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Need to take poorly bunny on holiday with us - any advice?!

thursday

Young Bun
Hi folks,

I haven't been on here for ages (trying to cut down internet use), so I hope you all don't mind me popping back up with a question.

One of our buns suffers from urine burn due to incontinence (vet is stumped as to the cause of the incontinence BTW - apparently she has the biggest bunny bladder he's ever, um, experienced :shock: and these are tiny nethies). Recently she has got considerably worse, and when we went to the vet on Tuesday he was talking about having her put down :cry: We've got baytril, metacam, sudocrem, and are now on a daily bathing schedule (it was once every 3 days before this) and she's doing *much* better - took her back to the vet for a check-up today and he was really pleased and is now talking about long term management of her condition :thumb:

So: we're going on holiday for a week in the north of England (we're in the Midlands), and obviously we're going to have to take the buns with us. Normally they stay at home and a friend checks in on them every day. The vet says that taking them would be ideal, and we've arranged another appointment for just before we go for a check-up and medication renewal.

Has anyone ever done this before? Any tips?

We're planning to hire a car; they're generally OK with travel & just lie down after a while; but we've never taken them on such a long journey and I'm not sure what to do re litter trays - should I put a litter tray in the carrier for them to lie in?!

We're staying in self-catering accommodation, which says pets (other than dogs) not allowed, so we are going to have to be naughty here :? I'm planning to get hold of one of those house rabbit cages (you know, the ones that aren't actually suitable houses) for them to have as a holiday house, as I assume the deep plastic bottom will help to contain any stray poops or hay or fluff (they are litter trained) and means that any incontinence can be easily cleaned up; we can put their normal litter trays in it.

Basically, we want to leave no evidence that we ever snuck bunnies into the property - dogs are allowed, but they do say no other animals :? I'm feeling hugely guilty about it (and worried they might discover the bunnies), especially as we love this self-catering company and have stayed in loads of their properties. But I don't want to check with them in case the answer is a firm no, and then we'd basically have to cancel our holiday and lose all our money.
 
Bumping this for you.

I really can't suggest anything myself other than seeing if there is someone who you can leave the bun with to receive the care needed. I think I'd be a bit far (Sheffield), but I can help if needed, if you could get a cage for them to use as a base.
 
Could you maybe try and find somewhere to board them near to where you're going?
If you do take them it would be worth getting a vet recommendation for near to there before you go just in case you need to call on one.
 
To be honest I would not feel OK about taking a sick Rabbit on Holiday. Any stress (journey, strange environment etc) could exacerbate the Rabbit's problems. Also, I really dont think it is appropriate to take them to a place that specifically says no other Pets but dogs

Sorry, I know it's not the response you wanted

If you do go ahead and take them then you will need to make sure you travel at such times to avoid any extreme heat. Overnight travel preferably. Getting stuck in a car in a traffic jam in 30 degree temperatures could have catastrophic consequences for a Rabbit. Also, do make sure you find contact details of a Vet near where you will be staying.
 
I've never taken a secret pet to a holiday cottage but I have a) stayed in holiday cottages and b) kept a pet in a rented house for several months without it being discovered.

Things to watch out for apart from the obvious potential damage issues:
- Does the cottage have neighbours close by?
If so, they may well know the owners and routinely chat to them. Is there risk of them seeing the bunny or its stuff whilst (un)loading the car or through the windows when going past?
- Does the cottage owner or someone from the firm come by when you arrive to give you the keys and show you round? If they are chatty, they may be there for a while.
An animal would really need to be in the boot or covered up to stop them from seeing it and in this weather that isn't very good for it.
- The letting agreements on holiday cottages - unlike those on 6 month + house lets - don't necessarily exclude the owners or staff from popping in with little or no notice. By and large they won't, as they probably have better things to do, but if they are local it's something to bear in mind.
- If the cottage and/or car are a reasonable size, most cage bits and equipment can probably be stowed somewhere during a short visit - attics, wardrobes etc. Travel rugs could be useful for covering stuff up. Be aware of scrabbling sounds that may be made by a bun in a carrier, and of potential smells. Cooking or scented candles could help with the latter. What about the stuff that will be left in the bins on departure?

I'm sure it can be done, but it would be a bit stressful. However, I can understand that with boarding probably so full already, that you may want to try it.

Also, as the bun's problems are pretty persistent, have you been to a specialist vet for investigations?
In the Midlands the most widely recommended ones on here seem to be Manor Vets in Edgbaston and the Cat & Rabbit Clinic in Northampton.
 
