Obesity in rabbits is serious, but preventable concern

One of the most common health issues for rabbits is obesity, which owners can prevent with proper feeding, according to Mairwen Guard, a founder of CottonTails Rabbit Rescue.
Obesity in rabbits poses serious health risks, like inability to groom, restricted movement, improper digestion of caecotrophs, arthritis and heart problems. In addition, Guard explained that obese rabbits are more at risk for fly strike due to a wet tail because the rabbit is unable to completely lift itself to urinate.
Guard claims that petfood manufacturers often have misleading feeding guidelines that recommend food levels nearly double the amount a rabbit should consume. She recommended the average pet rabbit be fed the equivalent of two full, flat egg cups of pelleted food, once daily.
"A rabbit’s diet should consist of 70-80% good quality meadow hay, the remaining amount consisting of fresh green vegetables, in a quantity that the individual will tolerate, and a small measured amount of dried food as indicated above," Guard said. 

New iPhone app launched to monitor calorie intake, weight of pets

An iPhone app from Cornell University is designed to keep pets from piling on the pounds. / Photo courtesy www.vet.cornell.edu

A new iPhone app was launched by Cornell University to help consumers monitor their pet's calorie intake.
The US$3.99 app, called CUPetHealth, was developed by seven computer science students at Cornell as part of a class project and examined by university veterinary experts for accuracy. Consumers enter their pet's daily diet and several lifestyle factors into the app, which determines the appropriate number of calories each day by responding with "overfeeding," "underfeeding" or "appropriate." The app also keeps track of medication, vaccine and flea control information.
"Nutrition is an ever-growing concern for pets," said Joe Wakshlag, assistant professor at Cornell's Vet College. "The Centers for Disease Control says that America has become 'obesogenic,' meaning that we live in a world that promotes increased food intake, unhealthy food choices and reduced physical activity. Our pets live in the same world and are suffering the same consequences of obesity."