I had Pickle's at the vet on Wednesday. She's put on a lot of weight - too much. My mum overfed her while I was in hospital for those three months. The vet told me to gradually wean her off her greens and give her hay and grass only until she loses weight. Thing is that I don't have any grass at my house. There is a nature walk up the road where I guess I could get grass from daily.
Can anyone else give me advice? Does that mean no treats at all? Should I still give her her dried excel nuggets. If I can - I will get the low sugar ones and gradually get her onto that.
She's not grooming herself. I need to do it for her and with her current run - I can rarely catch her. So I have decided to get her new run constructed asap. Maybe nexgt week. I emailed the guy who quoted me today regarding it. I can go inside the new run and sit with her and groom her there. Poor wee pet. Hopefully she will run about and jump up onto the other level in the new run and get more exercise.

I would feed her a few tiny bits of veg providing her bum is clean. then plenty of fresh hay and half a shot of pellets (like 15 pellets) this is what I am currently feeding Miffy on. It seems really mean, but has to be done. I wouldnt stop the pellets all together as they contain vitamins, oils and minerals that she wont get from hay.

When I rescued our Clover she was very overweight. We just gave her a set amount of Excel each day and allowed her to run around the garden everyday. Took a few months, but she lost weight. Especially the waddle under her head/neck!

I had to do that with Angel my bunny a few years ago, she was only allowed Hay and a few bits of greens, no carrots, no mix(they had mix then).
With the Fab 3 cos they were fairly overweight when I put them together, I have halfed the pellets and supplied them with as much hay as they want and a few greens.

*Heidi*

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Sienna has just done this for 5 days, hay only but tons of it!! she lost 8 oz had to then gradually re introduce pellet tuesday.

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Don't get grass from a place you don't know, you never know what could be on the ground in the way of weedkillers and pesticides that would do Pickles any good! I would give hay and a smaller amount of rabbit mix or pellets.

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Thanks and thanks everyone else. When you all say a little greens - how much is a little greens? Would a cabbage leave be too much or are we talking minuscule amounts.

Thanks. x

I dont think greens are very fattening, carrots are the worst ones! I would say a cabbage leaf a day would be ok, a very very small amount of pellets if you feel bad and as much hay as she can eat!
It worked wonders for Angel on just Hay and water as the vet said and then just added the greens as she started losing weight, then as she got thinner, added a few pellets. Its also great for their teeth as they are eating much more hay!

*Heidi*

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Thanks Heidi. That's a relief to hear that I can give her a cabbage leave or perhaps some kale etc. She's not really into her pellets but probably will be more interested in them now her food is being cut. I'll be sure to give only a few pellets each day.
Thankfully her wee teeth are ok. Vet checked them on Wednesday. I give her lots of things to chew on and she is good about chewing them. Her favourite is the carrot tree. She has that demolished in a week or so.
Thanks for your advice.
Jacqui x

Good luck, and stay strong, no matter how she looks at you with that cute face!!!

*Heidi*

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