Many thanks for all your input, everyone, I really appreciate it :)

We know that it is not an ideal situation at all, but we have discussed it with the vet and he feels that it is the best solution to take them with us. We're massively stressed about it all, and to be honest it is casting a cloud over the holiday; we've discussed whether we should just cancel everything now, but we would lose hundreds of pounds. We are having a check up with the vet 4 days before we are due to go and if he says no at that point then we will obviously cancel.

Our bunnies don't chew or dig or jump (we're not sure that they know that they're bunnies to be honest :roll: ), they spend most of the day sleeping, and they hate all toys except cardboard boxes (which they move around, rather than chew). So generally they are super quiet, we don't have much bunny stuff to tote around and it'd be unlucky if they suddenly turned destructive. The cottage is tiny, but it's also very remote, and we'll just have to cross our fingers that no contractors/house-keepers need to drop in :? We'll clean the cottage thoroughly before we leave and take all rubbish with us.

We're going to make sure the hire car has air-con, and it's looking likely we can split the journey (potentially overnight) at my parents' house. And I shall definitely get the details of a local vet.

Re specialist local vet: no, we haven't been to either of those vets you mention Vita, but our vet has been really good. He has seen us for free a few times because he's interested in trying to track down the causes of her condition, and has phoned various bunny specialists (one in Liverpool, but I don't remember the name) to get advice.
 
To be honest I would not feel OK about taking a sick Rabbit on Holiday. Any stress (journey, strange environment etc) could exacerbate the Rabbit's problems. Also, I really dont think it is appropriate to take them to a place that specifically says no other Pets but dogs

Sorry, I know it's not the response you wanted

If you do go ahead and take them then you will need to make sure you travel at such times to avoid any extreme heat. Overnight travel preferably. Getting stuck in a car in a traffic jam in 30 degree temperatures could have catastrophic consequences for a Rabbit. Also, do make sure you find contact details of a Vet near where you will be staying.

I absolutely agree. That is a lot if stress for a healthy rabbit, never mind a sick one. Would you consider not going away? I don't think your rabbit would cope well.
 
Many thanks for all your input, everyone, I really appreciate it :)

We know that it is not an ideal situation at all, but we have discussed it with the vet and he feels that it is the best solution to take them with us. We're massively stressed about it all, and to be honest it is casting a cloud over the holiday; we've discussed whether we should just cancel everything now, but we would lose hundreds of pounds. We are having a check up with the vet 4 days before we are due to go and if he says no at that point then we will obviously cancel.

Our bunnies don't chew or dig or jump (we're not sure that they know that they're bunnies to be honest :roll: ), they spend most of the day sleeping, and they hate all toys except cardboard boxes (which they move around, rather than chew). So generally they are super quiet, we don't have much bunny stuff to tote around and it'd be unlucky if they suddenly turned destructive. The cottage is tiny, but it's also very remote, and we'll just have to cross our fingers that no contractors/house-keepers need to drop in :? We'll clean the cottage thoroughly before we leave and take all rubbish with us.

We're going to make sure the hire car has air-con, and it's looking likely we can split the journey (potentially overnight) at my parents' house. And I shall definitely get the details of a local vet.

Re specialist local vet: no, we haven't been to either of those vets you mention Vita, but our vet has been really good. He has seen us for free a few times because he's interested in trying to track down the causes of her condition, and has phoned various bunny specialists (one in Liverpool, but I don't remember the name) to get advice.

It is obviously your decision, but I stand by my previous post.

One other option could be for just you to remain at home whilst the rest of the family go on holiday. Not much fun, but maybe it is part and parcel of what can be involved when we have Pets

Good luck anyway and I hope your Rabbit recovers


ETA- Do be vigilant about Flystrike at all times given that incontinence will put your Rabbit at very high risk

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/leaflet_pdfs/flystrike_sep_05.pdf
 
I actually took my Kermit to a holiday Chalet when he had head tilt / EC. We were away for 4 days. He was at the recovering stages at that point and could get about fine. The only difference was that I was allowed to take him, he cost £3 a night to stay in my cabin. I put his Nero 4 cage in the back seat for him and he just pottered about for a bit then lay down.

Once there I just used his cage for a base, like I did at home, and he ran about the living room and used his cage as normal for eating, drinking, peeing & pooing.

We were not out of the cabin that often, but when we did go out we shut him in the cage. Was through the day when he was usually asleep anyways.

I know that many would not take a poorly pet, or even a pet for that matter, on holiday. But I did and all was fine for me.

ETA: Was about a 2hour drive each way to where I went
 
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I do not think it's a good idea
I would not put an ill rabbit, or any rabbit, through a long journey.

Also if the owner of the cottage says no pets then you should not sneak any in, not fair on other guests or owner. It is their property and you should respect their rules..or find somewhere else to stay that allows pets.

Finding a place to board your rabbit, one that has experience of bunny care would be a much better option
 
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