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Rabbit Obesity

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Lowe, RJ. Obesity in rabbits: tackling the large lagomorphs!, Veterinary Nursing Journal, VOL
34, November 2019, 283-288
• Vets and nurses surveyed stated 30% of the rabbits they saw were overweight.
• However, 83% of owners felt their rabbits were the ideal weight.
• When shown pictures, 26% of owners chose a picture of an obese rabbit as being “ideal”.

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Consequences of Rabbit Obesity
• Myiasis (maggots) from poor grooming and soiled rears,
• Poor diet and nutritional deficiencies in rabbits that cannot perform coprophagia of their caecotrophs,
• Musculoskeletal issues and pain from lack of mobility and possible osteoarthritis
• Pododermatitis from excess pressure on the hocks.
• Poor QOL

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www.pfma.org.uk

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Rabbit Nutrition
• Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) feeding guidelines suggest 85% hay or grass
• 10% leafy green vegetables
• 5% extruded pellets or nuggets
• A diet imbalanced in these percentages is likely to induce obesity and other health issues.

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Rabbit Housing
• Roughage for diet
• Area for play
• Litter box too!

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Outside area
•Outdoor enclosures that have digging areas, grass, tunnels and safe plants
•Obstacle course for exercise

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Indoor Spaces
• Large spaces include tunnels, hides and soft, padded, non-slip flooring
• Encourages physical and mental stimulation
• Flooring helps supports obese rabbits by avoiding slippage and supporting limbs, so the patients aren’t sitting on hard flooring

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Rabbit Digging Areas

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Large Rabbit Run with Shelter

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Putting it all together

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Conclusions
Successful weight management begins by:
• Recognizing that being overweight and obesity is a disease
• Importance of weight control in our pets.
• Rehabilitation veterinary technician, communicate the serious effects that even a few excess pounds can have on the health and longevity of their pet’s lives.
• Weight management should be a cornerstone wellness program in every clinic and the rehabilitation veterinary technician, the champion of the program and advocate for the patient

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Thank you VetScope