best way to get a rabbit to lose weight

[sheandg]

I got a sr american fuzzy lop this weekend (he was a year in april) and he is over the 4 pound mark (by about 5 oz. ) and seems a little chunky. He is going to be on the bigger side but would like him closer to 4 pounds or a ounce or 2 under. What is the best way to try to get them to slim down.

I have been just feeding him about a 1/2 cup of pellets a day and hay but he snarfs it down and I feel bad. I have also been letting him run around our secure yard to get more exercise. I just don't want to starve him.....

 

[BlueGiants]

Are you giving him unlimited hay? He can have all he wants and it won't put weight on him. I feed my Mini Rex just under 1/2 cup (closer to 1/3 cup). Their weight is usually around 3 1/2 - 4 lbs... but they maintain it well. What protein level are you feeding?

Don't try to get him to lose it all quickly. He really needs to lose it gradually for his best health.

 

[sheandg]

I throw in a big handful of hay in the AM and again in the PM. I think I'll put more in his cage and keep the pellets to 1/2 a cup for now?? That should be good huh?? I don't want him to be hungry all the time....I know I HATE diets.

 

[BlueGiants]

Yeah, you don't want him to feel hungry. If he can fill up on the hay, all the better. The exercise will help too.

Make sure he has toys or something to play with so he isn't bored. Stuff some hay inside a cardboard tube so he has to work at it. Give him a thick piece of (clean) wood to chew on. Some of my bucks like a tin can (with the edges cut smooth) to throw around... or even plastic baby key rings... anything they can toss about.

 

[Blaze_Amita]

I went down to the dollar store and got the little cat toys, the balls with the bells in them and my dutchies have loved throwing them around and every now and again they'll pounce on it. I check them twice a day to make sure they haven't broken them but so far they've proved tougher than the torture the dutch are putting them through. That might give him a little something to take his mind off his tummy.

 

[sheandg]

we have a second hand store here that gets so many baby toys and they put about 5-10 in a bag and sell them for .80 cents so I am always picking a few up and change out their toys. The baby toys hold up really well but my 2 yo daughter always wants to take them from their cages so she can play with them.....

 

[BlueGiants]

Just thought I'd mention another thing I do to get the bunnies moving around a bit, I put their hay on TOP of their cage. My cages have wire tops and by laying the hay on top, the buns have to reach for the hay, stand up on hind legs and pull it through the wire. Kind of makes them work for their food... they don't seem to mind. (LOL! They get all excited and run around sniffing it trying to find the best pieces first!)