Inadequate availability of fresh water may reduce food intake as well. Do you know the signs to look for to know if something is wrong and need to take your rabbit to the vet? Blood work can often help pinpoint the problem. Join The HAY CLUB For New Blog Posts, Discount Codes, And More! Although leafy green vegetables can be a part of a healthy rabbit’s diet, feeding them in excess can cause a rabbit to lose weight too quickly and be unable to maintain proper weight over time. Any time a pet starts losing weight you will want to get a veterinarian to check the animal out so diseases can be ruled out. Renal disease can cause wasting, and if he's eating a lot but still losing weight, this is one possibility. Jessica H. (Washington), "Awesome Timothy Alternative! There are, however, two very important considerations with this: the rabbit must be freely grazing hay throughout the day, and the hay must be of good quality. Weight loss can result from a reduction in muscle mass, often due to inadequate exercise caused by decreased mobility, lethargy, pain when moving, or because the rabbit is caged too much of the time. Of course, other dental disorders cause hyporexia [diminished appetite], such as maloccluded incisors. Straw is never a substitute for grass hay, regardless of how obese a rabbit may be. It can't gain weight if it is not eating. Even after weight loss is accomplished and the rabbit is on a maintenance diet, the bunnies may have to be separated during feeding time to ensure that the once-overweight rabbit does not overeat. Marie Mead has been involved in various capacities with animal rescue, advocacy, and education for over twenty years. In this condition, fat cells replace liver cells, resulting in a severely damaged liver. For example, it may be that the rabbit’s area is too warm, another pet appears threatening, the rabbit is in a high-traffic area or, conversely, isolated away from the family, or perhaps children inadvertently mishandle the rabbit. Even if the diet were supplemented with some pellets and leafy greens, the rabbit would likely suffer muscle problems and weakness. If either of those conditions is not met, then a rabbit must be fed pellets to ensure proper nutrition and prevention of hepatic lipidosis; this has already been addressed. A less obvious source of pain can be caused by elongated tooth roots, with or without abscesses, also caused by lack of eating hay; this can only be diagnosed with a lateral-lateral skull X-ray. Determining the rabbit’s ideal weight and the length of time necessary to achieve that goal will help to establish a course of action that the caregiver can follow. To treat dental problems in rabbits, take your rabbit to the vet as soon as you start noticing common signs, such as weight loss, slobbering, discharge from its eyes or nose, bad breath, and reduced activity. Some older rabbits simply become thin for no apparent reason. It is preferred to discontinue leafy greens during a serious weight-loss program. This state of bad health is typically referred to as cachexia, and it needs immediate medical attention. It may not seem like a big deal if your dog, cat, or other pet skips a meal, but if a rabbit does, it may be an indication of an emergency situation. Such a great deal and a great way to find out which hay your pet will love!!" The only true way to know what happened to your rabbit is to have an autopsy done. Building muscle mass becomes the goal and, in the case of an arthritic bunny, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, and alternative pain management (e.g., acupuncture) can help. – Marie Mead. Rabbits can't digest those other foods well, and they eventually lead to digestive problems. You could have your veterinarian do that or you could have it sent to a local veterinarian school for an autopsy. In the article “Deepening the Bond: How to Connect with Your Rabbit through Massage,” licensed massage therapist Chandra Beal advises that “laying on of hands or light fur strokes would be appropriate for showing affection and reducing stress while the bunny is dieting.” Tellington TTouch® is another form of bodywork that can benefit your rabbit. Quality hay is not always available locally or throughout the year, and quality can vary for various reasons, such as climate, soil, and the way the hay is handled and stored. However, if you are having problems with your rabbit not eating hay, you should be prepared for a syringe feeding. It is considered a fat cat when it exceeds 15% normal weight (which can differ according to the cat's breed, age and sex). Wild rabbits usually cover a … She is coauthor of Self-Assessment Color Review of Small Mammals and author of numerous lay and professional writings on rabbit medicine and care; she has also lectured extensively in the United States and Europe. (However, too many greens can lead to weight loss instead of weight gain.) Failure of internal organs can also lead to weight loss. General signs will include a thinning of the body, a reduced size and appearance, and weakness. It is also recommended that caregivers base the pellet amount on the individual needs of a rabbit (e.g., health, age, weight, activity level); the amount fed one rabbit may not be appropriate for another. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. It’s fresh and long strains instead of all chopped up like most hay you purchase in a store. Monitoring the rabbit’s environment – for example, protecting against high temperatures that can quickly lead to heat stroke – will help prevent other health problems. Most people love adorable, fluffy rabbits, but there does come a point where a rabbit is too fluffy- when their bulk is not fur, but fat. A sudden cessation of eating or a decreased amount of feces signals a problem as well. Heatstroke. Entice the overweight rabbit to a different area by offering just a few little pieces of greens, keeping Dr. Brown’s comments above in mind. Fruits are also too rich in sugars for rabbits. It’s important to realize that treatment is not simply a matter of increasing caloric intake. The most rapid way to accomplish healthy weight loss is to feed a diet of quality grass hay only. My bun was never a fan of softer hays but luckily the Coarse Orchard Grass crunches like Timothy! Make sure it's bottom isn't poopy. Toxic bacteria in the intestinal tract will overwhelm the beneficial bacteria, leading to serious illness and death if the rabbit does not eat. His inability to gain weight while eating lots of carbs is actually a bad thing, since he’s constantly losing muscle mass and enduring all manner of glycation inside. A rabbit losing weight can be a sign that they have cancer, parasites, kidney disease, an infection or more health issues. Most of these involve either pain that will make it difficult for the rabbit to eat or a build up of toxins in the body that affect the brain and other organs, making the rabbit feel either nauseated or not hungry. This article addresses the most common issues, including signs of dental disorders; pain management (analgesia); diagnosis, treatment, and home care of dental problems, including malocclusion of incisors and of molars; euthanasia; and prevention of dental disorders. There could be different reasons outside of health concerns that your rabbit stopped drinking water. So what do you do when you think your rabbit is sick? If the rabbit has a buddy (of any species), social time will become more enjoyable when the overweight rabbit is able to move more easily. back problems – intervertebral disc disease; ... had a slow time of it while eating both canned and dry. Note: Rabbits’ teeth have an apex instead of a true “root,” but the word “root” is used in this article. We are going to the rabbit resue tomorrow to look at a white rex rabbit. It's often fed to young rabbits bu… Claire C. (Ohio). Take note of any changes with as much detail as possible so you can give as much information as you can to your vet. The signs and symptoms may depend on the underlying cause for the weight loss and cachexia. 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