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Forum DIET & CARE what to do with bunny while on vacation

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    • BELLASGRANDMA
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        Hello everyone,

        We are going on vacation in another month and this will be our first since having our bunny.  She’ll be a year in July and I don’t have to say who she is to our family.  My heart is so heavy reading of those who have recently lost their babies.  Bella is my  15 yr old daughters bun, but she’s the family’s baby and were both so afraid of leaving her.  She sleeps in her cage in her mom’s bedroom and gets to be out in the pen in the evenings in the living room where she snuggles and plays with her mom.  We’re thinking she’ll have to be in her pen in the garage, with a fan to keep air moving.  We’re trying to find  a bunny person to come feed/check on her everyday.   My daughter is afraid her being in the garage, not seeing her mom, having a stranger there, the garage door going up and down, that all of this  for 4 days will stress her out and she’ll die.  We have an alarm and my husband doesn’t want someone in the house while we’re not there, hence the garage.  I’ve been told bunnies do not ‘board’ well either, which is what we’re doing with the cat.  I’m trying to get my daughter to start doing her evening pen time in the garage with Bella so she can get use to it with her mom there to comfort her.  She’s not a particularly frightful bunny.  She does get nervous with new loud sounds or new people but after she sees they won’t hurt her she actually gets curious.  Help, are we just being  way over protective and silly?  Any thoughts?  We’re just so afraid of losing her.  Thanks,  Diane (Bellas grandma) 


      • JK
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          No listen I am going throught the same thing!  I’m an absolute wreck about leaving Edson for 10 days!  I’m worried about boarding at the shelter, worried about taking him to someone’s house and worried if someone comes here they won’t do what I do which is a ton of work. I’m constantly cleaning up, refreshing hay, filling water, changing towels.  I’m a certified nut now. I have been dreading this decision since we planned our trip. I still don’t know what to do.  I have the exact same worries you do. I have no problem boarding the cat at all or the dog when she was still alive.  But the rabbit is putting me in a tailspin. I’m anxious to hear what you decide. 4 days is a little easier to digest than 10!


        • Sarita
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            I would try to find a place to board her.

            In the garage is not a good place – even for only 4 days with a fan on – with the heat coming on, this would be very bad and it would be very depressing for her.

            I have boarded former foster rabbits for adopters and while this isn’t ideal for the rabbit – at least they are inside and cared for and are not left for real long periods of time. And they are inside where it is climate controlled and fed and kept clean.

            I would even try a vet’s office – while this is not ideal it’s also better than the garage and she will be cared for.


          • kralspace
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              Do you have a rescue nearby that does boarding? Ours in Dallas has a nice setup for boarding bunnies, I think it’s only like $10 a day per rabbit and there’s no place that they’d get better care. Or maybe the rescue would know of someone.

              I’ve not been gone that long since my zoo got so big (5 rabbits, 2 piggies, 3 cats and one poor old dog) but I have 2 teenage girls in the neightborhood trained who take care of them when I have to be gone a couple of days. I have these big charts I tape on each condo showing what everyone gets and they always do a good job.

              good luck!


            • BELLASGRANDMA
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                Knowlston4,

                Wow, it is great to hear we are suffering alike!  It makes me feel a little better.  I will let you know what we come up with.  I know exactly what you mean about all you do and all your fears we are so together on that one.  Take Bella out of the equation and this is a great vacation, but I can’t do that.  It’s like eaving one of the kids home (though that doesn’t sound so bad)      If anything happened to Bella…. well you know, it’s ruining the whole vacation already.  Thanks for the kindred spirit reply!  I’ll keep you appraised.  I agree the 4 days is a whole lot better than 10.  I’m actually trying to figure out if I can/should cut it down even more!  Let me know what you decide too please.  Edson is ADORABLE, but how can a bunny, especially a lop, not be!  What do they do with our hearts wrapped so tightly around their precious little paws?  They torture us, that’s what they do and guilt us into more carrots, mint and cilantro!   Thank you!!   


