Bunny losing weight

[sarah_ann]

Hi guys,

I am a little worried about my bun. He has suddenly started to lose weight for no apparent reason.

He was neutered on the 4th December and has had a check up since. He has healed well, is eating/drinking well and his droppings are normal. During the operation he had his molar teeth filed down as they were quite bad from when he had been at the breeders but he has never stopped eating while I have had him.

Any advice??

Thanks, Sarah xx

[Sarita]

Hi Sarah, are you actually weighing him? How much weight is he losing?

[sarah_ann]

I don’t have any scales. I am going to buy some today – will normal kitchen scales be OK? When he was weighed at the vets 9 days ago he was around 1.3kg so I will see what the difference is later. He doesn’t look much thinner but I can feel it when I pick him up – his ribs are more prominent.

[Sarita]

A kitchen scale should work if you can get him to stay on the scale. Weighing him would be the best way to determine if he is actually losing weight.

[sarah_ann]

Thanks Sarita, I have reserved the scales at my local store. Will be picking them up shortly and I will update this thread with his weight. Thanks for you help.

[sarah_ann]

Ok so I have just weighed Bailey and he has lost 270g/0.6lb (assuming my scales are correct). I will be ringing the vets in the morning but any comments from you guys??

[Sarita]

I might suggest a fecal exam.

[LittlePuffyTail]

My buns have gained/lost weight from time to time. If it’s significant or continuing weight loss, definitely talk to a vet about it. It’s a good idea to weigh your bun every month and record it so you can monitor any gain/loss.

Hope your bun starts to put on some weight soon. Please let us know what the vet says.

[sarah_ann]

Quick update on Bailey.

Went to the vets earlier today and he weighed 970g

The vet isn’t too sure what the problem is as he us fine in himself, so we are trying a 9 day prescription of wormer with a follow up appointment on the 27th to see if that is the cause.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Sorry to hear that. I hope he starts gaining weight back soon.

Did you bring in a fecal sample?

Some vets will recommend blood work when a bun is losing weight.

((((((Weight Gaining Vibes)))))

[sarah_ann]

No I didn’t take one in as they didn’t request one when I called up. He said the next step would be the blood tests etc but at least if it comes to that my insurance will cover it. £50 for the wormer

but he is worth every penny!

[sarah_ann]

Update:

Bailey had an unexplained “episode” (as the vet called it) on Boxing Day (26th Dec) and I ended up at the Emergency Vets at 5am UK time. It turned out that he had Hypoglycaemia and they have no idea why. It was horrifying – he had no energy, collapsed, couldn’t move himself and had a small seizure! But he was fine as soon as they gave him glucose via an IV.

I went to my normal vets the day after and he had even put on a bit of weight! – which is a fabulous sign!

I am hoping that what happened was a one off – however weird and traumatising it was! – and if he puts on more weight in the next week then things are looking up

[LittlePuffyTail]

Wow, scary! I’m glad he’s okay. I’ve never heard of that happening to bunnies before. Is it something your vet has seen before in bunnies?

They seem to always know when the vets are closed, don’t they? I’m just glad he’s okay. And Yay for gaining weight!

[sarah_ann]

It was very scary!! No the Vet was quite confused by the whole thing! Seems to think it was because he had so little energy reserves due to the weight loss so his body kind of shut itself down.

Bailey says thanks for the well wishes

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