Rabbit Boarding and Vet Emergencies

[Mocha]

Hi everyone! 

I am going away soon for 4 weeks and I can’t bring my bunnies. Do you think I should have my close friend watch them (she’s not expierenced with rabbits), or a rabbit boarder? It would be a lot less stressful for my buns if my friend watched them, but i’m afraid that something might go wrong, (ex. they might escape from their room and she might not be able to catch them). Also, there isn’t a rabbit vet very close to where I live.

The other option is a rabbit boarder. I haven’t boarded them here before but from their website it looks fantastic. It’s about 30 minutes from where I live and it’s in the city. It’s actually a rabbit rescue and a rabbit boarding place. The boarded rabbits live in a 5×8 ft pen, and they get food morning and evening and their pen would get cleaned every day.

How much does everyone pay per day to have their rabbit watched? (I want to make sure i’m not getting ripped off)

Which one do you think I should choose?

Also, can someone make a list for me of a lot of signs that you need to take your rabbit to the vet for?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JackRabbit]

I’m sure more experienced bunny parents can answer this better than I can. That’s tough.

I would want my buns in a familiar place but I’d worry so much. What if the friend had a personal emergency? Or there was a bunny emergency? A good rescue would know how to properly care for them and know the “signs”. As long as they would be together I think I’d have to choose the rescue.

[LongEaredLions]

The most common signs of illness can be listed by using the Acronym FLUFF.
Food-is your rabbit eating normally?
Lethargy-does your rabbit seem normal behaviour-wise?
Urine-is your rabbit urinating normally?
Feces-is your rabbit pooping normally?
Fluids-is your rabbit drinking normally?
That is just how I remember it. Any change in behaviour, eating habits, or anything else could indicate a problem.
I would go with the boarder too. I typically pay $10-30 per day for rabbit sitting, depending on the required tasks. The boarder should give you an estimate.

[Mocha]

Thanks JackRabbit and LongEaredLions.
The boarder charges $14 per day per rabbit, and they also provide oxbow pellets and hay with the cost. I think i’m going with the boarder.

[Dee]

I second the good advice that you’ve already gotten! I’ve gone back and forth on this issue before myself. Pretty much anybunny would prefer to stay home, BUT where are they safer? I tend to get hung up on my rabbits’ emotional well-being, but then I try to think- if they actually got sick or were injured, where would they be more likely to be diagnosed and properly treated? The boarders wins hands down. Enjoy your trip!

[LongEaredLions]

$14 and that includes hay and pellets?
Heck ya!

[KJenn]

I’m very lucky because my next-door neighbor looks after my bunny when I’m (rarely) out of town. She’s had rabbits before, so she knows what to look for. Otherwise, I’ve had to hire a pet sitter to come to the house. (There are no rabbit boarding facilities within a reasonable drive.) For Baxter, it’s a lot less stressful when he can be in his own home.

My sitter comes 2-3 times a day, and I always leave very detailed instructions. I also already have his salad washed/prepared and stored in the fridge. I also let her know what to look for that might be cause for concern. She also keeps his cage very clean so she can spot something amiss — like mushy poop or weird pee. She’s very good about that and will give me a phone call immediately. I had to provide some basic education about rabbit care when I hired her, as I also had trouble finding a rabbit-savvy sitter.

Hope this helps.

[B'ville]

The rabbit boarder sounds great.  I need one!  Can you post a link to their website?  It’s probably not where I live, but I’d like to see it anyway.  Thanks!

[Author]

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