Rabbit Weight Scale

[Muffinluv]

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/k…ng7Efmsh8E

I live in Canada, and my mom is unwilling to let me buy a nice scale “You wont even use it!”  I told her I want Muffin to be healthy so I found this cheap scale that looks pretty good.  Do you think it would work for a Little Holland Lop?

Thanks

[Beka27]

That link isn’t working for me. Do you have a regular bathroom scale? You could just weigh yourself, then with yourself holding the bunny, and subtract the difference. It won’t be exact, but close enough to give you an idea.

[Muffinluv]

Someone here is smart….. And it sadly wasn’t me XD,

Thanks Beka, I am having a face palm moment here!

[buddyboy]

I dont have a scale,but im always feeling buddies tummy during his daily massages.I’ve noticed he has alot of extra skin,the vet noticed to,told the other vet…do you feel that?…yes,its just extra skin…is by buddy eating too much? Is it harmfull? He always has over an inch thick of 3 different kindsa hay,always a handfull of lettace,a carrate,slice of apple,pellets….it looks like an all you can eat buffet all day,everyday.should i limit his food supply or let him eat whenever he wants?

[Deleted User]

Hi buddyboy – love the new name! I just finished dealing with Henry’s new diet (yes, was over loving him with food!) Just let you know what I was told. Hay should be the bulk of his diet, at least 80%, and if he doesn’t eat it, keep trying till you find one he likes – that was my big problem. Pellets should be nutritional, unlike the one I bought (found it had no nutrition at all – doh) & only up to a 1/4 cup a day (actually a bit less, I am reducing Henry’s intake as I found out I was overdoing it) and about 1 – 2 cups of veg a day. Lettuce should be a dark leaf variety (and limited?), along with all other dark greens. Carrots are high in sugar and should be treated as a fruit and given as a treat. (Just found out about the carrots too!). I heard a lot of BBer’s talk of ‘Kale’, had no idea what it was????? Just went to my local fruit and veg shop, and can you believe I just walked into it with a big sign!!!! So obviously bought some – Henry loves it!!!!! (Thanks guys).
I have his hay available at all times, but feed Henry his pellets and veg at night when I go to bed so he has something to do while we are asleep. But I’m sure everyone does what works for them – this works for me. Hope this helps a bit…. Cheers!

[LongEaredLions]

Muffinluv-If you want a closer measurement, that scale will work. I use one like that for my bunnies/piggies and in works well. I just put a bowl on it, turn it on (if you put the bowl on before you turn on the scale it will zero out.)and plop bunny in.(with a treat to hold them still)

[Dwarf Sparrow]

I agree with LEL- a change in ounces could alert you to health changes that you would otherwise miss with a human-weight scale. And you can tell your mom that she could use the kitchen scale for kitchen things, to really get your moneys worth out of it; if you put Muffin in a bowl, it’ll keep the scale extra clean.

[LongEaredLions]

DwarfSparrow-that’s what I do. I only have once scale for my kitchen and my pets. After pet uses, I remove the bowl and clean the scale with a wet ones. Keeps it nice and clean!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I bought a cheap kitchen scale at Walmart for around $11. It works great and I’ve had it for years. It has a little plastic bucket that I sit the buns in, Bindi JUST fits, so is only good for buns under 5 lbs. I weigh my buns once a month and record their weight on a calendar.

[Bam]

I too have a cheap kitchen scale and weigh the bunny in a bowl on it. I think it’s a very good thing for a rabbit-owner. F ex when my Bam had to loose 400 g, I weighed him once a week so I could see how the diet I’d put him on worked out. After he reached his target weight I weigh him once a month and make a note of his weight in a document I keep for everything “important” about my pets.

But I had my scales long before i had my bunnies, I think it’s indispensable in the kitchen.

[Sarita]

My rabbits would not fit on a kitchen scale….in the past when I’ve owned one I bought a baby scale.

[Muffinluv]

Wow, Thanks Guys! I’m Gonna Pick One up on Sunday!

Muffin is gonna love being plopped in a bowl (Tee Hee Hee! My Revenge!)
He hates it when I pick him up so I don’t do it much (Once, twice or thrice a month I pick him up completely, check his boy bits and such…)
But When I do, I consider it payback for being his slave every other day >:-) I apologize with offerings of food afterwards…

I often say muffin is a chubby bun, He isn’t really but I want to make sure he is in the green!

[Roberta]

I noticed Starsky also had a lot of extra skin when I had to pick him up post pen escape this morning… Unfortunately there is also A LOT of extra rabbit to fill it… I am going to be looking for some diet advice tonight.

[Muffinluv]

UPDATE:

So I got the scale, it is great! But I think Muffin is a bit….. Fat….

He is 4 pounds…… 2.002 kilograms

Is that okayish or should I crack down on a diet?

[Sarita]

Well you cannot just judge by what is on the scale since a healthy weight just varies by rabbit and not necessarily breed.

[Muffinluv]

Good good, He doesn’t look like he has his skin pouring over.

He also eats his poop straight from his bum with no problem, so I think were covered. I’m still gonna be a bit wary of how much extra treats I give him…

[LongEaredLions]

If you are concerned about his weight, bring him to a vet. But I think he is fine, he is a holland lop right? Many holland lops are around 4-5 lbs

[Muffinluv]

Yeah he’s a Holland lop, He is completely fine, I’m just an overly paranoid bun-mom.

I read about all these different bunny ailments and start prodding Muffin for warning signs. I think Muffin is annoyed at how I constantly lift his tail to see if he’s cleaning.

“Mom! I’m 5 Months old, I can do it myself! GIVE ME SOME ROOM!”

Tell me, do any of you suffer from OverprotectivebunmomItis?

[LongEaredLions]

Yes I suffer from that illness… My doctor says the only cure is to spoil a bunny

[Muffinluv]

Lol…. Then I seem to be doing the right thing

[Elrohwen]

4lbs for a holland is fine – my boy is 4lbs and he’s on the skinny side (based on feel). I don’t own a scale, just use my hands and see what they weigh at their annual vet appointment. It would be helpful during the winter months because they poof up a lot, so it’s harder to tell if they’re gaining weight. Lops just tend to look fat too because of their body shape, even if they’re not.

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