RABBIT HAY GUIDES · SINGAPORE
Senior rabbit losing weight: what to check first
A short record helps you decide what needs to change.
Unexplained weight loss deserves a vet check. Keep familiar grass hay available and record weight, body condition and eating habits. These observations help guide the feeding plan.
Woodgreen: underweight senior rabbits ↗Eating less or passing fewer droppings? Contact your vet promptly; do not wait for the next weekly weigh-in. PDSA’s appetite advice.
1. Record weight and body condition together
RWAF recommends weekly weighing for senior rabbits. Use the same scales and a similar routine, and write down the date and weight.
Gently feel the ribs and backbone too. UK Pet Food’s Rabbit Size-O-Meter shows how to assess the covering over the bones. Ask your vet to show you if you are unsure.
A note you can keep on your phone
Date · weight · how the ribs/backbone feel · hay and pellets eaten · droppings · changes in movement
2. Watch what happens at a meal
- Food: are they eating their usual hay and pellets, or mostly picking at favourites?
- Chewing: is food being dropped, or is the chin wet?
- Access: can they comfortably reach the hay and water?
Bring your notes to the appointment. Dental problems can affect eating and weight; feeding access is another practical check.
3. Match food changes to the findings
Keep grass hay as the foundation. Once the cause has been assessed, agree any changes to pellet amount or hay with your vet.
House Rabbit Society includes alfalfa as an option for underweight seniors. Whether it fits your rabbit depends on their health and feeding plan; age alone is not the reason to add it.
After a change, keep the record going and agree when to review it. If texture is the next thing to try, see choosing softer hay for a senior rabbit.