Leaving bunny for a month

[a.rouse413]

My family is taking a month long trip abroad in June. This is longer than I’ve ever been away from Benny before, and whenever I did leave, my parents took care of him. We have someone renting our basement apartment who has agreed to watch him while we’re away, but I’m still very anxious about everything. He lived in a big, two-story hutch outdoors for the first 6 years of his life, and I would bring him inside almost daily. In October 2014 he got stasis and bladder sludge, and has been living in my room full-time since. He can be pretty territorial and has basically claimed my room as his own. He will charge whenever anyone walks through the door and try to demand food or pets. He can be a bit on the aggressive side when people he doesn’t know come in my room and I’m worried that keeping him in my room while we’re away isn’t the best option. He’s been getting more outgoing in my room and is hopping/exploring all over the place, which is fine when I’m able to watch him, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea when someone is just checking on him a few times a day. I’m thinking maybe I should try to transition him back to his hutch outside so that I don’t have to worry about the trouble he could get into. The lady watching him could feed on him/check on him 2-3 times a day, I have some kids in the neighborhood who have offered to play with him while we’re away, and I could see if our vet friend could stop by once a week and make sure everything checks out health-wise. I know keeping rabbits outside is frowned upon on here, but I feel like it might be the best option. 

Any input would be greatly appreciated, I’m really torn about what the best thing to do is.

[JackRabbit]

I would definitely have everyone check on him, and its great that you have a vet friend who can stop in! The two things that gave me a little cringe were putting him back outside and the neighborhood kids. If he’s used to being inside and doing well, I’d keep him inside. Maybe you could get an xpen or two and set that up in your room — bunny is still inside in his own room and has room to hop around in a safe area. Could the person who will be feeding him and cleaning up after him spend some time with him before you go and maybe give him some company while you’re gone (read, bring a laptop to your room, etc) so that he knows he’s not alone? Unless the neighborhood kids are trustworthy and trained to “play” with a bunny, I’d be hesitant to let them around him without you there, especially since he’s a little territorial and older.

[a.rouse413]

Two of the neighborhood kids have pet rabbits that they have had for a few years. He has adapted to being indoors, but gets recurring sore hocks that he never had a problem with when he was outside. That’s another one of my concerns, I have medicine to put on them, but he doesn’t let anyone else touch his feet. I’m wondering if by being outside and on hay, his feet would heal and they wouldn’t be a problem. I’ve looked into xpens, but the problem with them (besides the cost), is that he still can hop onto my bed, which is where he’s the most mischievous. He also will pee outside of his litter box if he’s angry with me and I’m worried he’ll continuously do that while I’m away and ruin the floors. 

[emm_renn]

What kind of flooring do you have in your room or wherever your rabbit has freedom to? A one story NIC condo would be cheaper and you can put a top on it so he can’t get out and onto your bed.

[a.rouse413]

I have hardwood floors and a 5×8 area rug that he doesn’t like to go off of (besides jumping onto furniture)

[emm_renn]

Ah. Hardwood flooring can cause sore hocks. Is your carpet plushy?

[a.rouse413]

He hates hardwood floors so he only stays on the rug. It’s a plush shag rug but he runs around a lot and it causes friction. I keep a sheet or fleece blanket over the rug to minimize it, but unless I apply the medicine to them twice a day they get worse.

[Author]

Messages