bunch! I checked him and he feels fine so that puts my mind at ease. If i have any more concerns about his weight I will likely take him to the vet but for now all is well
- 01/09/2022 at 7:00 PM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5813 posts
  As mentioned already, unless a rabbit is severely overweight or underweight, it is hard to tell from just photos whether a rabbit has deviated from normal weight. I also recommend feeling. For some informed parameters on what to look for, see here: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Weight_management
  
  Also, if you transitioned to pellet-free due to weight concerns, I gently recommend that you reinstate a small portion of pellets to ensure your rabbit is getting enough nutrients per day. For many people, sustaining a pellet-free diet that is nutritionally complete can be difficult (not assuming you can’t; just a general FYI!). There was a recent topic about this on Binkybunny last year: https://binkybunny.com/forums/topic/are-pellet-free-diets-any-good/
  
  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.
  - 01/10/2022 at 5:53 AM
    Ellen
    Participant
    37 posts
    Okay thank you! When I got him my original goal was pellet free from the get go but could I give him about a tablespoon a day in addition to his veggies (i give 2 cups of those since he is abt 4lbs)
  - 01/11/2022 at 8:34 AM
    Wick & Fable
    Moderator
    5813 posts
    The suggested daily diet quantities and contents Binkybunny endorses can be found here, if you want to double-check with our recommendations: https://binkybunny.com/infocategory/healthy-diet/ — a tablespoon or so is definitely a fine amount and will still provide additional nutrients that he may need.
    
    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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