Unless there is a life-threatening situation that requires immediate surgery, overweight rabbits should complete a weight reduction program prior to anesthesia.
• Pododermatitis: This is a condition that is common in overweight rabbits and guinea pigs that results in irritation, soreness, and pain in the rabbit's legs and hocks.
And making it a point to keep your rabbit at the ideal weight will also prevent problems like flystrike, which is more common in overweight rabbits who are unable to properly groom themselves.
Owners with overweight rabbits should restrict their rabbit's diet and encourage exercise to bring their rabbit's weight under control — Supreme's VetCarePlus Weight Management Formula is available from you vet to help with safe weight loss.
Most overweight rabbits are being fed far too much concentrated food pellets and a neutered, healthy, adult rabbit only needs about 1 tablespoon per Kg of bodyweight per day of concentrated food.
Since overweight rabbits are unable to properly clean themselves they are more prone to having dirty areas on their body that attract flies (especially the rectum).