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Putting Weight on a Bunny

Piggiesgalore

Mama Doe
I could do with some RU words of wisdom.:wave:

As some of you may remember, Minnie McPhee came into rescue a couple of months ago as she was going to be PTS because of her bad teeth - at the time she was 11 weeks old. We were told she was a mini lop, she may be mini but a lop she aint!

At 14 weeks she had her incisors out and has made a remarkable recovery, hours after surgery she was sitting in the litter tray munching her way through hay bless her. Pre surgery she bonded herself to my pair Cassie and Kermit and the three lived happily together until we tragically lost Cassie at Easter.

The duo have adapted well to being a pair and really love each other. They are currently living as indoor bunnies, are fed on SS pellets, meadow hay, treat hays and daily veg/herbs. My concern is that Minnie McPhee is not gaining weight, despite eating well, she currently weighs just over 1kg and is about 20 weeks old. I hand feed their SS pellets so I can monitor how many she is having and she munches her way through her veg and hay. They have just been Panacured as a precautionary measure and her molars have been checked and are fine.

My question is what can I do to get some weight onto her? This isn't a problem I've come across before so any help or advice would be most welcome.:)
 
I read on here that giving junior pellets helps because it has higher protein content. I'm sure someone.more experienced will come along :wave:
 
To put on weight Doughnut's specialist told me to feed her alfalfa hay. She's been on it about a month now and I've cut it down from two handfuls to one a day and she has maintained her gained weight.

Maybe speak to your vet first thought as what works for one rabbit isn't always recommended for another!
 
I had the same problem with Hermione putting on weight and I added Porridge oats to her diet and it has worked a treat :)
 
I give my bunnies that need to put on weight, porridge oats, leave them dry and don't soak them in anything, they are perfectly fine left dry and I also use Alfafa hay but not too much as it's high in calcium and also I feed Excel Junior and Dwarf, the occassional slice of banana
 
I give my bunnies that need to put on weight, porridge oats, leave them dry and don't soak them in anything, they are perfectly fine left dry and I also use Alfafa hay but not too much as it's high in calcium and also I feed Excel Junior and Dwarf, the occassional slice of banana



Thank you so much.

I think I am going to have to go on a little shopping trip today! I know my local pet shop stocks Excel Junior & Dwarf so think I will get a bag of this and gradually swap the bunnies over - Kermit is a mini lop so this should be ok for him. We went over to the SS pellets as Excel didn't suit Cassie and the SS did, without causing anyone else any problems - however, as every bun is different perhaps Excel will be better for Minnie McPhee?

I will also get some Alfafa hay, why I didn't think to offer this I don't know, it's something I always give to the mini pigs that come into rescue but didn't twig Minnie could have it!:shock:

I don't think she is ever going to be a big bunny as she has very dainty feet, I would just like her to have a little more substance to her frame as I would worry about having her spayed at the moment and this is something that will need to be done in the coming months.

Thanks again for your help folks:)
 
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