Is Pepsi over weight?

[Spring]

Hi! I really don't know if Pepsi is her right weight. When the vet weighed her (note, she was a tad bit skinny because she wasn't eating like she normally was) and she came in at 2.4lbs. I'd say she's probably around 2.7lbs now, but my scale is awful so I can't get an exact measurement. Is she considered a healthy weight or an unhealthy?

She has a bit of a dewlap and doesn't really get exercise outside the cage (Well inside the cage she does her binkies and runs up and down the ramp and does the bunny 500s)I have a ramp that comes off her cage that she's used a few times, but most days she just likes to stay in her cage.

If she is considered overweight, any diet suggestions? She isn't getting any sugary treats anymore, but she is on alfalfa pellets that I think are junk (Now have to switch back to Martins less active).I don't measure her food, just usually give a small handful in the morning and at night. She gets unlimited hay, and a cup or two of vegetables (celery, mint, broccoli leaves, romain lettuce, sometimes baby carrots but no more, parsleyand geen leaf lettuce)

Here's a picture of her. I don't want her to be unhealthy :?.

 

[Mummel]

She doesnt look overweight to me..I think the best way to find that out is to let a bunny experienced person or vet look at her, its hard to tell from a picture. Buns are just so furry.

2.7 pounds..Is she a small bun? Because for a lop that would be light..(sry only got lops), she looks like a dwarf to me so I guess that weight is ok for her.. For comparison- Moses is 3.5 pounds

 

[Bunman]

It can never hurt to let them have more run time if possible. Also for her size, 1/8 cup/pellets a day should be plenty.

She's a cutie!

 

[Spring]

She's a netherland dwarf and is pretty tiny (Even the vet commented about her size!). I could probably hold her in my cupped hands if she stayed still . My cousin calls her fat, and she deals with rabbits, so I was questioning her weight. She does have little fat pouch sort of things on her shoulder and a chubby tummy so I really don't know.

If I'm in the rabbit room, I usually just assemble the ramp and she can come and go if she pleases. She doesn't like being held or picked up and gets very stressed out so this method works best for both of us. She knows how to go down and up the ramp, she just likes to stay in her cage :?.

I guess I should limit her pellets. I probably give her half a cup in total from the morning and evening feeding (aprx. 1/4 cup each feeding). It's just if I do limit her pellets, her dish looks so empty and I feel guilty.

She can't be too chubby because she can still clean herself without any problems.

Thanks!

 

[Bunman]

That is a lot of pellets for such a small bun. If you make up the difference with greens you won't feel guilty.

Do you play with her much? If she has more incentive to run, it might help.

Probably most domestic rabs are at least somewhat overweight, they tend to be overfed with pellets & don't get the exercise a rabbit grazing far & wide in the wild, living on greens, would get. But this can be counteracted to some extent.

 

[Spring]

I know I know. Bad Mommy bun! I'm going to start reducing her pellets. I have 60 pounds of hay, so she can eat that!

I do play with her a lot inside the cage. She gets really stressed out with new surroundings, so she takes her time if she's exploring something. She'll only really come out if I have one of her very rare papaya treats out. She just seems happier in somewhere she's sort of protected, so I don't make her come out.

I'll haveto see how the pellet reducing goes.

Thanks!

 

[Bunman]

I'd increase her greens as the pellets are reduced, so she doesn't feel deprived. Sounds like you have her welfare well in mind.

 

[Spring]

I might just split her vegetable serving in two, then she'll have something to nibble on after her pellets. She usually gets atleast 2 cups of veggies (Atleast 3-4 varieties if not more) a night so if I split it into two parts for morning andevening, I think it will be fine. I have enough hay to last me a long while, so if worst comes to worst, I'm afraid my diva will have to start increasing her hay consumption. Oh poor thing has to eat what's good for her.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Mummel]

Spring wrote:

She's a netherland dwarf and is pretty tiny (Even the vet commented about her size!). I could probably hold her in my cupped hands if she stayed still . My cousin calls her fat, and she deals with rabbits, so I was questioning her weight. She does have little fat pouch sort of things on her shoulder and a chubby tummy so I really don't know.

If I'm in the rabbit room, I usually just assemble the ramp and she can come and go if she pleases. She doesn't like being held or picked up and gets very stressed out so this method works best for both of us. She knows how to go down and up the ramp, she just likes to stay in her cage :?.

I too had bunnys that didnt like to be held, so I think in most cases you can solve that. I realized that some bunnys just prefer a different way to be picked up. Salem doesnt like to be picked up sometimes (yet) but I got a trick with him that makes him hold still - asilly one but it works. Maybe you can figure out what pepsi likes.

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

It is REALLY hard to tell if a rabbit is overweight (unless severely overweight) from a picture. When Zoey went in for her last vet visit, I took Mocha as company and I asked the vet what she thought and she showed me how to properly determine it on my rabbits because I had previously been going by the back bone which is a poor indicator beacuse sometimes the spine sticks on healthy rabbits.

Try swaping toys every few days. If they always have access to the same toys, they will get bored and not play with them but rotating them is a great way to keep them interested. I also give them old bottles with holes punched in them and fill it with pellets. They will chase that around for hours trying to get the food out and it's great mental stimulation.