Need to put on a little weight

[MiniLopHop]

Weight onto the rabbit, not me!

Becky was spayed 2 months ago and still has not regained the weight she lost. Nothing too dramatic, but she doesn't have any weight to spare at this point. She is 4.3 pounds and 4.5 would be a healthier weight for her. When I pet her it is very easy to feel between her ribs and the bones of her spine. She feels so much more fragile than my other bun that has more weight to her frame. You would think I wasn't feeding her, but she loves to eat!

She gets 1/4 cup Oxbow T pellets, unlimited timothy hay, and 2 cups vegetables, mostly leafy greens and herbs. Becky has half a room to roam so she gets lots of running around and frequently plays chase with the cat or other bun.

I don't want to change her diet dramatically. I was thinking either adding in a bit more fruit (occasional treat now) or oats. If I went with oats where do I find the right kind. I know the oatmeal I eat in the morning isn't what she's looking for but we don't have a farm supply store close either.

Thanks for suggestions :eats:

 

[Katmais_mommy]

The oats you want is plain rolled oats, not flavored, non-instant. The yogurt treats that pet stores sell are also high in fat. You can give up to 3 of them per day.

 

[Yield]

[align=center]Sunflower seeds! =)
I fed Sabriel the Raw "Sunflower Nuts" by Good Sense to Sabriel when he needed to keep his weight of. I put a small handful in his pellets. They are unsalted and without a shell. He goes nuts for them and they helped keep his weight up when he broke his leg.

I also fed him the oats Molly is talking about.

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

This might be considered a dramatic change but alfalfa hay is richer then the timothy

 

[MiniLopHop]

Thanks for the suggestions! I will try the sunflower seeds because I already have the plain kind at home. I use them as a night time snack for the gerbils. Each boy gets one before bed. When I get to the store I will get some oats and the alfalfa snack cubes as an addition.

I don't want to switch her to alfalfa hay because I'm working on bonding her with Cindi who is on the chubby side (can't feel any hint of ribs or spine). The extra exercise since Cindi was sprung from the pokey (aka rescue where she lived 3.5 of her 4 years) has been helping her become more streamlined. The smaller snack additions would be something I could give just Becky without Cindi getting any to hamper her progress.

Thanks!

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

Your supposed to feel a hint of ribs and spine? Um well I guess that Fraggles is a little um chubby to.

 

[MiniLopHop]

Well, when you look at Cindi from the top she looks like an easter egg, very bowed out on the sides. She should be more like a loaf of bread, more streight. She's getting there.

 

[majorv]

For the two rabbits we have who need to gain some weight we're giving them the rolled oats - Quaker Oats old fashioned oatmeal in the grocery store..not the instant...the ingredients are 100% rolled oats and nothing else. We use the store brand because it's a lot cheaper. Also, black oil sunflower seeds are good, but you have to get them at the feed store.

 

[MiniLopHop]

I started giving her the sunflower seeds (no salt or anything) that we had on hand for the gerbils. I think she's doing better.

I'm also happy to note that Cindi can finally clean herself fully! Having more room to run is getting her to a better weight, no diet changes needed.

 

[SOOOSKA]

Good to hear Becky is enjoying the sunflower seeds. I give Buttercup some every day. He is just such a wee thing, very slim. I think somewhat from Old Age he's 12.5 years old, but he was also very sick a while back and never really 100% got back to his old self.

He goes nuts for them, if I shake the container their in, he knows he is getting some as his treat.

Susan