What would you do? Take bunny with you or leave home?

[Ali925]

 I have a trip coming up for the long weekend (leave Saturday 13th, come home Monday 15th) and I’m not sure what to do with my bunny.

She’s been in the car for a short trip (~40 min round trip) but that’s it so far.  This trip will be 3.5 hours one way…but we’ll be staying in my parents’ cabin so we’ll be in a good setting once we’re there.  I would prefer that she’s with us, especially since we’ve never left her with someone yet (we’ve had her since November).  I don’t have anyone personally that can look after her in our home but I know there are pet sitters in the area.  I either want to have her with us, or have her stay home where she’s comfortable/familiar and have a pet sitter check on her (give food, water, etc.).  I know staying at home where she’s familiar with her surroundings is best, but I also know she’ll be lonely and I’ll have a stranger checking on her…and going in my house (not something I’m crazy about).  I don’t have a vet that knows her yet either, and I don’t want to board her at a vet so that’s not really an option for me.  

So basically I want to bring her with us.  But, would it be too much of a risk of her getting too stressed out to try to bring her in the car with us this soon?  I had wanted to take a trial ride today with an hour ride to the vet, but the blizzard we’re having pretty much forced us to cancel the vet appointment.  So now we won’t get to bring her there before our trip and try her out in the car.  

Any thoughts or suggestions??  Thanks!  I appreciate the help…

~Ali

 

[Karla]

How did she react to the round trip you took her on?

I have to admit that we actually leave the bunnies alone often for a short weekend without anyone checking on them. I just make sure they have food for almost two weeks, kiss them goodbye feeling all bad and then miss them all weekend, but that’s it. But I always make sure that we leave as late as possible as we can on Saturday (eg. after lunch) and then come home in the early afternoon on Sundays.

We have done it a few times as well when we only had Karl, and it is more difficult to leave one bunny that is used to the company than leaving a trio. But I have let the radio on, made sure he had tons of pellets in his food ball to keep him occupied and lots of new toy. The difference between us and you though is that you do actually have a car, which makes it so much easier.

I have been going back and forth on what I would suggest you, and then I remembered that I just read the other day in “Stories rabbits tell” that because rabbits are so territorial and need their usual surroundings to feel secure, they should not be transported around. Taking her with you would be mostly for your sake then.

[KytKattin]

I think it really depends on the rabbit. I would not dream of taking my little Nova, as she does not like change at all! Plus her cage is basically built into my closet…. Eclipse on the other hand would probably be a good candidate as she likes doing the little bit of exploring that we sometimes do together. None of my rabbits mind the car at all, but that is just them. They still sit in their carrier and much away on hay like nothing is happening. Or maybe they are eating it because they are nervous. lol. If your rabbit won’t eat in the car, you have a potential for a big risk because their gut does not have anything moving through it for that amount of time. The longer the time, the bigger the risk.

Find a vet in the area you will be in. Don’t think you won’t need it, just do it so you don’t have to scramble trying to find one at the last minute. I understand that it is probably a remote location, but you should try to find one within at least an hours drive. If you know what to do with the stuff, have a bunny emergency kit on hand as well.

Expect territorial poops, maybe even pee. She might want to claim her new space. It is not going to be like taking a dog on vacation, your bunny will probably not enjoy it as much if at all. Make sure you bring all her normal foods, and keep her extra hydrated with wet greens (don’t towel them off).

Also, I do not know how big of a cabin it is, or how many people there might be, but your rabbit might keep other people up at night. Keep that in mind, as I don’t know what you would do in that situation.

I know it might be hard to find a good sitter in your area, but do call around and see if any have any experience with watching rabbits. You might be able to take her this time, but next time you might have to fly someplace in an emergency. Or train someone you know and trust to take care of your baby.

[Ali925]

Thanks for your opinions.. You both make really good points. I think leaving her home probably is the best choice, the cabin will be loud (my family tends to be…) and it’s not that spacious so the noise would likely upset the bun too. On the flip side my husband and I would keep her in our room with us and she’d definitely keep us up at night.

I know technically they can be left alone for a day or two, and we have left her alone overnight but this would be 2 nights so it seemed more important to have her checked on. Plus we’re still getting used to her, it’s our first bunny and it’s only been a few months so we tend to overthink and worry too much.

Thanks to you both. Hopefully the pet sitter works out.

