RO STAFF 2
Well-Known Member
Also see:
Feeding Your Rabbit
How do I know?
See Plump or Obese? for more discussion
Since many of us have different ideas about whether an animal is plump or obese, I thought it might help to post about it to keep it in the forefront of our minds.
As you all know, carbohydrates, oils, protein, etc. are used by the body to produce energy, which is required for movement, heat, growth, repair and reproduction. Adipose is a layer of tissue under the skin (and around the kidneys and abdominal cavity) which is packed with fat cells and serves as an insulating and an energy store. Some rabbits will over eat for their energy needs, making them prone to be 'bigger'.
Rabbits can gain weight not only by overeating, but if they are given an unsuitable diet, don't have enough of exercise, or become pregnant.
Since there are a lot of health consequences, it's best to keep close tabs on your rabbit's weight. If not, your rabbit can be predisposed to heart or liver disease, joint and bone disorders, bladder stones, and their life expectancy may be reduced.
The following three assessment techniques are reprinted from Fur and Feather, May 2000 issue. Use this approach to help determine whether your rabbit is obese or not.
* * * * *
1) Assess visually -- a good place to start, but be very subjective.
2) Palpate the animal's body over the shoulders, spine, ribs, and haunces. Some rabbits are quite 'fluffy' and give the appearance of being deceptively large, although underneath they may be quite slim. Feel for fatty deposits under the skin and whether you can detect bones.
3) Weigh the animal - compare with breed standards or ideal adult weights for particular breeds. If the animal is a cross-breed of unknown origin, look more at the visual and palpation technique and look for health problems. Typically an animal is classified as obese when the ribcage is not visible, the bones of the chest are barely palpable, and the body weight is noticeably more than normal for type.
For more specific indications of obesity, the rabbit will look overweight, uncomfortable, lethargic, and inactive. It will be reluctant to groom, look unkempt in appearance and may have a dirty bottom - possibly leading to myiasis. It will be reluctant to move and may show signs of sore hocks, arthritis, brittle bones, and spinal fractors. There may be changes in behavior as well.
By contrast, the overweight rabbit may look slightly overweight in appearance, but the animal will probably be happy and fairly active, although it may leave some caecotrophs (which suggests a degree of overfeeding).
* * * * * * * *
-Carolyn
Recommended Articles
Rabbit Weight Management Pam Nock (with photos)
http://nockrabbits.com/RabbitWeight.pdf
Is My Rabbit Fat?
http://sites.google.com/site/rabbitknowledgeforum/is-my-rabbit-fat
Links
Listings in Rabbit References: Dieting to Loose Weight
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabcare.html#dieting
Obesity-Related Health Problems in Rabbits
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=18&cat=1803&articleid=3400
RO Member Threads
Plump or Obese?
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=4646&forum_id=1
Feeding Your Rabbit
How do I know?
See Plump or Obese? for more discussion
Since many of us have different ideas about whether an animal is plump or obese, I thought it might help to post about it to keep it in the forefront of our minds.
As you all know, carbohydrates, oils, protein, etc. are used by the body to produce energy, which is required for movement, heat, growth, repair and reproduction. Adipose is a layer of tissue under the skin (and around the kidneys and abdominal cavity) which is packed with fat cells and serves as an insulating and an energy store. Some rabbits will over eat for their energy needs, making them prone to be 'bigger'.
Rabbits can gain weight not only by overeating, but if they are given an unsuitable diet, don't have enough of exercise, or become pregnant.
Since there are a lot of health consequences, it's best to keep close tabs on your rabbit's weight. If not, your rabbit can be predisposed to heart or liver disease, joint and bone disorders, bladder stones, and their life expectancy may be reduced.
The following three assessment techniques are reprinted from Fur and Feather, May 2000 issue. Use this approach to help determine whether your rabbit is obese or not.
* * * * *
1) Assess visually -- a good place to start, but be very subjective.
2) Palpate the animal's body over the shoulders, spine, ribs, and haunces. Some rabbits are quite 'fluffy' and give the appearance of being deceptively large, although underneath they may be quite slim. Feel for fatty deposits under the skin and whether you can detect bones.
3) Weigh the animal - compare with breed standards or ideal adult weights for particular breeds. If the animal is a cross-breed of unknown origin, look more at the visual and palpation technique and look for health problems. Typically an animal is classified as obese when the ribcage is not visible, the bones of the chest are barely palpable, and the body weight is noticeably more than normal for type.
For more specific indications of obesity, the rabbit will look overweight, uncomfortable, lethargic, and inactive. It will be reluctant to groom, look unkempt in appearance and may have a dirty bottom - possibly leading to myiasis. It will be reluctant to move and may show signs of sore hocks, arthritis, brittle bones, and spinal fractors. There may be changes in behavior as well.
By contrast, the overweight rabbit may look slightly overweight in appearance, but the animal will probably be happy and fairly active, although it may leave some caecotrophs (which suggests a degree of overfeeding).
* * * * * * * *
-Carolyn
Recommended Articles
Rabbit Weight Management Pam Nock (with photos)
http://nockrabbits.com/RabbitWeight.pdf
Is My Rabbit Fat?
http://sites.google.com/site/rabbitknowledgeforum/is-my-rabbit-fat
Links
Listings in Rabbit References: Dieting to Loose Weight
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabcare.html#dieting
Obesity-Related Health Problems in Rabbits
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=18&cat=1803&articleid=3400
RO Member Threads
Plump or Obese?
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=4646&forum_id=1
