A massive rabbit, mistaken for a dog due to its size, is now on a diet after becoming overweight. Zeus, a Californian breed, weighs a whopping 1st 4lbs (8.2kg) – equivalent to a one-year-old child. His buddy Nala, a Lionhead, is also carrying some extra weight at 2lbs (900g). Their owner, Sharon Close from Leicester, took them in after they were abandoned in 2012. Ms Close, 46, can no longer lift Zeus, and when she told a neighbor that her pet was a rabbit, not a deity, their jaw nearly hit the floor.
The adorable Zeus is thought to be a breed native to California, tipping the scales at a whopping 1st 4lbs, which is the equivalent weight of a typical one-year-old child.
Sharon Close, a resident of Leicester, originally took in a rabbit but is now struggling to lift him due to his weight. The average weight of a rabbit is between 0.8lbs and 4.4lbs, and Ms. Close is now hoping to help her rabbits shed some pounds by participating in the PDSA Pet Fit Club competition. She mentioned that both Zeus and Nala have a love for food, particularly Ryvita crackers. Along with bags of salad, spinach, and treats hidden in their hay, they enjoy indulging in their favorite snacks. When she found them in the park, they were in poor health due to a challenging start in life, prompting her to overcompensate with food. Zeus has become quite large, making it difficult for Ms. Close to lift him. Despite her efforts to encourage exercise and playtime by letting him out in the garden, he remains uninterested and prefers to sit still.
Due to their excess weight, both of Ms. Close’s pets – Nala (on the left) and her companion – have been enrolled in a weight loss program.
The furry companions in the photo are set to shed some pounds as they recently joined the PDSA Pet Fit Club contest. Their owner shared a funny anecdote about mistaking her rabbit for a dog to a surprised neighbor. The plan is to gradually make changes to their daily routine to help them slim down, with the hopeful goal of winning the competition. According to Rae Andrew from the Leicester Pet Hospital, Zeus the rabbit is impressively large – perhaps the biggest they’ve ever seen. Nevertheless, even small adjustments to the diet and exercise of an overweight pet can make a significant difference and extend their life expectancy. In the Pet Fit competition, 15 overweight dogs, cats, and rabbits will be chosen to receive a tailored diet and exercise plan created by veterinarians.