[Beka27]

For such a short time away from home, I’d really try to leave her. I think by the time you got her packed up, drove to the cabin, got her settled down, and then did it all again, it’s going to be more stress (for her and you) than it’s worth. Do you have any coworkers nearby, any family or friends, church members who could look in on her once? Or is there a neighbor (or neighbor’s teenager) that you’re on speaking terms with who would spend 5-10 minutes refilling her food, hay and veggies? I would have a second hay box filled, have a second pellet dish filled to the proper amount, and have a bowl of veggies ready to go in the fridge. This way all they have to do is take out the old bowls and put in the new. You might want to have a second hay bow in there for the whole weekend, just in case so the bun will not run out of hay.

[Elrohwen]

I’ve taken Otto all over the place with me. His primary vet is 45 minutes away, so even “short” car rides for him are 1.5 hours round trip. He’s been to my mother-in-law’s house numerous times (5 hours each way) and to my parents’ house once (7.5 hours each way) and has done fine! When we took him to my parents’ house, the second I opened the carrier in their living room he was out and running around.

Unless you have a bunny who is very anxious or timid, I don’t think there’s any problem with travelling long distances. I would recommend putting a bunch of hay in the carrier for munching, and a few pieces of lettuce for hydration. I find water very messy and unnecessary for short trips – my bun only drinks a few times a day at home, so he doesn’t really need water for a 5 hour trip.

I like using an xpen and setting it up right when we get there. They’re so easy to pack and set up again.

I also do the pet sitter thing when it’s not really feasible to bring him with us, and that works out well too. I won’t leave him home alone for more than 1 night, but that’s just me.

eta: Otto has always been somewhat shy and slow to explore new places, but the more new places we take him to friendlier he becomes! He’s now perfectly ok with being dropped off at a stranger’s house (for pet sitting) and having us leave. I think all of the time outside our house has been very good for him, rather than stressing him out. He adored going to my parents’ house and having a new place to explore while only 9 months ago I think he would’ve sat in his cage and not come out the whole trip. As I said, unless your bun is the very axious type, I think he’ll be perfectly fine and possibly even benefit by getting to see and experience new places.

[katiep]

I just wanted to let you know that I take long weekends on occasion (mostly in the summer for camping) and have never had a problem leaving my bunnies alone. If I was going any longer than 3 or 4 days I would probably board them or having a friend or family member take care of them. There was one instance where our littlest bunny, Dusty, somehow got out of his cage and when we walked in the door he greeted us at the door like “Hey Mommy and Daddy! Welcome home!!” He had only been out for a little while though. I would say just leave Otto at home, Just stock the pen/cage with hay and pellets and plenty of water, maybe even 2 water bottles and look forward to a relaxing weekend away! Have fun!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I’ve left my buns for the weekend with just a saturday check in by my parents. They knew to check that everyone was eating (offer treats) and I left ton of food and water (I always leave 2-3 water sourcese for each pair just in case one tips or leaks) -so they just pop in to check.

I agree-I think it’s too much stress and work to bother. I’d have either a friend or a pet sitter pop in on Saturday-ensure she’s eating and fine-and that’s it.

[BinkyBunny]

As you can see it is definitely something of personal choice and depends on the rabbit’s demeanor. Some rabbits do fine, while others like my bunny Jack would FREAK OUT.  When we moved, it took him a month to explore the rest of the “new” place and Rucy was checking things out in a day.. At the same time, one of my friends, brings her rabbit to my place when she goes on vacation, and her bunny LOVES to explore and has no fear, eats right away and has no stress reaction.

[bunbuncraig]

Ive had my bunny for almost 2 years now. When I first got her though, I lived at college-2 hours away- and she would always come home with me because I did not trust my roommates to take care of her. Id prop her cage on the front seat next to me (she had a traveling cage that was smaller than her usual cage) and since she is a dwarf rabbit, she fit perfectly by me. She never seemed to mind at all- sometimes I think she liked it in the summer time when Id have the window half down and she’d stick her nose in the air to smell the fresh outdoor air. However, my rabbit was very used to this travel. She was a baby when I get her and started traveling with her. If your rabbit was ok for that 40mins, Id say the extra time wouldnt hurt her at all. Keep treats in the cage and if ur driving with your husband, lean over to the rabbit and pet her every so often. I also do agree with everyone else when it comes to being able to leave her. There were times Id leave her with my parents for the weekend if I wasnt at college- i just didnt really have a choice when it came to leaving her in BG with roommates.

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