Underweight bunny?

[peepi&warri]

Ever since I’ve cut back on pellets for my buns, it seems that Peepi’s lost a good bit of weight. When I took him to the vet in the beginning of January, he weight 4.6 pounds (the vet didn’t think he was particularly over weight at this weight). Then when he went to the vet mid February he weighed 4.1 pounds. He’s a holland lop, by the way.

He just feels very bony and the fur above his shoulder blades parts like in the picture below whenever he puts his head down or stretches out (it never did this before). This isn’t normal, is it?

So how do I get him to gain weight without increasing his pellets? He gets bladder sludge, which has been better since I’ve cut back on his pellets (he gets about a tablespoon a day), so I can’t just give him more pellets. Do I give him even more greens? I did increase the amount of greens I give them when I cut back on the pellets, but I guess not enough. He has hay available at all times too.

 

 

Bonus pic: Peepi in a dustpan!  

[Sarita]

If he has bladder sludge you most likely won’t want to increase the pellets – I would try do more veggies first if it was me.

[Beka27]

4 pounds is about right for a holland lop. Does the vet think he’s underweight now? I agree, if he can eat more veggies (and definitely more hay) he should be able to maintain a healthy weight. House rabbits tend to weigh more than they should, there’s nothing wrong with feeling bones, as long as the vet doesn’t think he’s underweight.

[peepi&warri]

The vet didn’t mention anything about his weight last time. I think he’s lost a bit more weight from his last vet visit too. I’ve not weighed him since though.
When he was at 4.5 lbs, he was bony feeling too. Now its even more so. Before he felt sturdier when I pet him, now he seems very delicate and fragile. The hair on his back parts all the time like in the picture because his skin is so tight on his shoulder blades.

I’ll try giving more veggies. He’s always hungry and begging for food, so maybe he’s just been trying to say “you’re starving me, mommy!”

[KatnipCrzy]

I think the best thing would be to have your vet check him.  Or you could call and talk to the vet- there should be a medical note if the vet felt he was a little underweight.  If your bunny has bladder sludge issues- you vet may prefer that he be on the skinnier side of normal.  I know there is a lot not understood about bladder sludge and different theories- but I think overweight can aggravate bladder sludge, so it might be healther to be on the skinnier side of normal if bladder sludge is an issue. 

I do not have a lot of experience with bladder sludge- but I know some other members do.

I am not sure what to say about the parted fur.  It does not look abnormal.  Even if he lost some weight his skin should still be loose.

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