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Honey Bunny is too overweight

22 11:09:02

Question
I don't know of any evidence that bunnies have self-awareness, but I feel bad for her to just sit there and stare out of her cage for hours every day.  Is she wishing she had something to do or somewhere to go?  This is really eating at me.  I don't want to be cruel to my bunny.

I don't always have a few hours a day to stay with her in the den.  Would she rather be in the den alone for hours with a radio going than in the cage with me in the room (I'm a student who is home a lot)?
Thanks,
Mark
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi,
I have an albino dwarf female bunny and she has ballooned out way too far and her feces is soft and sticks to her heinie and I have to soak her (just her butt) until it softens up enough to let go of her fur.

I stopped feeding her Romaine lettuce and strawberries (her favorites) and now feed her only things like "Hay-sentials" and "Bonanza" from LM Animal Farms.  I've got to stop feeding her so much.  She doesn't get enough exercise but she runs around quite a bit when I take her into the den to stretch her legs.  That's the only room that doesn't have boric acid spread all around.  I didn't know I was going to have a bunny when I did that.

I was a teacher last year and Honey Bunny was our classroom bunny.  She never had health problems when she was around the kids.  It's been a year now since she has been home with me.  Her stools were fine at school and they got better when I cut out the lettuce and strawberries.  I don't want to her to miss her favorites.  She is quite the loving bunny and loves to snuggle.  She raises up on her back legs sniffing for me to hold her or bend down and let her sniff my face when we're in the den.

I don't want her to suffer from problems because she is overweight.  I need to get her on a program.  She lives in a plastic bottom, wire cage and burrows around in Aspen shavings.

Please help me help her.  If you've not experienced this but can give me the web site of a vet who takes questions, I would appreciate that.  I also want her to have little bunnies.  I know if she had a buddy in her cage with her (not with the babies) she would get more exercise.  Where can I find an albino dwarf match like her?

Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your kind consideration and assistance with this.  Honey Bunny is now my companion bunny and I really want the best for her, if I only knew what that was.

Sincerely,

Mark
-----Answer-----
Feed her only 1/3 to a half of a cup of pellets. And all the hay she can eat. Her weight will come down to a healthy size. Feeding her the sugary strawberries is what makes her feces soft. Giving her oats in her feed while eating the Strawberries will help with that. Exercise with a male is not a good idea. Babies will be born before you know it. Just let her out to run in your safe room for a few hours a day and limit her feed, and she will be fine in no time.
Samantha
Sorry it took me so long to get back with you. I have been away from home.


Answer
If it is possible let her run lose in a bathroom or kitchen where she has a solid uncarpeted floor to run around on. Get her chews and toys safe for small animals to keep in her cage to keep her occupied. Most rabbits kinda do just sit around in the day time. Rabbits are more active at night.