Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Is my senior rabbit's weight loss and peeing outside due to age?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Small Animal | Rabbit | Male | neutered | 7 years and 11 months old

My bunny Wally has been very slowly losing weight for probably 8 months now. He is 8 years old. I have read that rabbits may lose weight as they get old, like humans do. He eats normally. Only other symptom is he will now pee outside the cage on occasion. Are these just signs of him aging? Will feeding him more pellets help put on weight? He HATES leaving the house, so I don't want stress him by taking him to the vet if unnecessary. Thanks!

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Emi Knafo, DVM, DACZM

Veterinarian, Board-Certified Zoological Medicine Specialist

Published on December 4th, 2017

Hi, Weight loss is common as animals get older, but it’s generally the result of an underlying issue like arthritis, decreased activity, or even diseases like kidney failure, liver disease, or cancer. So while it’s not unexpected to see weight loss in an 8 year old rabbit, I would be worried that Wally may have some degree of arthritis or a disease called Encephalitozoon cuniculi (EC). Both arthritis and EC can cause rabbits to urinate outside the litter box and weight loss. However, the treatment for each of these are very different and they carry different prognoses. There can also be pain associated, and therefore I recommend you take Wally to a veterinarian for an exam, blood work and radiographs (X-ray). Wally may hate leaving the house, but he will likely feel much better once he has some pain control or any other treatments that may be necessary. Good luck!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Food & Nutrition

Why is my female rabbit's urine muddy, losing weight, not eating?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I have noticed that you listed Ms. Bunny as unspayed. Unspayed female rabbits are at a very high risk of cancer of the uterus, so I would be very worried about that as a possibility for the weight loss. The muddy urine could also be due to high calcium in her diet leading to calcium build-up in the urine. This can cause rabbits to have sludgy urine. It is important to get this checked right away. Your vet will try to empty out the bladder, increase the fluid intake, and get a better diet that is lower in calcium. I would suggest having her seen by your vet and discuss her diet, get a urine sample, and check out her uterus. Best of luck with Ms. Bunny.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My rabbit isn't eating, losing weight, and sick. What should I do?

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/

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

Why is my rabbit losing weight and fur despite eating normally?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my senior cat lethargic, losing weight, and peeing outside box?

Poor Nelson! From your description, I would say that something is definitely wrong. 13 or 14 years is really not overly old for a cat, certainly not old enough to cause these symptoms due to "old age." Some common causes of weight loss, decreased appetite, and acting lethargic along with peeing in odd places and difficulty walking would include diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or chronic kidney disease. I would recommend having Nelson examined by a vet as soon as you are able to - he/she can do basic blood work and a urinalysis to check for these problems and help determine what is causing his symptoms. In many cases, these illnesses are quite treatable once a diagnosis is made, so there's a good chance that your vet will be able to help.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

Why is my 7-year-old rabbit losing weight with an overgrown tooth?

Unfortunately , if your bunny never had problems with his teeth before, then this overgrown front tooth is a sign of serious tooth problems overall. He likely needs his molars corrected as well as his front tooth. You will need to take him to a vet who does a lot of bunny work. He will need, anesthesia, radiographs of his head to check where and how bad the tooth problems are and then they need to be corrected. The dental problems are very likely the reason for your bunny to lose weight. Please male an appointment ASAP.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My pet bunny is losing a lot of weight. What are the common causes?

Hello, sorry to hear that your bunny is unwell. There are many causes that can result in loss of appetite, & subsequent weight loss, really too many to discuss here. But diet imbalances, dental problems, infections, hairballs, gastrointestinal blockages, & cancer can all cause weight loss. Your bunny needs a hands on exam with a veterinarian to discover the reason for the weight loss, & hopefully get things turned around quickly. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my rabbit losing weight, not eating, and has a runny nose?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share