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Thin rabbit...

Sandra

Warren Scout
Yesterday we took a bunny in foster who needs a home. He came with the plane from the east part of Iceland but was completely fine after the flight, eating and drinking, doing toilet etc.

He is a rex mix of about 1,5 years and he lost his brother a while ago, with whom he had been living. The owner told be that after his brother died he almost stopped eating and started loosing furr... He was an outside bun there. He looks like a little rag doll, nothing but bones sticking out:(

When he came home to us, he started eating (hay) and drinking like crazy! He is drinking more than a big bottle of water per day which is much more than my other buns... I am very happy that he is eating and drinking but is he drinking excessively? And how should we make him put on weight? Do you think that loads of hay etc. will do it?

Thanks,
Sandra
 
Someone mentioned rolled oats as a way to put a bit of weight on a rabbit. Not had to try it myself though.
 
Yesterday we took a bunny in foster who needs a home. He came with the plane from the east part of Iceland but was completely fine after the flight, eating and drinking, doing toilet etc.

He is a rex mix of about 1,5 years and he lost his brother a while ago, with whom he had been living. The owner told be that after his brother died he almost stopped eating and started loosing furr... He was an outside bun there. He looks like a little rag doll, nothing but bones sticking out:(

When he came home to us, he started eating (hay) and drinking like crazy! He is drinking more than a big bottle of water per day which is much more than my other buns... I am very happy that he is eating and drinking but is he drinking excessively? And how should we make him put on weight? Do you think that loads of hay etc. will do it?


Thanks,
Sandra

The excessive drinking is worrying.
He may have renal impairment, particularly as he is very thin.
Do you know why his brother died?
I dont know what the prevelence of EC is amongst Rabbits in Iceland but it may be something to consider

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/ecuniculi.htm

I would advise he has a thorough Veterinary check including a Dental examination and a blood profile. Meantime I would not overload his guts with carbohydrates as they will upset the gut flora. Its great that he is eating hay and a good Breeder/grower type Pellet feed would have more protein than the pellets designed for Pet Rabbits

Good luck with him

:)
 
Thanks!:wave:

I am also worried about the drinking, I refilled his bottled 30 min ago and he already drank 1/3... I filled it last night before going to bed and this night I went up to check on him and he had finished it...

Will take him to vet!
 
is he indoors and too hot ?

I read that excessive habits (like drinking) may be stress related.. sounds like a vet is a good idea to rule our health problems

I mix a few porridge oats in with pellets and they get scoffed down.. its funny watching their whiskers waft the dusty bits around !!

Hope all goes well :)
 
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