Young Rabbit Stopped Growing

[Cosmo ૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡]

My Mini Lop Cosmo is 11 months and weighs 5 pounds but still has very prominent bones and I just can’t seem to get him to put on that weight. I could tell that his bones got bigger but the fat went down and even his tummy isn’t as plump as it always was. So I thought maybe he needs more in his diet. As of right now I feed him 4 tbsp alfalfa pellets, 2 cups of greens, and unlimited timothy hay ofc. He seems very healthy though like he has a healthy appetite, healthy stool, and lots of zoomies but maybe that’s the cause. I recently moved so now he has tons of space to run around compared to just a bedroom so maybe because all that exercise has been contributing to his weight loss. I read that Mini Lops usually reach their full weight around 10 months and are between 5-6 pounds so being at 5 pounds isn’t that concerning but he looks like he needs to be bigger. I was thinking to up the pellets but I should be switching him to timothy pellets soon so I don’t know if that’s the right choice.

[pinkiemarie]

<p style=”padding-left: 40px;”>Assuming Cosmo is the bunny in your profile picture I must say he’s adorable! Has he seen a rabbit savvt vet yet? It can be extremely difficult to judge the weight of rabbits and just like humans, some of them carry their weight on different parts of the bodies and in different ways. One of mine has bony shoulder blades but per his vet he’s at a good weight, whereas my other 2 are quite round but also a good weight. My best suggestion would be to take him in for his annual checkup with a vet that has experience with buns and see if they think he seems like he’s at a good weight. Since he has a good appetite and poos he’s probably fine but it never hurts to get an occasional checkup anyway.</p>

[Cosmo ૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡]

Yes that is Cosmo! ^^ And yes he’s been to the vet twice. I have an appointment on October 26th for a check up for a neuter. But that’s a day before his first birthday so I didn’t want to have to wait until then to get advice. I can’t do anything about the date because they have a packed schedule. That’s interesting but I don’t see how it’s okay for a Mini Lop which is supposed to be big bodied to have a skinny spine, tummy, chest, and hips.

[DanaNM]

I would keep up with his current diet and start weighing him weekly. Then you’ll have a good series of weights to share with your vet at his Oct check -up. Rabbits can have a bit of a redistribution as they settle into their adult bodies. Lean is not a bad thing for rabbits, but you are correct in that you want to make sure he’s putting on good muscle and isn’t losing weight.

. . . 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.  

[LBJ10]

Yes, bunnies can go through an awkward stage as they reach adulthood. They can look a bit lanky after reaching their adult size and have not filled in yet.

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