elderly bunny weight issues

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equipix

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My 9 yr old Flemish giant is slowly losing weight. Last fall just before his vet visit he had a GI status episode and a stroke. My vet (rabbit specialist) diagnosed a terminal liver issue. She gave him weeks rather than months. Fortunately she was wrong on timing, and six months later he is still with us. Lately, he is starting to look a little thin. He still eats well. I hesitate to change his diet too much as he is very sensitive and will have digestive issues. He gets free choice Timothy pellets, kale and the occasional grape and cherry tomato. I've tried hay, but he does not like it. He is old and is not in the best of health, but perhaps I can add a little something to his diet.
 
We had the same issue with our old lady, Fuzzy.
We ended up giving her the unflavored Nutrical for cats. Our vet said it had more sugar than she would like for a bun to have normally but since Fuzzy was battling EC and almost 11 she said "whatever works at this point".
 
If your bun isn't sensitive to carbs, oats can be good for putting on weight. Plain canned pumpkin(not spiced pie filling) can sometimes help. A good low carb option is alfalfa hay, as long as your bun doesn't have sludge or kidney issues, as it is high in calcium. A good green leafy alfalfa hay with small stems, will have lots of protein to help put on weight. And most buns like the taste of alfalfa and will eat it even if they aren't good hay eaters. Like with any new food you want to gradually introduce into the diet to minimize digestive upset.
 
Thank you all for your responses. Sadly we had to put Digby to sleep yesterday. His condition rapidly declined and he was having either strokes or seizures. We had him in our lives for 6 of his 9 years. Last September he was diagnosed with liver disease and had a stroke that affected his left side. We were told he had only a few weeks. Well, he rallied back and we had a wonderful extra 6 months. He will always be remembered and was loved by all of us and his rabbit and doggy pals.
 
:pray: It sounds like you gave Digby a wonderful home, and helped him to have a great long life. His memory will live on.
 

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