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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Please help- Time away from bun

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    • ashley & palmer!
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        Hello!

        My husband and I will be in Europe for 3-5 months beginning this September. Originally, I wanted to bring our 3 year old netherland dwarf, Palmer, with us, but I’m too nervous he’ll end up forced into quarantine while in the UK, and stressed out. Until we have a permanent place to live, he’s going to temporarily stay with our friends, who will take wonderful care of him.

        Of course I’m heartbroken to leave him– we put a 5 month cap on our trip without coming back to the US because I don’t want to leave him any longer than that. If our work ends up being more long term in Europe, I will come back to fly him out to our new home. 

        SO, I’m wondering if anyone else has been away from their rabbit for an extended time? The longest we’ve ever been away from him is six days… he typically comes with us on any trips we take. Will he be depressed? Will he even know that *his humans* are gone? He’ll be in a new house (which is similarly decorated to ours and very clean & spacious), but I know it will be a weird adjustment to him being in a new place. He’s gone on trips to our parents for weeks and adjusted well, so I’m thinking the change of scenery won’t be a big deal.

        My biggest concern is that he’ll be depressed that we’re gone. What can I do to ensure he’ll be okay? Maybe leave something with our scent on it? I know my friends will give him lots of attention, maintain his eating schedule, and contact our vet if need be, but I can’t help but feel like a mom sending her only child to a far off camp! 

        Any advice would be super appreciated. 

        Thanks so much!


      • HerculesandMolasses
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          I have been away for a month form my rabbit and he was stressed because his poops were small. A couple days after I returned they went to normal. Your rabbit will be stressed and may be depressed. I would leave a shirt you wear a lot to him and long as you know he won’t eat it. If I was you I would bring him there because the quarantine and the new house and no owner are both him thinking that you abandoned him. He will get stressed but I would do the quarantine instead of leaving him with your friends. The quarantine is shorter than the trip. But maybe letting stay at home is best because what if places you stay at don’t allow pets? Will the plane allow him? How will you carry all his things?


        • aBeautifulHope
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            I have never had an extended trip away from any of my buns, but I have left horses, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and the whole gambit behind ☺️ I currently have a dog with serious separation anxiety (to the point where I’m thinking about medicating him) and if I was to go out of the country for 5 months, I’d probably leave him behind (Oh, yes, just so no one thinks I’m a horrible doggy parent, I’d leave Max behind with my parents and sisters and brother [who he adores] and an emergency credit card in my name that they could use for vet visits/doggy anxiety medication/training with a really awesome positive reward trainer/whatever he’d needed to stay nice and calm until I got back [yes, I have really thought this through because I may be moving out of state for a bit and be unable to bring my horses and dog till I found an apartment and boarding set up I liked] )so I definitely think you’re making the best and least stressful decision for your animal ☺️☺️☺️ Animals aren’t like us, they may be confused for a bit as to where you went but after a while if they’re in a good environment they’ll chill out and get back into a routine…while being flown across the ocean and locked in quarantine could really do a number on your poor buns constitution! And leaving a shirt with y’all’s scent sounds like a wonderful idea! But I think he’ll settle in after a few weeks and be quite happy going about his routine until y’all get back ☺️


          • Coney Kuneho
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              I’ve been away for two weeks and my rabbit got so depressed he didn’t eat much, lethargic and shed a lot that we had to take him to the groomer. That’s when I learned that he was just skin and bones but his appetite came back after a few days. He was with my mom all the time and in the same house.


            • ashley & palmer!
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                HerculesandMolasses , the quarantine is FOUR MONTHS in a metal cage, which is way too long. My bun is used to being free inside, not locked in a cage. That’s the only reason he is not coming with us. The friends he’ll be staying with are very loving and responsible, not total strangers, so I don’t think he’ll mind them.

                abeautifulhope, your plan for your dog sounds a lot like what we’re doing for our bun! He’s staying with super responsible friends who have a clean, spacious home, he’ll have lots of food & litter box supplies, access to his regular vet, and I’d be on a plane immediately if anything was going wrong with him.

                This hasn’t been reassuring, but thanks for your responses.


              • aBeautifulHope
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                  I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you bunbun ☺️ He may be a little ‘off’ for a week or two, but I imagine he’ll settle right on in after a bit! I’ve never had one of my prey animals (and I’ve had a lot of different types as well as the bunnies…) go off of their food when I went out of town. Same with my dogs (some of which have INSANE separation anxiety)…at least not more than a day or two. People tend to attribute a pet being off while they’re gone to them leaving, because they want to know that they’re animal loves them that much, and while that may be it a bit, most of the time it’s just a coincidence. Or so I’ve found with mine and other’s pets ☺️ Don’t stress out about it…he’ll be fine! Also, from what I’ve experienced prey animals don’t grow as attached to their handler as a carnivore (I.E. Dogs) does ☺️ So it’s not as stressful for them if someone else takes care of them ☺️


                • HerculesandMolasses
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                    Oh sorry I didn’t know. It would be best to leave him home I think.

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                Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Please help- Time away from bun