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Is she overweight?

RebeccaJC

RebeccaJC

Warren Scout
Hello, my female rabbit I noticed a good couple of months ago started to get what I can describe as a thick bit of skin around her neck, I can't work out if she is overweight, if its fat or if its her fur and if so what do I do under both circumstances. She has got heavier of recent but this bit around her neck started before that. Does she need a trip to the vets, can fur get out of control like that if its fur? I can't work out if it is as it also feels like skin hanging off? Bit confused as to what to do or if it is her fur if the vets can do anything, I don't think she's uncomfortable she seems really happy and has no health issues but I want to ensure her health is always in top form no matter what as this is the little one I nearly lost to a brain tumour early this year so its very important to me.
 
It sounds like her dewlap. These vary in size between bunnies but get worse if they are overweight. Our Mouse has a huge one as she was overweight before we got her. To be honest I'd just focus on getting her at the right weight. I'm happy to be corrected but I don't think you need a vet visit..
 
Thanks very much for the assurance! She's definitely a lot heavier of recent, I will try monitor her diet and cut down her weight a bit to see if it helps!
 
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Sounds like a dewlap, which are very normal (especially in females). As Joey&Boo said, they can get larger if your girl is overweight but there is no inherent risk to a dewlap whether normal sized or bigger because of weight issues.

However without feeling it or seeing it it's impossible to say what it is. If you are concerned it would be worth having a visit to the vet for a check-up and while there you can see what they think of her weight. Then you can monitor her weight at home while knowing what a good weight is for her.

Just seen you've posted a minute before me! It looks like a dewlap from that pic, but would definitely recommend a vets visit if you are unsure - it's difficult to judge the right weight for a rabbit at the beginning of owning them!
 
Thank You - yes, that's her dewlap. There are some good guides to assessing your bunnies weight about, I'm hoping someone who knows will post you a link. You should be able to feel their ribs and spine quite easily but that did fool me with Mouse who carries her weight around her tummy
 
Thanks so much guys :) it helps a lot to hear you saying all of this. I was a bit shocked lifting her the other day as the weight seems to have piled on from nowhere.. in a way I am not complaining she's got such an appetite as its nice to see she's gaining weight and in such good health after her funny turn earlier this year but we definitely don't want her getting overweight too! I may take her into the vets to check her weight and such to see what they suggest her ideal weight is.
 
RebeccaJC said:
Thanks so much guys :) it helps a lot to hear you saying all of this. I was a bit shocked lifting her the other day as the weight seems to have piled on from nowhere.. in a way I am not complaining she's got such an appetite as its nice to see she's gaining weight and in such good health after her funny turn earlier this year but we definitely don't want her getting overweight too! I may take her into the vets to check her weight and such to see what they suggest her ideal weight is.
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I find I can never fully trust my assessment of their weight so getting my vets opinion is really important to me. I made a note of my three's weights at their last visit to the vet & bought scales so I can monitor them at home
 
You will very likely need to cut down on her food. If you let us know her typical diet we can advise regarding that. Once you start to feed less it will take a long time for her to get to a good weight, around 3 months of being very careful of how much you are giving her. Then you will need to keep to this amount for her own sake. It has just taken me 3 months to get a Netherland Dwarf to a good weight. She was vastly overweight with quite a big dewlap and only 11 months old! She had been used for breeding at the previous home. You have to reduce the food very gradually, you mustn't stop feeding her as it can or does (not 100% sure) affect the liver.
 
Well whenever I put hay in for bedding, I know she ends up eating it all so I am trying to avoid that now. I was worried I was under feeding as I only gave one filled to the rim bowl of dry food and then a handful of hay so I started giving her two bowls (the small ones- rabbit sized) of dry food as well as the hay on top, too much?
 
Oh may I also add it frustrates me when its getting colder so I put in nice hay as bedding for her.. and she just eats it all and chucks her woodshavings out her hutch so no bedding and no flooring! Drives me mad when I am trying to help them keep warm. haha
 
RebeccaJC said:
Well whenever I put hay in for bedding, I know she ends up eating it all so I am trying to avoid that now. I was worried I was under feeding as I only gave one filled to the rim bowl of dry food and then a handful of hay so I started giving her two bowls (the small ones- rabbit sized) of dry food as well as the hay on top, too much?
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Always unlimited hay - she can't eat too much. Don't get frustrated, its the best way to keep her healthy. Ask the vets advice but most people give an eggcup of pellets - mine get 10g each (what I can hold in one hand for all of them). My vet would probably recommend she just have hay a few leafy greens
 
Ok thank you - any ideas what I can do in regards to bedding if she eats it? I just worry so much we may have snow soon and its so cold out there. Oh an egg cup seems so small, this might be where I am going wrong! It sounds like I am giving quadruple the amount she should be having.. Oops!
 
Rabbits need unlimited amounts of hay - they should eat at at least their own body size in hay per day. One handful is not enough, regardless of the size of handful. I tend to give her their own size in hay at least twice a day. They only need a small amount of pellets - a couple of egg cup full's really.
 
RebeccaJC said:
Ok thank you - any ideas what I can do in regards to bedding if she eats it? I just worry so much we may have snow soon and its so cold out there. Oh an egg cup seems so small, this might be where I am going wrong! It sounds like I am giving quadruple the amount she should be having.. Oops!
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Its easily done. I made my first 2 rabbits fat - unintentionally of course. I'd maybe post another thread about ways to keep her warm (a second bunny is good) as mine are inside so I'm not to clued up.
 
joey&boo said:
Always unlimited hay - she can't eat too much. Don't get frustrated, its the best way to keep her healthy. Ask the vets advice but most people give an eggcup of pellets - mine get 10g each (what I can hold in one hand for all of them). My vet would probably recommend she just have hay a few leafy greens
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Hay all the way .. Never take it away! It's what specialist vets say rabbits should live on!

J&B has given very good advice :thumb:
 
My pablos a dental bun and on 90% hay 5% allen n page pellets n a handful of forage a day. Hay should never ben allowed to run out. X beautiful bun btw
 
RebeccaJC said:
Oh may I also add it frustrates me when its getting colder so I put in nice hay as bedding for her.. and she just eats it all and chucks her woodshavings out her hutch so no bedding and no flooring! Drives me mad when I am trying to help them keep warm. haha
Click to expand...

Rabbits don't mind the cold really unless it gets well below freezing, but we advise folk not to use wood shavings as it can be an irritant to their respiratory tract. What is very popular is a big litter tray like the underbed storage boxes filled with hay, you can put newspaper at the bottom, then bunnies like to sit in that. Is your bunny litter trained? How old is she? The importance of hay cannot be over emphasised. It keeps their teeth in good shape and keeps their digestive system working healthily.
 
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