What to do with pet rabbit when we're on holiday?

ripplyuk

We're only going away for a week but I've a bit of a dilemma on whether to put my bunny in boarding or leave him at home. He absolutely hates travelling and gets very stressed. Even going 2 miles to the vets for his annual vaccinations is a problem. He wets himself and is frozen with fear and shaking constantly. It's so bad that I'm considering paying the cost of calling the vet out to my house next time.

The boarding place would be a 50 min drive. I'm debating with myself if I should do it. It may seem odd to think of just leaving him at home but he has gravity fed feeders and drinkers which last for ages. He has a fox proof run covering 6 meters x 5 meters and 90% of his diet is grass. He doesn't pee/poop in any of his indoor houses as he has a self designated spot outside for that. So he doesn't need cleaned out each day.

The bunny boarding place advertises that they have 6ftx3ft runs, but that's tiny compared to what he is used to! And I worry the travel would stress him so much he'll become ill. If I leave him at home, I have a friend who could call in once during the week to check him but apart from that he'd be on his own.

What should I do? I just can't decide what's best for him.

elsien

Do you not have a trustworthyneighbour who could call in to check on him ? My mother does that for her neighbours - calls in twice a day to feed and check, and he's fine.

krlyr

How about a petsitter to pop in and check on him once or twice a day?

They can go downhill so quickly from bloat and other issues, I wouldn't want to leave him unattended.

ripplyuk

You know I never even thought about a petsitter. That would be perfect! I'll search now for any near me. Does anyone know any websites for it?

I have neighbours but we're not that friendly. We wave in passing and say hello to each other but that's it and to be honest, I prefer it that way. Next door have young kids and I'd worry they'd pester my bunny if I asked them to look after him. With the other neighbours, I don't want to risk falling out with them if they left the rabbit run gate open or some other disaster!

krlyr

You could ask at your local petshops - when I worked in one, I would do petsitting for customers as a way of earning a few extra pennies. I did it in my own home, but they may do or know of someone who does homevisits. Or ask at your vet for recommendations, perhaps - obviously leaving someone with your key, you don't want to let just anyone in.

jackomdj

If you are in FB a local pet page may have someone who advertises (we have a couple who advertise)

UKTigerlily

Hi! I agree with the pet sitter option; you can get some who would stay in your home for the whole time you're away, and others that would visit once or twice a day to give some company and feed and water him.

It seems to me, that to go so far to board him would be cruel . . . if he can't cope with such a short drive to the vets and you're considering calling the vet out when he is next vaccinated, then to take him so far to board seems like it'd be awful for him and for you (as you'd surely worry about him while away too)

Here are some links, I used Animals @ Home for a long time:

http://www.animalsathome.co.uk/
https://www.animalaunts.co.uk/
http://www.animalangels.co.uk/
http://www.petsitters.org/

Have you considered a bunny friend for him? They aren't really any more work than one (and as they amuse each other, maybe less so), and rabbits really love a companion. Of course, you probably know this & have your reasons, so apologies if this is the case

Good luck!

Person_one

Try some local dog walkers too. Mine offers daily visits for small animals while owners are away as an extra service, and I'm sure others do as well.

On an unrelated note, have you considered getting another rabbit or two as company for this one?

GwylimT

You could get a pet sitter, I wouldn't leave an animal alone. Does rabbit not have a friend? Rabbits are known to be stressed and lonely without company.

bugslet

Another one that would suggest dog walkers as an option, sure it would fit quite easily into their schedule to pop by once a day just to make sure everything was OK.

When I had chinchillas, my local pet shop looked after them for me.

sheramber

I would not leave a rabbit unchecked for several days. What if he became ill or hurt himself, what if his food or water system failed. The neighbouring children may notice you are away and take advantage.