How To Make A Rabbit Gain Weight? In 4 Easy Steps!

Do you have an idea of how to make a rabbit gain weight? If you are a rabbit owner, you should be very meticulous when it comes to your pet’s health.

If your bunny is not in the right ratio of its weight and age, then you have to do something about it or might need to fatten up your rabbit.

The answer to that is quite simple. All you have to do is give your cottontail foods that are high in fat and carbohydrates so that your bunny can gain weight fast.

However, you have to remember that you should not overdo the process because overdosing your pet with such food can cause health problems.

In this article, we will tackle the right ways and steps in making a rabbit gain weight.

So without any more delays, let us get right into the discussion!

Foods To Offer Rabbits To Gain Weight

The digestive system of rabbits is efficient enough in getting every drop of nutrients from the food they consume.

An underlying medical condition may cause an underweight bunny, and it should be checked by the veterinarian immediately.

For you to be knowledgeable about how to make a rabbit gain weight, here are the following foods that you should offer.

#1. Hay

A leafy and green variant of hay has the highest protein and fat content (in which you can also check the packaging when you buy for the specific nutrients).

Since this kind of food is the staple food for bunnies, you have to secure that they have hay a lot every day.

There are also variants of hay suitable for baby rabbits (like Alfalfa) because it contains a fair amount of fiber.

This kind of hay is also a great deal to give to adult ones because it has higher calcium content than grass hay.

If you have noticed that your beloved pet is reluctant to eat, then you must offer it gradually and observe. If your pet has been used to it, you can increase the amount until it has the appetite to eat large amounts.

Make sure that you are providing your bunny with fresh hay since the nutrients and minerals from it will help in gaining more weight for rabbits.

#2. Dry foods

If you do not give your bunny dry foods, then you should continue reading.

These kinds of foods are highly concentrated and are easy to digest, which is why you cannot give tons of dry foods to adult rabbits.

Increasing it would mean that your bunny will have more calorie intake and will have more weight in a short period.

Pellets also significantly contribute to your pet’s weight if you give a low protein and high fiber type (this is good for adults).

However, if you often give too many pellets to cottontails, they tend to dislike hay and choose the pellets to ensure that you do not overdo the feeding.

#3. Fresh foods

A healthy rabbit would also mean a happy owner because your bunny should have a robust body.

Giving your bunny fresh foods always causes it to have more minerals and nutrients. 

Introducing small portions of fruits and root vegetables is a good move since they contain more calories than leafy veggies.

Steps To Make Your Bunny Gain Weight

You have to be alarmed if your bunny is underweight because, for sure, there is something wrong.

Here are the tips that you must remember to avoid the risks of a skinny bunny:

Step #1. Consult the veterinarian

The very first thing that you should do is to seek medical help because who knows if there is an underlying medical issue with your bunny?

What if it is too late? You have to do this so that the illness will be treated immediately and that no further complications may happen.

After the consultation and treatment, you will eventually notice your pet go back to its right weight. A healthy bunny will surely give pure happiness to you and your family.

Step #2. Increase the calorie intake

If you are determined to fix the issue by yourself at home, the best thing that you should do is to increase the foods that your rabbit’s intake of calories.

It is still crucial that you offer lots of fiber to ensure that its gut will function very well.

Step #3. Offer rabbit treats

If your bunny is eating well, you also have to offer it treats, highly available in pet stores.

These foods will aid the gradual loss of weight of your beloved pet and avoid the risk of being underweight.

You can have the option of giving it fruits and veggie treats depending on its favorites.

Like Thumper, my pet, he loves apples so much that he eats a treat every day. He would always jump for joy whenever he sees me holding an apple for him (how adorable!).

Step #4. Exercise routines

You cannot just give lots of food to your bunny because overdoing it will cause health problems in the future.

Good exercise will increase its immunity, and of course, you can have a great bonding time with your pet.

With exercise, the mental and physical health of your bunny will be improved, and there would be no room for illnesses. 

If there isn’t any exercise available for your cottontail, then there is a high chance of a lack of appetite, which soon leads to being underweight.

Things To Consider For Diet Change

To change the diet of your bunny, you should introduce the new diet to your pet gradually and not add a new food straight away.

This makes sure that your bunny’s digestive system is adjusting to process a new kind of food.

Weight gain is a slow process because it includes the building of new muscles and requires you to be patient as a slower increase in weight guarantees a healthier weight gain.

Indicators That Rabbits Have Illness

The leading indicator in which you can tell that your bun is suffering from an illness is weight loss. It is also accompanied by spurs, stress, and dental diseases. lear

You have to be vigilant about this matter because your bunny’s health should be your primary concern.

The best thing that you can do to help your bunny is to give it a trip to the veterinarian to treat the cause of the issue.

By that, you won’t have to worry about future problems at all.

Conclusion

In conclusion, being very alert to the weight loss of your cottontails will surely help in preventing further serious problems.

If you notice your bunny avoiding food for too long, then it should be time to consult the vet.

You must offer your pet fresh and healthy foods all the time including fiber and calcium-rich alfalfa hay because it will build a robust immune system for your bunny.

Be sure to put effort into taking care of your beloved pet since it would still be you who would suffer for the owner’s consequences.

I hope that you have learned a lot about how to make a rabbit gain weight, and I would be happy if you follow the tips correctly.

Thank you very much for spending time reading, and good luck!