Can a bunny lose weight in there dewlap?

[I_heart_Fraggles]

OK so as most of you know Fraggles is on a diet. Well as most of you also know her dewlap is out of control. I was just watching her wash her face and she can't really get her paws to her face anymore. She just ends up pushing her dewlap into her face. She also can not wear her harness anymore as it to pushes it up into her face. So as she diets is it possible to get a little shrinkage here? Poor Frags

 

[LindseyG]

Poor girl she needs a little nip tuck. I hope someone has an answer for you.

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

Ya know she does need a little bunny lipo. Around her middle and hips too. She has a flubby roll on her tummy and love handles! But we are trying. She gets about three tablespoons of pellets everyday. A half cup of greens and unlimited orchard grass. I stopped buying all craisons and banana chips. About twice a week she gets a small slice of apple and every night before bed just a small piece of dried papaya as a treat. The papaya is her only treat now. Muppet gets two small bits of papaya a day because I worry about wool block. But other then that no treats.

 

[LakeCondo]

Poor Fraggles. What is her campaign stance on loss of treats?

 

[Piglet II]

Awww...Fraggles....

My bunwife Millie, had a similar problem. Her tummy dragged on the ground and she couldn't clean herself well.
Our rabbit savvy vet suggested pulling her pellets. It sounds harsh, but if she has a good amount of high quality hay,(Timothy), and veggies, she will loose weight and do better. Also, limiting carrots or any sweet things can really help. I am not a vet, but I wanted to share what I learned. I hope this helps your little girl!

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

Oh she finds the loss of treats to be a great injustice and a violation of her rights to "just be a big porkchop". I am sure I will suffer greatly when she is president.

 

[wendymac]

Katie, you crack me up!!! And poor Fraggles. Living the life without craisins or banana chips? When she becomes president, you'll be in the stocks! lol

 

[wendymac]

Katie, you crack me up!!! And poor Fraggles. Living the life without craisins or banana chips? When she becomes president, you'll be in the stocks! lol

 

[Bonnie Lee]

Hmmm this probably sounds really odd and probably the most irrelevant information for you...

But I've always had trouble with gaining weight and so I'm really petite collar bones and all even though I eat loads and loads...

But I found when I started working I didn't have time to eat much and so my diet started getting really small meals and I actually started gaining weight with smaller meals because my body was trying to store food and slowing my metabolism down... if that makes any sense?

P.S Maybe fraggles could get like a brush with the stick on the end to clean places she can't reach

 

[mrbunny]

I read somewhere that although overweight rabbits may lose weight; their dewlaps may not shrink in size. If the rabbit has trouble cleaning herself (and sometimes himself), the vet may have to complete a dewlap reduction procedure (nip tuck).

Edit:
Found this through Google:
http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/fat_bun.htm [passing mention of dewlap]
http://cottontails-rescue.org.uk/rabbits.asp [this article mentions the dewlap reduction]
*I am fairly certain that it is mentioned on one of the HRS articles on diets and weights of rabbits as well.

 

[mrbunny]

Also, on the off-topic mention of sugary treats:
If you have your yard/garden, you can try planting some roses since Fraggles is on a diet. You'll be able to satisfy her sweet tooth without the excess sugar. Roses (rose hips, leaves, all parts) are high in vitamin C. Plus you'll be able to fertilize your roses with your bunny poops.

 

[MiniLopHop]

I think the biggest reason Fraggle's dew lap got out of control is that she wasn't fully spayed until so recently. The hormones drive that sort of thing. I think Becky's dew lap has shrunk a bit over the past year, but it wasn't huge to start with.

Can you encourage more excercise? That's how Cindi lost her extra two pounds. I was looking back at some pictures from when I first got her and couldn't believe how, um *caughes* fluffy, she was. 7 pounds on a 5 pound frame is a lot! We play chase every night. I wiggle my fingers and say "who's gonna get your bum?" in a funny voice. She hops around and then waits for me to catch up. If I don't wiggle my fingers she doesn't hop because that's how she knows we are playing.

At first she could only play a minute tops because she was so out of shape. Now we can play for a good long while (~30 min) and Houdini likes to join in too.

 

[LakeCondo]

Piglet II wrote:

Ahttp://www...Fraggles....

My bunwife Millie, had a similar problem. Her tummy dragged on the ground and she couldn't clean herself well.
Our rabbit savvy vet suggested pulling her pellets. It sounds harsh, but if she has a good amount of high quality hay,(Timothy), and veggies, she will loose weight and do better.

As Lucile Moore points out in Rabbit Nutrition, it is virtually impossible for a rabbit to get the required nutrients every day without any pellets. Cutting back to a tablespoon daily might be enough & is better than none. Use them as the only treat.