thin rabbit

Question
hi, i just recently bought a lion lop 10 weeks old. He is very thin since i got him, that is his only symptom. His food has stayed the same and he is constantly eating.I am feeding him twice a day and have started him on critical care. Also he is not drinking much i have a bowl of water in with him. please help  

Answer
Dear Smolly,

First, be sure the diet you're feeding him is right and healthy for a rabbit:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html

Be sure he has a *bowl* of water, not a sipper bottle, as he may not be drinking enough from a sipper bottle, and may be dehydrated.

If he is still not eating well, have a good rabbit vet give him a good wellness exam, including a close look at his teeth (front and molars) to be sure the problem isn't that he *looks* as if he's eating all the time, but actually isn't able to eat properly because of a severe dental malocclusion and overgrown teeth.  This is, sadly, very common in Lionheads.  You can read more here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/dental.html

The vet can also check for parasites or other conditions that could be interfering with normal weight gain and growth.

I hope this helps.

Dana