              • Sarita
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                  http://www.indianahrs.org/contact-us.aspx

                  Contact the Indiana House Rabbit Society to see if they know of any bunny boarders or sitters in your area.


                • Sarita
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                    Well, I’ve never heard that a rabbit does not “board” well – I’ve done it alot and seen it done alot and they do just fine as long as the person boarding has experience.


                  • Beka27
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                      i agree with what’s been said. you are going to be moving the bunny’s location anyways, which will cause stress, so you might as well move her to someone’s home where they can keep an eye on her and take great care of her. i think the garage would be very scary. there are new smells and sounds, not to mention it’s going to get hot in there. your husband sounds a lot like my dad as far as not wanting people in the house. i went to their house once while they were on vacation b/c i needed to borrow something, and when he got back, he CONFISCATED my key. and i’m his DAUGHTER! i would check at the rescues near you and see if they can board him, or if any of their fosters take on petsitting in their homes. i would stay away from the vet (unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY) b/c that may stress your bun out more.


                    • babybunsmum
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                        i’ll be going away for a week this november for the first time in a loooong time & have to consider this as well.   my first choice would be to board the buns at my vet’s where they’d get excellent care but at $25 / day for each bun that would add upto $350 for a week.  yikes!  

                        my next choice will be to have them stay in their normal suroundings & have some one come in daily.  they’d get less attention this way but would be in their normal environment.   you can hire a well established pet sitting service to come into your home for less than it costs to board & if you get a good reference i think it’s better than asking a non-bunny friend or family member since they’ll be more knowledgeable, organized and have a reputation to protect.

                        for a week’s vaca i would also consider setting the buns up at some one else’s house & explaining rabbit care basics to them but it’s a lot to ask of some one.  i’d consider this if they had any pets that i could look after when they’re away… like as a trade off. 


                      • Beka27
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                          think about how much easier it would be to leave Baby and Pinky if they were bonded… that’s some good motivation for November… huh?  what are you doing with Bogart?


                        • kralspace
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                            When you said they would get less attention staying in their own environment, that reminded me of some suggestions people have made in other threads.

                            Leaving a radio or tv on, playing a cd, etc. for them to listen to.

                            That didn’t hit home til last weekend when I got some Harry Potter audio tapes. I was stuck working at the computer all weekend so I popped them in. Within a half hour Diasy and Lola had come to the top floor so they were eye-level with me working at my desk, sitting side by side like bunny slippers, ears facing the tape player. They stayed there for hours, noses wiggling, eyes half closed. When I would take a break, they would wake up and do bunny things, but as soon as I started the tapes again, they assumed ‘slipper position’

                            hehehehe, maybe they just like Jim Dales voice! But then I noticed when I forget and leave the radio on in the back room with the other 3 buns, I can come back in quietly and they’re all relaxed and listening too.

                            so maybe leave their favorite radio station playing?


                          • JK
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                              Well I wish I could trust a pet sitting service but I had a horrendous experience a couple years ago.  I hired someone to come in EVERY day to take care of my cat and she came in maybe 3 times instead of the 8 days I needed her.  I could tell because of the number of poop bags.  I came home to find no water and no food in her bowl. The floor where the litter box was was filthy.  This was a bonded and insured pet sitting service.  I will NEVER do that again.


                            • babybunsmum
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                                Posted By Beka27 on 06/03/2008 8:05 AM

                                think about how much easier it would be to leave Baby and Pinky if they were bonded… that’s some good motivation for November… huh?  what are you doing with Bogart?

                                oh i know!  i really hope the bonding goes well… all my fingers & toes are crossed.  no matter what kind of care i arrange it’ll be nicer if they’re together.  i was even thinking, if they refuse to bond i’ll plan ahead & re-arrange their living accomodations so that they’re enclosures are next to each other & they can see but not nip.  after another couple days of stunt double living i’m going to start switching them to eachother’s ‘dwellings’ so by the time november comes they’ll at least be comfy in either setting! 

