Rabbit Is Eating A Ton And Losing Weight

[Ash]

My 4 year old indoor mini lop has been losing weight quickly (about an ounce and a half a week) for about a month and he’s getting very underweight. Giving more pellets doesn’t seem to do anything. His energy levels, hay consumption and general appetite are very high currently. I’m giving him way more pellets (oxbow adult) than you should to a mini lop (5 and a half tablespoons a day), and as much greens and veggies as I can without giving him excess cecotropes. He’s getting a good amount of exercise and he’s out most of the day. About 6 weeks ago he went to the vet for lice and got revolution and mometamax for it. His stool is normal but he’s been getting bladder sludge about once a day. He hasn’t been neutered yet. I’m doing my best to scrape together enough money for the vet and futilely crying and panicking in the mean time. If anyone has an idea of what might be happening I’d be real grateful for your words.

[jerseygirl]

I think oxbow critical care can help with weight gain so it might be worth looking into that. It can be fed in a bowl.

I think you bun will need some blood test done to check the liver and kidneys. How’s his water intake?

{{{Vibes}}}

[jerseygirl]

I wanted to add, your vet might want to look into treating E.Cuniculi as a precaution. It can sometimes cause rapid weightloss.
A rabbit may have this all their life and not have symptoms. Then it may flare up when their immune system has been stressed from something other condition or when they’ve become elderly.

[Bam]

I too think blood tests are necessary. Thyroid problems may speed up the metabolic rate considerably. Untreated diabetes causes wasting, but with diabetes you’d see vastly increased thirst and frequency of peeing. They should also look for blood-cancer. (I’m sorry, that’s a very scary word but massive involutary weight-loss with no apparent reason should always set off the cancer-alarm, by this I do NOT mean that he has cancer, just that it should be checked out. )

I don’t think it has anything to do with him not being neutered, it’s not like anything like this is a risk-factor for an un-neutered boy.

[LittlePuffyTail]

It would be good to get his teeth checked too. My Mini-Lop will lose weight when he needs his molars trimmed.

[Ash]

Thanks for the information, everyone. He gained a little weight about 2 days ago and hasn’t lost it; I’ll check out the oxbow critical stuff, though. His water intake is normal. Appetite and energy levels are still high. I will ask the vet about possible thyroid problems, e. cuniculi, and blood cancer when he gets the blood test. His molars look fine but I’ll have the professional look at them. I’ll let you guys know what happens, thank you all again.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Best of luck!

[Author]

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