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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum DIET & CARE How overweight is Rizzo?

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    • Moon_Bunny
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        On Wednesday I took in a 1 year old unspayed female to save her from being dropped off at the already crowded SPCA, where she could have ended up euthanized. She had super long nails, is very unsocialized, and I feel that she is significantly overweight. Most likely from a diet of mostly pellets and lack of exercise. I feel so awful because she was originally my rabbit. I got her when she was just a baby to bond with another young rabbit I had at the time, but it didn’t work out in the long run. A few months later I moved in with a friend and during that time she bonded with her neutered bunny. Living with said friend didn’t work out, so we agreed when I moved back home that we would “share custody” of her, so to speak. I didn’t want to take her away from her bond-mate.

        Now that has ended up happening anyway to save her.

        So back to the question at hand… I feel that she is very overweight and just want to get some other opinions. She looks to be a Mini-lop who needs to lose a pound or two. I’ve got her on a diet of Timothy hay available at all times, 2 cups of 3 types of greens/veggies, and a small amount of Purina Rabbit Chow Complete.

         

         

         

         

         


      • Deleted User
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          She’s beautiful. I’m no expert with weight. I would get the bun looked over by a rabbit savvy vet. They should be able to tell you if the bun is on point with weight or needs to lose some. I’m sure with some exercise time she’ll drop any unneeded pounds. I am obligated to say though, that you should get the little girl spayed. Female buns have a 80% to 85% chance of getting ovarian cancer. Also, the bun will lead a happier life overall. You never know once the little girl is spayed your current bun and this new one might be able to bond.


        • Sarita
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            I agree about a vet and a spay. She does look a bit chunky to me, but cute.

            I say get her spayed and then get her exercising to help her lose the weight. Maybe if she has some mental stimulation it will help her lose some of that weight.


          • Moon_Bunny
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              Oh, I already know all about the dangers of having an unspayed bunny. I appreciate the warning though because many people are not aware. I have two other bunnies, a bonded pair, they are both fixed. I’m waiting for a low cost spay voucher to be mailed to me from the local SPCA, then she will be going in. I believe the vet I will be using requires a pre-spay/neuter health exam, so I will definitely ask about her weight.

              I just had Rizzo out for exercise. Hopping around and exploring completely tired her out in less than 30 mins. One of my other bunnies is 3 years older than she is and he does sky high binkies with big kicks and twists without tiring as quickly. He is in much better shape though.


            • bmt87
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                As far as the “being in shape” thing – it seems the consensus is that most lops are sort of lazy. I wouldn’t use use lack of binkies and running around as an indicator. My lop runs for 30 seconds twice a day and then lays down for an hour (or five hour) nap and literally that is not the slightest exaggeration. Her cage is open ALL day but she just isn’t that active and prefers to loaf and have head rubs all day.

                I’d just feed her a healthy normal rounded rabbit diet (which it sounds like you are doing) until you see a vet. You may want to be careful with what veggies you are giving her and introduce them one at a time slowly as to not shock her system if she hasn’t already had them OR you don’t think she has had them in awhile.


              • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                  Honestly she doesn’t look that chubby to me. I would have in for a vet check and spay, but unless the vet says anything, i bet she’ll even out with proper diet and regular exercise.

                  Rupert was very unsocialized when I got him, and you could never tell now so don’t give up hope that she’ll get used to and settle right down into a great bunny


                • Elrohwen
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                    She looks a little chubby to me, but lops often look that way when they’re not actually fat. I call Hannah “fat” all the time, and she looks like a chubby little thing, but every vet has said she’s at a perfect weight, so it’s just her build. Can you feel her ribs?

                    I’d see what a vet says. I bet with a proper diet and more exercise her weight will come down to a good level.


                  • LittlePuffyTail
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                      Ditto, Elrohwen. When I got Olivia she was quite overweight with rolls and everything. I took her off the junk pellets, started a healthy diet and with daily exercise, she slimmed right down.

                      Rizzo is beautiful. She reminds me of my little lop I used to have. How sad that she was going to end up at a shelter.


                    • Hazel
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                        I looked up the food you are feeding her. It says it’s Alfalfa based. Alfalfa should only be fed to young rabbits up to 6 months of age, it’s too rich for adults. You have to find her Timothy based pellets, otherwise it will be hard for her to lose any weight.

                        She’s very cute! 