                                if i go the pet-sitter route i could have them look after bogart too.  i’m considering asking my neighbors (who have a dog just like bogart only diff color) if they’d trade a week’s care with me but i’d have to find the right time to work it into the conversation with them.  they’re good people.  and i just baby sat their cat for a few hours for them so its a possibility we can arrange something. 

                                unless i’m sleeping i always have a radio playing and also when i’m gone, even if it’s only to run errands.  it’s a weird thing i have about liking to have background noise.  but thats a great point… if the buns end up here with some one checking in on them once a day i’d def keep a radio on for them!


                              • Beka27
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                                  knowltons… you are right by a great rescue, i wonder if someone there can personally refer you to somebody…


                                • GHbun
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                                    When are you going on vacation? My parents live in your home town, and I’m going to be visiting there next month. Perhaps we can work out something to board Bella at my folks’ place. I know just how you feel about leaving the bun. I’ve had reliable friends to pet-sit, and it’s still hard to go. My experience of boarding at the vet was to return and find my baby’s cage adjoining a daschund! She almost leaped into her travel carrier for the ride home.


                                  • bigsis7
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                                      If you can get her to Virginia I’ll pet sit her :-D!!! Or you could move to VA and then go on vacation! haha…


                                    • BELLASGRANDMA
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                                          Well, we figured it out after such great advice from so many.  We’ve found out 2 vet techs that work at Bellas exotics vet  take bunny boarders to their homes.  I’ve thoroughly check them out, talked to people who have used them.  I guess they do what they say.  They say they will do whatever we want whenever with Bella.  Understanding she will be alone while they’re at work, but that’s the situation at our house anyway.  She’ll have her own room, can stay in her cage from home with all her goodies,  get her food, treats, etc. from home, go in the exercise pen sit with her or not, whatever we tell them.  I know that’s taking alot on faith but they checked out as much as they could.  What I also like is that they’re very bunny savvy, know what to watch for, and if they see a problem they can get her to her vet faster than we could.  I had completely written off boarding and would not have gone any further without all your good advice and encouragement.  Thank you for the offer to take her for me from a few.  Thank you!!


                                      • Sarita
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                                          I think that sounds like a great solution and they know how to care for rabbits being a vet tech with an exotic vet! I’m glad you found someone to board her with.


                                        • babybunsmum
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                                            that worked out nicely!!!  i’m glad you’re all sorted out.  nothing takes the fun out of anticipating your vacation like worrying about your pets.


                                          • Scarlet_Rose
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                                              It sounds like you’ve found a solution already and that’s great! I was just going to chime in and say that I use rabbit-sitters that listed with my local HRS. I have had no problems and feel very safe with leaving my 2 with them. In fact they are going over to one for 2 weeks in August, I take a picture of my rabbits to keep on my cell phone when I miss them I get to see their cute fuzzy faces. I also know some people who set up a web-cam at the place they are being watched and the care taker is more than happy to do it and they check in on their furballs with their laptop!


                                            • Beka27
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                                                that sounds like a great solution! i know it’s nerve-wracking to think about leaving them with someone who does not have bun experience, b/c so much can go wrong quickly, but i’d feel better knowing they have a background on what to look for.


                                              • JoeyThumper
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                                                  just to add a little thing that i do as i worry about my boys getting the right treatment is i give the person looking after them a book all about their routine and extra vet info, then i pre-prepare their meals into each days and as a little extra safety thing i normally use a water bowl for them so i fill that up and give them a big bottle of water as well and then they have a box of hay which i fill up to the top which can last them for at east a week and then the person is asked to top up water food hay and clean out trays which i havent found a way to do that ahead of time without buying more litter trays which would cost too much

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                                              Forum DIET & CARE what to do with bunny while on vacation