Obese rabbits

Obesity in rabbits can lead to health issues, so it’s important to keep an eye on your rabbits’ weight.

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Watching your rabbits’ weight is an essential part of their everyday care. Here’s how to check if your bunnies are the right weight – plus what to do if they’re not.

The ideal rabbit weight

There’s no one normal rabbit weight – because there’s a wide variation in weight for different breeds, and even within breeds themselves.

Every rabbit is an individual, but as a guide, here are some average bunny weights for some of the most popular breeds:

• Angora: 2–3kg
• Dutch: 2kg
• Dwarf Lop: 2–2.5kg
• English Lop: 5kg
• Jersey Wooly: 1.5kg
• Himalayan: 1.5–2kg
• Miniature Lop: 2.5kg
• Lionhead: less than 1.5kg
• Netherland Dwarf: less than 1kg
• New Zealand White: 4.5–5.5kg
• Sussex: 3kg

How do I know if my rabbits are overweight?

Weighing rabbits can be a challenge, so one of the best ways to assess your rabbits’ weight is by using body condition scoring (BCS) as part of their regular health checks. 

To determine your rabbits’ scores, you’ll need to focus on three areas: the ribs, the hips and the spine. The ribs are the easiest and most reliable to assess, whereas changes in the spine and hips are easiest to detect in extremely thin or fat rabbits.

The rabbit BCS scale runs from 1 to 5, where 1 is very thin, 5 is very obese, and 3 is ideal. This is only a guide though – so if your rabbit doesn’t fall into the ‘ideal’ category, or you’re concerned about their weight, speak to your vet for advice. In addition to checking your rabbits’ BCS regularly at home, it’s a good idea to get their weight checked at their annual vet checkup.

Here’s what to look for when calculating a rabbit’s BCS.

Ribs

Apply gentle pressure just behind your rabbit’s elbows then run your hands gently down their sides and over their ribcage. You should be able to feel your rabbit’s ribs when applying a small amount of pressure.

This is the easiest area to assess for changes in subcutaneous body fat (the fat that sits just beneath the skin), so it’s a good idea to get into the habit of checking your rabbit’s ribs regularly.

The amount of pressure you need to apply will be increased if your rabbit is overweight. In an obese rabbit, it may be difficult to feel their ribs at all. If your rabbit is too thin, the edges of their ribs will feel sharp and pointed.

Hips and pelvis

Changes in the hips and pelvis are clearest in very thin or very overweight rabbits. Run your hands over your rabbit’s hips and pelvis. You should be able to feel the bones under a thin layer of fat.

In rabbits with a score of 1 or 2, the rump becomes flatter. Sometimes with a score of 1, the rump might even feel concave.

Spine

Lastly, check your rabbit’s spine. As you run your hand over their back, their spine should feel softly rounded to the touch. A score of 1 means the line of the spine feels sharp, with little or no fat covering it. A score of 5 means the spine cannot easily be felt.

How do I know if my rabbits are overweight?

In addition to checking your rabbits' BCS regularly, watch out for other signs of obesity, including:

• Decreased activity
• Difficulty grooming
• Inability to lie down, stretch out or hop around
• Visible changes to your rabbits’ shapes, including a very rounded rump
• Folds of skin around the anal area, which may collect faeces and urine
• Additional fat around their throat, which can interfere with eating and drinking

Female rabbits often have a roll of skin under their chin, called a dewlap. This can sometimes be confused with additional fat but in a healthy rabbit, the dewlap should feel like a fold of loose skin. In an obese rabbit, it will feel more like a roll of fat.

If you’re worried about your rabbits’ weight, the first thing to do is speak to your vet. They may want to check for health issues like arthritis and pododermatitis. They’ll also be able to suggest an ideal weight for your bunnies and advise how you can safely reduce their weight.

Adjusting your rabbits’ diet is likely to help. The ideal diet for rabbits contains

• 85% hay or grass
• 10% leafy greens
• 5% pellets

Why are my rabbits overweight?

Lack of exercise, a poor diet and overfeeding can all mean your rabbits start putting on weight. Over time, this increased weight can start affecting their normal activities and put them at a higher risk of certain health conditions including cardiovascular, joint, gastrointestinal, urogenital and liver diseases.

Why are my rabbits underweight?

Sometimes, rabbits stop eating. Referred to as anorexia, this can be a sign of underlying health issues, most often dental problems.

Rabbits’ teeth grow all the time and need to be worn down naturally as they eat and chew on things. When rabbits eat mixed kibble, they often pick out the best bits and leave the larger pellets containing the majority of calcium. When rabbits don’t eat enough calcium, their jaw bones can become depleted, which means their teeth can start moving in their sockets. This causes malocclusion, which can create overgrown teeth or sharp edges. This can then cause ulcers, making it uncomfortable for your rabbit to eat.

Signs of anorexia include:

• Refusing to eat
• Minimal activity
• Dirty hindquarters
• Caved-in abdomen
• Searching for water or food
• A dull coat with some dandruff
• Fewer faecal pellets (often smaller and drier)
• Signs of pain (for example, hunched appearance, reluctance to move, grinding or chattering of teeth and partially closed eyes)

If you’re worried that your rabbit is anorexic, speak to your vet straight away. If you have Petplan rabbit insurance, you can also use our Pet Expert Chat feature to ask any questions. This is a free service that connects you with vet professionals, 24/7. Simply log into your My Petplan account and head to the My Support area to access.

Whether your rabbit is anorexic or obese, it’s important to identify and address any health issues. Once those are resolved, you can work on getting them back to a healthy weight.