                      • Moon_Bunny
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                          I have been feeding the Purina Rabbit Chow Complete for years without problems. My two other bunnies are 4 years and 2 years. I switched to it from Oxbow Bunny Basics Timothy years ago because on another rabbit forum I frequent they established that, when fed in such small amounts and part of complete diet (hay, veggies/greens), alfalfa based vs timothy doesn’t really make an impact.

                          Of course I would be more than willing to make the slow transition back to timothy based if you think it will cause problems.

                          Unfortunately I cannot get my hands on Rizzo to see if I can feel her ribs or not. Anytime I attempt to touch her she runs away frightened. I’m currently working on trust training and get getting her used to my presence.


                        • Hazel
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                            Well there’s more protein and calcium in Alfalfa, I guess some rabbits can be on it without problems, other than weight I don’t know what the long term effects might be. I read somewhere that too much calcium can be linked to GI stasis. Timothy also has more fiber. And since you are trying to slim her down it might be helpful to switch.

                            How sad that she’s scared of human contact  Poor thing.


                          • Elrohwen
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                              How much are you feeding per day? I tend to agree that in very small quantities it shouldn’t matter if it’s alfalfa or timothy, but maybe for an overweight rabbit it could make the difference.


                            • equalsign
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                                She looks just like a black version of my late rabbit Bunny. Her body structure looked much like your rabbit’s, and the vet always said Bunny’s weight was fine. Your rabbit might be very slightly over, but it isn’t really anything you should freak out about. Mini lops can be up to 6 pounds, and she doesn’t look that heavy to me.


                              • TH004
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                                  I fed my first rabbit Purina Rabbit Chow Complete the whole time I had her (nearly 6 years). She did pass of GI Stasis, but it was brought on by a prolonged sickness. She never got Stasis any time other than that, and she refused to eat hay (I didn’t know to keep trying to force it).

                                  However, since I’m scared of Stasis, I won’t feed Purina to my current rabbit, but he is also prone to it, due to his molting issues (we have done everything to prevent it, we promise!). I use Oxbow’s food instead.


                                • Snowytoshi
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                                    Posted By Hazel on 08/26/2012 04:27 PM

                                    Well there’s more protein and calcium in Alfalfa, I guess some rabbits can be on it without problems, other than weight I don’t know what the long term effects might be. I read somewhere that too much calcium can be linked to GI stasis. Timothy also has more fiber. And since you are trying to slim her down it might be helpful to switch.

                                    How sad that she’s scared of human contact  Poor thing.

                                    Alfalfa can also cause sludgy bladders and bladder stones which are expensive to remove and painful for the the rabbit 


                                  • Moon_Bunny
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                                      Posted By Elrohwen on 08/27/2012 11:37 AM

                                      How much are you feeding per day? I tend to agree that in very small quantities it shouldn’t matter if it’s alfalfa or timothy, but maybe for an overweight rabbit it could make the difference.

                                      Dunkin & Amber get around 1/3 each, they are dwarf mixes. Rizzo has been getting 2/3 cup nightly. My plan is to slowly wean her down to 1/2 cup of pellets. She was getting a big bowl full where she came her from, although that was shared with a big Florida white boy.

                                      I’m torn between if I should switch back to Oxbow Timothy or not. I have never had a GI upset with my bunnies, so far.

                                      I also am thinking that Rizzo isn’t overweight. It is weird… sometimes she looks very overweight, other times she looks perfect. It depends on how she is sitting. I’m used to my small dwarf mixes. Perhaps I am just not used to seeing the roundness of a mini-lop. Plus she has a thick coat. The moment of truth will be when she gets weighed at the vet.

                                      Very happy to report that last night when I had Rizzo out she did binkies all over the place! It almost got me teary eyed, seeing her explosions of joy. She is already coming out of her shell. She chinned by big toe (lol!), has let me pet her head, and let me approach her pen without jumping up when she was doing the dead bunny flop.


                                    • Monkeybun
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                                        That seems like a lot of pellets to me. My buns only get 1/8 cup each… and my 2 girls share that 1/8 cup.


                                      • Snowytoshi
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                                          Posted By Monkeybun on 08/27/2012 03:57 PM

                                          That seems like a lot of pellets to me. My buns only get 1/8 cup each… and my 2 girls share that 1/8 cup.

                                          My bunnies who are each five pounds get 1/3 cup each. We go by the House Rabbit Society’s guidelines, but I know some people prefer to feed less pellets or none at all.


                                        • Moon_Bunny
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                                            That is what I try to go by as well, the HRS guidelines.


                                          • LittlePuffyTail
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                                              Love your avatar pic, Happi Bun. Way too cute!

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                                          Forum DIET & CARE How overweight is Rizzo?