Weight loss among rabbits is due to two reasons:
- Decreased or no food intake
- Failure of the body to use the food.Â
Hepatic coccidiosis, worms, stress, dental problems, overgrown teeth, and underfeeding commonly cause weight loss in rabbits.
In this blog, we discuss the causes, treatments, and prevention of weight loss among rabbits and how to tell if your rabbit has lost weight.
How do I tell if my rabbit is too skinny?
It’s difficult to detect weight loss in hairy rabbits unless the owners regularly touch them.
The best ways to detect weight loss are:
Routine weighing of your rabbit
Sunken abdomen
Prominent bones, i.e., the backbone, pelvic bone, and ribs, are easily felt on touch
What are the common causes of bonny rabbits?
Emaciation among rabbits is caused by several factors, which include:
Hepatic coccidiosis
Worms
Fleas and mite infestation
Dental problems
Wounds or ulcers in the mouth
Overgrown teeth
Underfeeding
Stress
Unbalanced diet
Inbreeding
Liver and kidney disease
Painful conditions, i.e., wounds or fractures that put rabbits off food
Bacterial or viral infections
Old age
Cancers
Contaminated feeds (moldy feeds)
Poor hygiene
How can I treat weight loss in my rabbits?
First, establish the primary cause of weight loss before implementing any treatment protocol.
The commonly prescribed medications and management practices include:
Routine deworming
Vaccinate against vaccinatable diseases.
Routine trimming of the teeth
Keep rabbits in individual cages.
Give enough food to your rabbits
Feed a balanced diet.
Proper hygiene
Get rabbits from reputable sources.
Anticoccidial drugs
Antibiotics
Painkillers
Conclusion
Weigh your rabbit two times a month to easily detect weight loss in the early stages when the condition hasn’t been exacerbated.
Read about causes and treatment of bloat among rabbits.
Read about the most common diseases among rabbits in Uganda and their treatment
Read the causes and treatments of hair loss among rabbits
