Diet help?

So my big boned Annabelle is on a diet .... Although she doesn't seem to be losing any weight, food restrictions only seem to be having an effect on poor Charlie. She eats the same so he suffers. She even takes the food out of his mouth.......

Any ideas? Having them eat separately isn't really an option because Charlie likes to nibble all day ......

Sigh.....

This is the problem when you have a bonded pair we have the same problem with Sox and Henry, Henry has lost a lot of weight and Sox has put it on and the vet said Sox need's to lose some but it's very difficult as Henry need's to put weight on now. So we have taken them off their pellets and just feed hay and a small dish of greens twice a day and I hope to get them in the garden as much as I can when it's a nice day but all they do is sit in their litter tray outside

They are free range in the garden from 3pm til 8pm so they get plenty of runaround time..... Not that Annie does much running....

Oh bless, I hope this sorts itself out for you hunni. The last time we took Binky to the vet we were told that he was overweight. He has lost some now I am pleased to say.

Hugs

JO xx

I know it's not ideal, but could you hand feed them their nuggies etc and maybe give Charlie more bits than you give Annie?

I can't think of anything else....

Eta, Maybe getting her moving more is more important... How about putting the nuggies in a treat ball instead? I know it won't be much exercise but better than nothing I suppose

Humum has cut our pellets right down as Theo needs to be eating lots of hay. She likes to keep my weight up a little so I have some reserves if I go through a snuffly patch, and I am a bun who didn't eat much hay so she did worry about me dropping weight. In fact, I am eating loads more hay and look really sleek and well, so it's actually done me a world of good.

It's similar with Jack and Layla - if you free feed them Layla will eat until the bowl is empty, but Jack will leave when he has had enough. So now they get just enough pellets to satisfy Jack and Layla has to put up with having less than she wants. Jack has gone from being a bit on the chunky side to being a perfect weight and shape - Humum still thinks he looks 'slim' but he's very well for it.

Is Charlie a good hay eater? Are you actually weighing him or just keeping an eye on his shape?

Charlie s a bit of a rubbish hay eater but he does love grass so I might cut him a big pile and leave him that when i go to work and cut down some more on the pellets. At the moment I'm off so he can eat grass all day so I'm not so worried.

I've switched to the low Calorie ones and cut down n their veg too.....

Nothing is ever simple with buns......

Katieb wrote:They are free range in the garden from 3pm til 8pm so they get plenty of runaround time..... Not that Annie does much running....

Does Annabelle liked to be chased? Our daisy loves to be chased around the garden, she doesn't seem to mind if its me or Patch chasing. It might get her running a bit more than she would if left to free range?

Annabelle is rubbish at being chased.... Even when you push her on her bottom she just sits there not realising that is her que to go forward.... (Bun of little brain) - I think you are right though I need to get her sorry rump moving.

Maybe you need to get her one of these
https://happyhoppers.forumotion.co.uk/t21814-you-ll-crack-a-smile-bunny-chases-carrots

Would you like to borrow Gabriel? He play chases Spring which gets her moving. When she has had enough she tries to hide under the plastic stool. Sadly her rather round derriere doesn't fit under the stool I must try to get a photo. I will entitle it 'Does my bum look big under here?'

As to your question, I would think one answer is to hand feed the higher calorific food to Charlie and hope that Annie doesn't realise!

Thumper2001 wrote:Maybe you need to get her one of these
https://happyhoppers.forumotion.co.uk/t21814-you-ll-crack-a-smile-bunny-chases-carrots

this was the first thing that popped into my head

Having a similar issue with MJ and Temperance. He is definitely chubbier than she is (I'm not sure if she's lost weight or he's put on weight- they both felt the same when he first arrived.. I'm guessing the latter... should have got them weighed at the vets :\ ).

We feed them seperately (nuggets/treats/herbs, hay they obviously share) as MJ inhales his food and will then go and steal T's. I've brought barley rings home for her which I am sneaking her when he isn't looking.

We used to think T was greedy, but MJ is something else.

thanks Guys...

Well this morning neither of them got any nuggies....luckily since im still recovering from my op, it was Matt who is in charge of breakfast and therefore took the brunt of the "we is starving" and then the "what kind of a service is this" looks.

We then waited for Annabelle to fall asleep and snuck Charlie some nuggs........

This is going to be a loooonnngggg process.

Sixer, thank you so much for your offer of the loan of Gabriel......im afraid my nerves couldnt stand it - so ill kindly decline.... (I know your game!)

They are staring at me through the french windows.... Im trying not to look.

This diet is worse for me than them !

Oh no.... Not those looks