Too Skiny?

[AlicePalace]

Ive noticed in the last couple of days that my youngesst bunny PJ (18 weeks) seems to be quite a skiny bun. Ever since ive had him hes never eaten as much as my other bunny, i would say he eats half the amount. Hes still very happy and energetic poops are normall size for him and healthy. But ive noticed i can feel his back bone and ribs slighty when he lays down. hes a lionhead so hes small anyways. but do you think i should be worried about his weight.. if so any ideas how to fatten him up?

[Otti]

Hi Alice,

Someone else might have a more exact answer but my rabbit Sammy (also about 18 weeks) is the same way and I’ve been kind of wondering the same thing myself at times. He’s ‘skinny’ as in I can somewhat feel his ribs and spine like you said.

I think as long as your bunny is eating a lot and seems energetic you’re fine. At this age they’re supposed to have unlimited hay and pellets, so make sure you keep him supplied with them at all times if you’re not doing so already. Also, you might want to look into either giving him alfa-alfa hay or alfa-alfa younger bunny pellets if you’re worried he really is too skinny.

I think rabbits tend to fill out more towards the end of their ‘growing’ phase, while at first, when they’re younger, they’re just growing rapidly in length and general size.

What does everyone else think?

[Andi]

What are you feeding him? What’s the protine % of the pellets, and what kind of hay?
There are a bunch of reasons a young animal can be skinny, from needing more protine or fat while they are growing, to having worms etc. , or they could just be skinny until they are spayed/neutered. If you are really worried, I would ask your Vet, they can look them over and make sure the weight is not a health concern.

I had an unspayed elderly (and sickly) bunny who was hard to keep weight on, and she ate like a horse!

[AlicePalace]

im feeding him pets at home pellets, the protine is 16% and he eats pets at home timothy hay and a couple of times a week he will get some veg. Im planning on getting him neutered soon so i can ask the vet to check his weight if im still worried. it frustrating to see him not putting alot of weight on

[Otti]

from the pets at home website for the junior rabbit nugget which I’m guessing is what you feed, based on the protein % you mentioned:

Ingredient(s):

Cereal Grains, Dried Forages, Derivatives Of Vegetable Origin, Minerals, Oils and Fats, Fructo-Oligosaccharides, Profeed, Entercoccus Faecium M74.

Typical Analysis:

Moisture 9%, Protein 16%, Oils and Fats 4.5%, Fibre 16%, Ash 7%.

Is it okay if the first ingredient is cereal grains? I’m not sure so I’m asking others…

 

These are the ingredients for the junior version of an Excel Burgess brand of pellets they sell in the same store (pets at home)…. I think it looks more similar to oxbow… Not sure if oxbow is available in the UK (that’s where you are right?)…. 

Ingredient(s): 

Grass, Oat Bran, Wheat, Soya Bean Hulls, Peas, Soya, Molasses, Yeast, Soya Oil, Mint, Ligno-Cellulose, Calcium Carbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Fructo-oligosaccharides 0.25%, Salt, Methinoine, Vitamins and Minerals, Probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC SC47 E1702 1 X 10^9 CFU/kg). Contains Natural Antioxidants. 

Typical Analysis: 

Beneficial Fibre 36%, Crude Fibre 17%, Protein 16%, Oils and Fats 4%, Ash 6%, Calcium 0.9%, Phosphorous 0.50%, Vitamin A 15000iu/kg, Vitamin D3 1500iu/kg, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol acetate) 120mg/kg, Vitamin C 50mg/kg, Copper as cupric sulphate 12mg/kg.

 

I would imagine your rabbit would actually get ‘fatter’ on the one you’re using though lol so I guess I’m not that well informed but hopefully someone else can give you some advice about the ingredients in the one you’re currently using (top) and whether the bottom one might better… 

 

[LoveChaCha]

I have 2 friends that have Lionheads. One that got her Lionhead a week before I got my dwarf. From what she has told me, Lionheads mature much slower. Her Lionhead was about 2.2 pounds around 5 months old or so. Your bunny should be getting unlimited pellets since he is a young bun

[AlicePalace]

Yes i am in the uk Yeah PJ Gets unlimited pellets and hay.. Hopefully he will podge up soon then

[Author]

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