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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Holidays and babysitting

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    • Eva_M
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        We will soon be leaving for four days out of country and I can’t take Eva with me so she will be staying with my parents. Soon after that we are planning to go on a vacation and again I won’t be home for a week.  I can’t take her with me.

        Fortunately, my father really loves animals and I believe he will take best care of her that he can/knows how but I’m still freaking out. Nobody but me has really had any experience with rabbits. He tried holding her a couple of times, but that’s it.

        Most of the time I’m away my parents will be staying at our weekend house and will take Eva with them. She has an outdoor cage about 6 m2 and of course her cage will go with her for indoor/night time.

        I’m not so worried about the food because I know they will listen to me regarding what to put on her daily menu.

        My main concern is that Eva is not used to being confined all the time even when outside. Since we have no fence and the property is quite large I let her stroll around with her lace (just in case she gets frightened and runs so that I can catch her more easily) – of course I keep my eye on her all the time, but she gets to walk around whenever I’m not doing something that prevents me from watching her.

         

        Issue is that I noticed she follows me wherever I go like a puppy but she keeps away from others. I’m worried she might be impossible to catch if my dad lets her outside. That goes for indoors too. I know she will run under the beds. And there is no way that they can keep Tara (the dog) from opening the front doors unless bolted shut. In short, I’m scared she might run away and get lost.

         

        On the other hand, not being let to roam free for a week seems like torture to me.

         

        When I get really paranoid I  start thinking about sudden needs for veterinary care and them not noticing something’s wrong…

        And will she hold a grudge for leaving her?

         

        Any suggestions would be welcome


      • BaileyBun
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        149 posts Send Private Message

          I’m in college 1,200 miles from home, so I have to leave my bunnies at least 4 times a year to go home, so I know how worrisome it can be!

          Personally, I would never let anyone besides me take my bunnies outside. I’m just too worried that something could happen. Bunnies can move really quickly, and it’s so easy for a bunny to escape. I would play it safe and keep Eva inside. My two have an x-pen that they’re confined to when they’re at a sitter’s place. That way, they have a bit of room to move around, so they don’t get too bothered by being contained for a few days at a time, and I don’t get worried about them getting lost or destroying something X-pens are half off on the Petco website right now (I think there’s also an additional 20% off, but that sale may have ended already). Besides, both of my bunnies were living in pretty small areas almost 24/7 before I got them, so I figure that just 1 week of confinement won’t hurt them. To make up for keeping my bunnies confined, I try to give them projects and toys that can keep them entertained. Mine get apple chew sticks and a cardboard box to shred.

          As far as worrying about Eva needing to go to a vet- I leave my bunnysitters with a short list of “emergency” behaviors (things like not eating/pooping for 12+ hours; head tilting; etc). I also leave them with my vet’s and the emergency vet’s phone number/address, plus a check made out to the vet, just in case. I believe there’s also a really helpful list for bunnysitters you can download and fill out, but I can’t remember where I found it. Maybe on the BB website??

          One of my bunnies ALWAYS gets mad at me for leaving. She gets really destructive and doesn’t like to cuddle with me when I get back, and it takes a few days for her to “get over it”. She gets very cranky when she’s confined to her pen. However, the other bun is perfectly fine with me leaving (I think he just sleeps all the time when I’m gone, lol). I think it just depends on the bunny. Good luck! Hope everything goes smoothly when you’re away


        • Eva_M
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            Thanks for the reassuring post Who would believe I could get so anxious over leaving a pet with someone other than me
            Unfortunately I can’t afford to buy an x-pen (I’m from other side of the world and they are ridiculously expensive) but I have a pretty good idea what to do so that she can have some time out of cage when indoors. I can set a net around a large table nobody uses so that should do it.
            I definitely decided she should not be let free outdoors. Woods are close, birds and foxes are around and I don’t need a heart attack right now.

            Somehow I have a feeling she will be angry when I get back. She’s very affectionate and tends to sulk from time to time I guess I’ll just have to deal with it… And come up with a good bribe


          • Monkeybun
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              She will be fine for a week in a cage. It’s better that than risk her getting outside and getting lost, or end up some critter’s dinner. She might be a grump when you get back, but she will get over it


            • Beka27
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                I agree, she will be safer confined, especially if your dad is not comfortable handling her and their house is not rabbit-proofed. Also, a change in location can result in decreased litter habits, so it’s better to just leave her in her own space.

                I have no doubt that she will be annoyed at having to be locked up, BUT her safety is more important. She may be a bit angry at you for leaving, but within a few days, everything should be back to normal.

                You listed quite a few reasons as to why outdoors is not a good idea. I will add: you don’t know what parasites are in the yard (fleas/ticks), and if the yard (or the neighbor’s yard) have recently been treated with pesticide or fertilizer. It’s safer to keep her in the house for the whole week.


              • RabbitPam
                Moderator
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                  I’m glad you’ve decided to keep her in the house. Really, the cage will be fine, and unlike many other animals, if in a strange place a rabbit will prefer to be where they are familiar and can have a safe place to hide when scared (like if the dog gets too close, even if he thinks he’s being friendly), so the cage is best. If the cage can be in a separate room where the door can be closed, it might be possible for the room to be bunny proofed a bit so she could have a little time out, like when the litter needs changing. But not with many other people and no other animals in there with her.

                  If you still feel concerned, ask your vet if she boards bunnies, or knows someone who does. Once I discovered that my vet keeps bunnies overnight and has a boarding area for cages with allowance for some playtime, I was so relieved. It made life much easier on me and my family, and she didn’t charge much at all. Plus, if any health issue came up, the vet is on the scene. Just a suggestion.


                • Eva_M
                  Participant
                  51 posts Send Private Message

                    Thanks for the support and answers, it comes a little bit like therapy We go to our weekend house almost every weekend so she’s quite familiar with both the house and surroundings but still I agree with what you said – it’s not worth having something happen to her. I’ll see with my father how she behaves and I’ll leave it as an option for them to allow her to be out of cage in the evening and over night (when they go to sleep) downstairs. I already proofed that part of the house and both them and the dog sleep upstairs so nobody will bother her

                    The vet thing is unfortunately not possible here (or at least to my knowledge). When I remember what I had to go through to find housing/hotel for my dog when I was getting married (I had to invite family so nobody could watch her ) I’m not even considering it as an option.
                    Although her vet is really great (we did not have any real need apart from spaying) I saw that the only space he had for her post op was a small walk-in closet where he put a heater on the floor. He’s one of only a couple I know in my city (capital, by the way) that are recommended for rabbits.

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                Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Holidays and babysitting