Weighing your rabbit
A dwarf rabbit weighs up to about 1.7 kg, a small breed 1.7 to 3 kg, a medium breed 3 to 5 kg and a large breed 5 kg or more. The easiest way to weigh your rabbit is in a box on a digital kitchen scale that you set to zero first.
In short
- Dwarf rabbit: up to 1.7 kg
- Small rabbit: 1.7 to 3 kg
- Medium rabbit: 3 to 5 kg
- Large rabbit: 5 kg and over, a Flemish Giant can weigh up to 8 kg
- Vets usually calculate medicine per kilogram of body weight
How much does a rabbit weigh?
Rabbit breeds are grouped by weight. The LICG, the Dutch national pet information centre, uses these four groups:
| Group | Weight | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Dwarf rabbit | up to 1.7 kg | Netherland Dwarf, Dutch dwarf lop |
| Small rabbit | 1.7 to 3 kg | - |
| Medium rabbit | 3 to 5 kg | - |
| Large rabbit | 5 kg and over | French Lop, Flemish Giant (up to 8 kg) |
Weight varies between rabbits of the same breed, and a crossbreed can fall anywhere in between. Your vet is best placed to say what a healthy weight is for your rabbit.
How to weigh your rabbit
- Box on the scale. Put a sturdy box, basket or carrier on a digital kitchen scale.
- Set the scale to zero. Press the tare button so you weigh only the rabbit, not the box.
- Rabbit in. Place your rabbit calmly in the box. A handful of hay helps it sit still.
- Read and write it down. Read the weight when your rabbit sits still and write it down so you can compare.
Many kitchen scales go up to 5 kg. If your rabbit is heavier, weigh yourself with and without your rabbit on bathroom scales and subtract the difference. It is less precise, but gives you a good idea.
How often should you weigh your rabbit?
The LICG notes that few owners weigh their rabbit regularly, while being overweight is common: an estimated tenth to a third of rabbits in the Netherlands are overweight. A fixed day every week or every two weeks works well. Also weigh your rabbit when it eats less and before a visit to the vet.
Why weight matters
A rabbit that loses weight without a change in diet may be ill or have dental problems. A rabbit that gets too heavy is more likely to have problems with its joints, its feet and grooming. You see it on the scale sooner than in the coat.
When your vet prescribes a product, they usually work out the amount per kilogram of body weight. That is why the Hopdose syringe has a scale in kilograms: you draw up to your rabbit's weight, as your vet tells you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dwarf rabbit weigh?
A dwarf rabbit weighs up to about 1.7 kg. Examples are the Netherland Dwarf and the Dutch dwarf lop.
How much does a Flemish Giant weigh?
The Flemish Giant belongs to the large breeds of 5 kg and over and can weigh up to 8 kg.
What scale should I use for a rabbit?
A digital kitchen scale with a box on top, set to zero first. For rabbits over 5 kg you can weigh yourself with and without the rabbit on bathroom scales.
How often should I weigh my rabbit?
A fixed day every week or every two weeks works well. Also weigh your rabbit when it eats less and before a vet visit.
How do I know if my rabbit is overweight?
According to the LICG, a rabbit is overweight when it is 10 to 15 percent heavier than its ideal weight. Your vet can tell you what the ideal weight is for your rabbit.
My rabbit is losing weight. What should I do?
See your vet. Losing weight without a change in diet can point to an illness or a dental problem.
Sources
Also useful
Hopdose is a measuring aid, not a medicine. For animal use only. Always follow your vet's advice on product, dose and length of treatment. Hopdose does not give medical advice.