i think my bunnies a lil over wieght.. she's just over a year old and hasnt had any dietry problems up until now.
i recently changed her food to something better for her bowel etc and i've just picked her up for the first time in a few days and noticed that she weighs a bit heavier.
suggestions on helping her slim down again please??
have cut her food down,, and will increase her exercise amount, but any other ideas???

thanks x

That sounds about right to me.

Just one question how do you increase your bunny's exercise?

Mine has the run of the back garden after half and hour he flakes out and take a well deserved rest.

i put mine on a harniss and take them down the stairs to the front door.. then back up the stairs... then i let them run all over the house while i'm there to watch them.
they only stay in hutches overnight for protection.
my biggest prob is going to be cutting her food down.. she loves to eat :S
oh well..
its for her own good (literally) lol

a rabbits diet should be 90% good quality hay, 5% pellets like excel or other brands with at least 20% fiber, and another 5% veg.

a small shot glass of pellets is plenty for a small/medium sized rabbit. any more than this and she will just get fatter and fatter and will get lots of health problems.

Dont buy pet shop treats as they contain lots of oils and sugar.

Dont feed carrots apples tomatoes or any sugary fresh until she is down to a good weight. just greens like broccoli and dark cabbage.

If you can take a fold of skin in your hand just to the side of her head in her neck area then she is over weight.

offer a handful of fresh hay twice a day to encourage her to nibble wich will keep her teeth in good shape and her poos solid.

rabbits need space all the time at least a 6ft by 6ft run, so they have the freedom to do what they please.

also treat balls are a great way to get them running around for food or scatter feeding or hiding pellets in hay

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I would suggest staying on a pellet/hay diet until your rabbit is back down to regular weight and condition.

she is just on pellets and hay now, with the odd greens in there.. she has a treat ball, a hay ball and a ball she rolls around the floor for fun.
i'm making sure she gets even more exercise then normal to help with the weight loss.
i cant grab a fold of skin by her neck,, i can just feel the weight increase and the fact her belly's rounder then its ever been.
its been 3 days now and she's starting to get used to the low calorie food, less amount of food and more exercise.. just gona take a few weeks to get her back to 'normal',
thanks for the advice
xxx

Are you feeding them just pellets? all my rabbits were on a weight loss routine as they were all a little over weight. They now have a shot glass of pellets (depending on which breed i am feeding) then lots of spinach, brocolli n celery along with hay and straw. They can eat as much of that as they want and they lost weight very well. They are all now the perfect weight. Obviously this was combined with a run outside in there run everyday from 10am til 8pm.

Strictly NO carrots though! Very fattening...!!

If your bunny(s) dont loose weight they will find it difficult to groom themselves so the sooner you start the better x

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hmmmm.... i may be a feeder...

with my 5.....
Poppy - small handful dwarf pellets twice a day.
Patch - 1 handful once a day as he doesn't eat it.
pebbles - 1 handful twice a day , as he always eats it and wants more.
Mike and Dave - in the same hutch and they have a bowl full twice a day, and they scoff like i starve them!!

They all get fresh veg, cabbage, few carrot peelings, broccoli, kale, maybe a biscuit every other day, fresh hay and the excel ready grass daily.

is this too much?!?

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Laura x



Not forgetting.... New Additions



R.I.P - Dave 22.2.11 - i gave you the best year of your short lived life, I'll never forget you you naughty bun! Binky Free x x x

I'm sure my 2 would finish off a bag of pellets in 1 sitting if I let them, unfortunately you do have to be cruel to be kind.

I couldnt find any other diagrams than this one although I have seen plenty

Burgess Excel - Veterinary Recommended. Food you can trust | Rabbit health and advice from Burgess Pet Care

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