BEW buck can't keep weight.

[cowgirl9768]

Be warned this is a squishy I don't wanna kill my rabbit post. I have a lionhead buck who has had seizures due to some genes that are commen in BEWs so after finding this out I retired him from breeding. The vet say that the type of seizures he is expearncing should effect him much. But he just can't keep on the weight. He is a sweet little buck, he is litter trained, no bite or scratch. I want to sell him to some persion who needs a sweet little pet. But I don't feel right selling him in his current condition. Barely more then bone. He is about 5 and has always been thin so I think iris just age but I need to get weight on him soon. Anything that will help pack the pounds? Right now I'm giving him hay and pellets as much as he want.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Have you tried worming him?

Parsley will improve his appetite.

I don't personally use it due to the corn content, but CalfManna should help him gain. You could also give him BOSS, oats, barley, or wheat.

 

[cowgirl9768]

Have you tried worming him?.

I have not, I'm afraid I'll give him to much without giving him an exact measurement and idk what that is. What would you give for a 3.5 or 4 lb buck

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

feeding a senior horse sweet feed has helped put weight on a couple does I have, as well as a buck.. The added sugar may also reduce the number or severity of the seixures...

 

[ollitos]

Mix a teaspoon of diatomaceous earth in with food that you will give him over 3 or 4 days - a large ration of pellets. It's a natural dewormer (although some people debate the effectiveness of it) and you can't overdose on it. The reason I suggest mixing it in with a large ration of food is that it is very light and dusty. Since rabbits already have sensitive respiratory systems, I try to keep dust and DE dust in particular to a minimum.

What amount of protein is in his feed currently? You might want to consider bumping up the protein and adding BOSS.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I swear by BOSS, as someone else already suggested.

 

[MaggieJ]

Raw pumpkin seeds are also useful as a dewormer and they are packed with nutrients too. You can get them at a health food or bulk food shop and sometimes even in Wal-Mart or a grocery. You can feed them in the shell or with the shells removed, but they should not be salted or roasted. They're a tad expensive, but a little bit goes a long way.

I sometimes make a mix with grain, kitchen oatmeal, sunflower seeds etc. and then put a spoonful of blackstrap, sunflower or other vegetable oil and a little water in mug and warm it. I drizzle this over the grain mixture and mix it in well. It should not feel wet. I find this is useful in very cold weather and it should help you put weight on your bunny.

 

[ladysown]

can you go to your vet and just get a dose of panacur for him? they should be able to load it up into a couple of syringes for you. that will take care of the worming issue.

DO NOT sell this rabbit to someone who does not know how to take proper care of him. SERIOUSLY. And do offer a "I will take him back at any time" promise.

Rabbits that are ill or that become too much for the new owner get dumped. Sometimes to places they really ought not be dumped to.

All that said: to fatten up a rabbit you need to feed higher fat/energy feeds.
Problem with that is..you might end up upsetting his digestive system and if he's frail because of the seizures/weight loss do you really want to go there?
It may be a long term project....slowly adding in a tsp of oats/boss/grain mix.
Feeding alfalfa hay rather than timothy.
Feeding a higher protein percent feed.

If this rabbit is five years old... you're probably looking at 2-4 year lifespan left on him. So you will need to choose what you end up doing with him carefully.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I've gotta agree with Ladysown, a lot of people who THINK they can handle a special needs pet...can't. I'm one who can, all my pets are jokingly referred to as "defective" lol...but a pet with issues can quickly become an unwanted animal, and they rarely get rehomed to a proper home after that. So please, PLEASE take caution with who you place him with!

 

[cowgirl9768]

I've gotta agree with Ladysown, a lot of people who THINK they can handle a special needs pet...can't. I'm one who can, all my pets are jokingly referred to as "defective" lol...but a pet with issues can quickly become an unwanted animal, and they rarely get rehomed to a proper home after that. So please, PLEASE take caution with who you place him with!

I always give the "give me the rabbit back of you can't take care of your rabbit" talk. I will most likely find someone I know and trust to take him.<br /><br />__________ Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:12 am __________<br /><br />I have started giving him higher concentration alfalfa hay, oats, and a small amount of banana. I will be worming him as soon as I get the supplies.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Just a cautionary tale: my friend sold her horse with a sales contract that gave her "right of first refusal." Basically if they ever wanted to sell that horse, call her first and give her the option to buy him back.

A year later she called them to ask how he had worked out for them. The reply: "Oh yeah we sent him to auction about six months ago."

Ten years later another friend happened to be visiting someone and saw that next door they had an emaciated, sickly horse that looked awfully familiar. My friend went out there and sure enough, it was Dandy! He was hundreds of pounds underweight, had eight pounds of sand that had to be pumped out of his stomach by a vet, and he hadn't seen dewormer in a long time. Very poor condition. When she asked the last owner how long they had him and where from, they said they bought him less than a year before they sold him back to her...from an auction. :roll:

Dandy taught me how to ride, he was a wonderful critter. Lived to be 35. I was still riding and showing him at 34. Once in a while I'd be at a show and someone would shout "OH MY GOD IS THAT DANDY?!" I've pieced together some of the ten-year-MIA period, but we'll never know all of it.

And those people were checked out and signed a contract.

Now, you must do what is best for you and your rabbit, and if that means he goes with someone else, then that's cool. I just personally have trust issues with most of humanity. Ignore me, I'm paranoid lol!!!!

 

[cowgirl9768]

Now, you must do what is best for you and your rabbit, and if that means he goes with someone else, then that's cool. I just personally have trust issues with most of humanity. Ignore me, I'm paranoid lol!!!!

Yeah I get where you are coming from. I own horses and dogs and my rule with them is if I get them I keep them till they live a long happy life and pass away. But rabbits and cows are a little different for me. Don't get me roung I love my bunnies and cows but if I sold my rabbit or cow and they couldn't take care of him and put him down or sold him of again I wouldnt feel as bad. I guess it's kinda something you have to get used to when breeding livestock.