My rabbit is skin and bones and won't gain weight. What's the problem?

It definitely sounds like something serious is going on with Bun Bun. If his appetite is still good and his stools are normal but he is losing weight I would be concerned with either intestinal parasites or cancer causing him to get a lack of nutrients. This would explain the hairloss as well. I would recommend taking Bun Bun to your veterinarian to be examined. Your vetnwill most likely want to run some blood work and possibly do X-rays as well. I hope this helps. Best of luck. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It sounds like they could have a parasite or an infection causing the problem. It is very concerning that they both lost weight rapidly and one died. It would be best to have her examined by a vet to determine the cause and treat. Your vet can run some lab-work, if needed, and prescribe medications to treat. She may need some fluids for dehydration, antibiotics, de-wormer, etc. Besides trying to get her to eat and drink, there isn't much more you can do without veterinary care. Hope she gets better soon!

A rabbit that is not eating normally should be considered a veterinary emergency. If the GI tract slows or stops, a dangerous buildup of bacteria and toxins could endanger Bun Bun's life. Given his age and weight loss, he needs to be seen by a veterinarian...any veterinarian. If necessary, a specialist can be contacted by phone or online by your vet. Veterinary reference labs may provide consultation services as well. For now, offer as much timothy hay as he will eat. Offer some Oxbow Critical Care for Herbivores as well. You may be able to find it in pet stores or in the local vet clinic. Keep Bun Bun warm and as stress free as possible. The link below leads to a list of veterinarians experienced in treating rabbits locate din Wisconsin. http://wisconsinhrs.org/local-vets/

Thanks for reaching out about Cookie. A fecal examination for parasites and blood work to rule in/out metabolic or infectious concerns is recommended. A condition such as inflammatory bowel disease has been found in rabbits, preventing them from absorbing nutrients well. You should see your veterinarian again. Good luck.

With the discharge from her nose I would suspect that she has some sort of respiratory issue going on. Rabbits are very prone to pasteurella infection and this can cause weight loss over time and make them generally unwell. With any disease rabbits will be under stress which puts them at risk of gut stasis. Running bloods could help to establish if their is an active infection and if any other organs are involved.

Yes, I agree, this bun looks very thin and unthrifty. It is possible that he may have parasites or some other issue going on. Is there any way you can get a rabbit-appropriate dewormer in India? I like to use feline Revolution which is a topical treatment for cats and very safe and effective used on rabbits--can you order this online?

It's actually quite normal to feel some bones on a rabbit with a normal body condition, so I would check the body condition using the link below as a guide: 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.