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Losing muscle condition

BeatrixPotter

BeatrixPotter

Mama Doe
Took Molly to the vets today for her weekly penicillin injection and asked them to weigh her. She had been feeling more boney along her spine and across her back end. She has lost more weight and Gill, the vet, feels it is muscle tone she is losing.

I know this is common in elderly buns but is there anything I can do to help? Her weight has gone from 3.1kg to 2.5kg in a fairly short space of time. She is a dwarf lop.
 
Upping the calories she eats may well help. If she's used up her fat stores (which bunnies don't have a lot of anyway) then they can start using the muscle up too, so putting more calories in should help her regain weight (and muslce) or at least stop losing it.

So you basically want to do all the things you usually don't do because it makes a bunny podgy. Swapping to a high protein feed aimed at young rabbits (or mixing with her exisiting). Increase the quantity of pellets. I'd also add in some rolled oats - either a few dry or mix with water to a mash. If her calcium levels are ok (no urine issues) then adding some alfalfa into her hay. Extra treats :)

It's a bit of a balence as you want to keep gut function good, so increase pellets gradually and not too much watching her poop. Alfalfa is good as you still get the fibre with the extra calories. You want to maintain weight and then put it back on gradually so don't make too big a change at once.

:)
 
Thanks Tamsin, I will try her with some oats. I think she will like them cod she is always interested in my porridge if I have breakfast in her room.
 
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