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How do I feed my thin dwarf lop rabbit to help her gain weight?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Small Animal | Rabbit | Female | unspayed | 5 months old | 2.5 lbs
Hello, I just rescued a dwarf lop rabbit from its previous iwner because it was clearyl underfed. This morning her brother died and I brought the her back home to care for it. She is at least 4 months old, but even though it doesn't look like it because she has a lot of fur, I can clearly feel every vertabrae and rib, even the pelvic bone! I was wondering how I should feed her to help her gain a normal weight? She is now 2,5lbs... I don't know if that's enough? I read they should weight around 5
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on November 1st, 2017
https://research.unc.edu/files/2012/11/Body-Condition-Scoring-Rabbit.pdf
If she is a body condition of one, then it's best to have Lulu evaluated by a vet, because it's possible that she has a medical condition that is causing her to be thin. If it's in-fact due to a lack of nutrition, then I recommend feeding a diet of free-choice Oxbow pellets, high-quality hay and grass. It will also be good to feed fruits and vegetables about twice a day. When she gets to a more normal body condition, the fruits and vegetables should be no more than 10% of her diet and the diet should be mostly grass and hay.
Diet changes with Rabbits should be gradual. Changing the diet too quickly can alter the normal gut flora significantly and cause major problems. If she has a lack of appetite or loose stools at any time, then I recommend taking her to the vet for an evaluation.
I hope that helps and Lulu gets better soon.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpfulRelated Answers from Veterinarians
Answered By Dr Stafford, BVetMed, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on December 10th, 2017
Rabbits really should be able to exist on a diet of hay alone, often when pellets are added they become lazy and favour these. I would try increasing her hay intake, feed a good quality grass hay such as Timothy grass, but avoid legume hays such as alfalfa as they are higher in fat. I would only offer the pellets once a day to try and encourage her to eat more hay. Increasing exercise will also help. You could build her an outside run to play in, invest in toys or train her to walk on a harness.
A companion could help with activity but it can be difficult introducing a new rabbit. Females can fight, so you could try a neutered male.1Pet Parents found this answer helpful