Skinny or not?

[Apollo’s Slave]

Hi everyone! I just have a quick question about Athena (again I know ). I’ve sorted out her diet and weight gain, I think, so it not that. I know that English rabbits are very agile and quite thin anyway, so I’m just wondering if Athena looks okay for her breed (she’s a crossbreed, lop and English I think).
Also, I would get this all sorted by the vet but because I can’t go in with her is harder to fully understand everything.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Looks fine to us. We had a mini Rex that looked pretty much the same--no ribs or back bone showing, by far the best jumper we ever had, and solid muscle--felt fairly heavy for her size. Healthy as all get-out, she passed to the bridge 3 weeks shy of 19. Happy and healthy is all that counts. Might see what your Vet thinks.

 

[Mariam+Theo]

She looks good to me! English Spots are a very small and thin breed so that is probably why she is on the smaller side. When I went to get Theo the person I got him from owned English Spots and they were thin like Athena, but not a sickly thin.

 

[Apollo’s Slave]

Looks fine to us. We had a mini Rex that looked pretty much the same--no ribs or back bone showing, by far the best jumper we ever had, and solid muscle--felt fairly heavy for her size. Healthy as all get-out, she passed to the bridge 3 weeks shy of 19. Happy and healthy is all that counts. Might see what your Vet thinks.

Thank you! Athena is so athletic, it’s amazing (though sometimes annoying )! When I first got her she had a bit of rib showing so she’s definitely doing much better - I can’t see it anymore! 19 years old is amazing by the way!!

I’ll definitely get her checked by the vet again in a few weeks

She looks good to me! English Spots are a very small and thin breed so that is probably why she is on the smaller side. When I went to get Theo the person I got him from owned English Spots and they were thin like Athena, but not a sickly thin.

Thank you! I’m so glad to be honest

 

[Watermelons]

What makes you say she is part english spot?

You should be able to feel ribs with out having to palpate hard to find them.
There should be good muscle along either side of the spine.
Hips/pelvis should not be visible, but still easy to feel and well muscled.

 

[Apollo’s Slave]

The rescue told me that she was an English cross - it’s one of the best rabbit rescues in the UK, so I just followed their lead . And because her ears flop, I assumed she’s mixed with lop.

I can feel her ribs if I just run my finger along them and she doesn’t have much muscle

 

[Watermelons]

She likely has no english spot in her at all then. Most rescues/people try and label any broken pattern rabbit as english spot. They are a pretty uncommon arched breed.

She looks like she has muscle. Rabbits dont have bulging muscle like a working breed dog. That is not an emaciated rabbit. Not having muscle running down her spine it would be visible protruding like you see in neglect cases.
I would not be trying to fatten her up.
You also cant judge her based on weight as that is going to differ for every rabbit out there especially because she is likely a mix of mixes.
You want to be able to feel ribs and a spine.
Obese animals are very unhealthy.

 

[Apollo’s Slave]

Ah that makes sense! Thank you!

 

[JBun]

Just going from the photo, she looks lean but not skinny. Her back and rump both look nice and rounded, and don't seem to have an angular bony look. So as long as she also feels nice and rounded along her back and hips, she's probably at a good weight.

 

[Apollo’s Slave]

Thank you! That makes me very glad!!

 

[Diane R]

She looks perfect. And gorgeous!

 

[Apollo’s Slave]

She looks perfect. And gorgeous!

Yay!!! And thank you!