Bunny weight gain?

[baby-wilson]

My bunny peter rabbit is really skinny. Ive had her for a few years now and he was old whn i got her... so we dont know how long she has :( But she is like skin and bones basicly wich is really sad and arkward when i hold her...
And ideas on how to help her gain weight? I wouldnt want her to get sick and not have a bit of fat on her :(

Thanks

[Guinea-Tia-Flossie]

All my bunnies are right little porkers, but i love to treat mine....

Alfalfa cubes are brilliant for restoring fat naturally. Ruby, my rabbit, had back teeth problems and i didn't notice until she started looking thin, so i gave her Alfalfa cubes.and they worked a treat

Also try unlimited pellets or mix (if you don't already) for a while, mine are only given pellets once a day as they tend to make them too fat.

lots of hay, and maybe try some pet shop treats...i have seen that a company has bought out this new range called 'bordem brakers naturals' which have lots of lovely things, strawberry sticks (which went down very well with all my bunnies) and herbs etc...

and The Hay Experts sell some nice treats too.

Oh and try her with some Banana...this has the biggest fat content of all fruit...most bunnies enjoy it. Try and just let her eat off the banana while your holding it as they don't really like it when it's been cut and put in their cage.

and of course do it slowly, don't want her to get bloated because shes scoffing too much
:)

[katiep]

Poor Peter Rabbit - good luck!

[baby-wilson]

Thanks... so i just grab a banana for her... i dont have to do anything to it? They have pellets mixed into their dry food all the time and stanley is a fatty too lol :)

Thanks heaps

[maxthepig]

Oats are brilliant for weight gain in rabbits- try mixing a tablespoon with a little water (so they dont bloat up in her stomach) and giving it to her once a day.

Are you sure shes not ill though? Sometimes molar (back) teeth overgrowth can stop them eating as much- and rabbits hide pain very well.

[kayjay]

If you haven't had her checked by the vets I would do first, there might be a simple reason like her teeth as to why she's losing weight. I fattened mine up by changing to a mix as she didn't 'do' pellets ::) and she's now a lovely weight. Unfortunately her partner also eats them and now needs to diet although I'm hoping with summer coming the extra exercise will help him

[Loopylou]

I agree - take her to the vets as there could be a serious underlying problem or could be teeth.
You can increase her pellet intake and obviously always make sure she has plenty of fresh hay. Some porridge oats are good for gaining weight too.
Personally I would avoid commercial treats as they often contain things that aren't particualrly good for rabbits.
Banana often goes down well but make sure you only give a small amount - its very high in sugar.

[baby-wilson]

She is eating and drinking fine and is herself... i think she i so skinny because of her age... she always has a bowl of food and fresh hay... ill try the banana and see how we go... if i can find a pair of scales ill try weigh her ;D

Thanks guys

[baby-wilson]

mum bought bananas today and they are the size of a stapler ;D is it okay for peter to eat the whole thing? theyre smaller than my hand lol

... just tried feeding her half of the banana... uncut and she took like 4 tiny bites other wise she wouldnt eat it... shewont eat it cut up either. She constantly has pellets in her cage and they arent helping her gain weight... So ill try the oats idea :) and particular type of oats or just any?

Thanks guys

[Loopylou]

I really wouldn't give a whole banana!! It has too much sugar in it. A small piece every other day would be enough, I would say.
If you give oats then you might want to saok them in a little water first.
And I would still say best to get her checked at the vets. People often put health problems down to age, when infact there is something else going on. I would certainly want to get teeth checked to rule that out - often teeth problems show up as weight loss/lack of interest in food.

[baby-wilson]

oh... well peter didnt eat the banana but when i top up her food bowl in her cage she hoes in... ill see if i can get her to the vets :)

Thanks

[baby-wilson]

Im going to the shops in the morning... just normal oats?

Thanks!

[Loopylou]

Yup, just the porridge stuff!! Don't try and give too much though as like any new addition to their diet you want to do it slowly. It should just be a bit of extra to their normal feed as it doesn't contain all the vitamins, fibre etc they need - purely just to boost weight gain really :)

[baby-wilson]

she wont eat banana, she wont eat oats... she took two small bite out of each and that it... mum agreed to let me go to the vets so i am saving up :) in about a month ill have $40 :-\ ill have to wash some cars or somthing ;D

[Jane]

she wont eat banana, she wont eat oats... she took two small bite out of each and that it... mum agreed to let me go to the vets so i am saving up :) in about a month ill have $40 :-\ ill have to wash some cars or somthing ;D


That's good news. Could your mum pay and you pay her back after? :)

[baby-wilson]

Probably not :-\ were tight for money... paying for braces etc. it shouldnt take me too long to get around $60
I have a huge family and around 5 cars to wash that should get me $5 for the wash $5 for the vaccum ;D so $50 all up :)

[baby-wilson]

Good News... Peter munched a bit of the banana but unfortunatly no oats... but we will get there :)
Also my nan is coming for a cup of tea soon so ill see if i can wash her car (and vaccumm) for $10 ;D
$10 down $50 to go... :-\ lol