Bunnery or pet sitter? What's the best option?

I'm not sure what to do when I go away in the summer for a long weekend. I know it's a long way off but haven't left Doughnut since she's been really ill after staying in a bunnery.

Anyway I'm off Friday morning and back about midnight on the Sunday. My choice would either be a bunnery where the people in charge use my specialist, so if anything was wrong they would take Doughnut to see Mark straight away or should I get someone in who can give her her medicine.

The pros of being at home would be that she can continue to free range during the day instead of being in a hutch or small run. I just wonder if she would be lonely though as they don't stay around long, just feed her and give her her medicine. There again at a bunnery I doubt they would spend a lot of time with her. If she goes there though I would have to take her Thursday and then get her back on Monday. What does everyone think is the best option?

When I'm away next September for two weeks ill be getting a petsitter. Our local petsitter works at our vets as a receptionist which is great

If you find a decent boarding place can you let me know I haven't yet found anywhere this end of Kent.

Alternatively my two lops stayed at Trinity for a week when Mischa needed medication.

I noticed in Trinity there was an advert for Smokeys Hotel in West Malling and I said to Mark about them and he said they are clients of his and would take Doughnut up to him if she was unwell.

I've just called them and they sound lovely. He said they are good friends with Richard there and Richard is coming round today. Told them all about Doughnut and he said they would look after her and if any problems they would take her straight to Mark. He was an older guy and sounded really sweet. I go in July so think I will go with them as if she is ill and the pet sitter comes in at a time she is OK, it won't be picked up. Although she has been good for 3 months on her metaclop but anyone associated with Trinity is good for me!

Here's the link

http://www.bloomingplantsltd.co.uk/

Bring Doughnut to meeeeeee!!!!!! I'll look after her! :lol::lol::lol:

Seriously though, I have been away once where I have not had a family member or friend take care of my pets for me. But that was before I discovered RU and now I don't trust people to care for my bunnies properly in my absence :lol: Plus, I need a knowledgable bunny person to deal with the dreaded daily Slipper attack :lol:

So in the summer, I found a lovely bunny camp near me that had Slipper for me and she was fine. I would definitely use them again - I expect I will be away again next August and my four will go there again. Obviously this is not helpful as you're soooooo far away from me :lol:

I also understand your wariness about boarding Doughnut again after her illness. With Dexter, I'd have never ever trusted him to anyone else, but Doughnut is better now :thumb: and this bunny camp you mention sounds like they know what they're doing and would look after her well and take her to your specialist who knows her and so you could warn them what to look out for when you dropped her off.

I've not used a bunny sitter although I get where you're coming from re at least she gets to stay in familiar surroundings and whatnot.

Does she get stressed at being moved & in strange surroundings? IE if you think it would set her off moving her to bunny camp, maybe leave her at home and get the pet sitter to come round. Or is she a social bunny and need things going off around her? In my bunny camp, they had a radio on during the day and the people coming to feed & clean them thoroughout the day and also surrounded by other bunnies, even though they don't get to live together, they can still be aware of each other.

Haha Sarah you make me laugh. I wouldn't get her back!

I will have to look at the bunnery as someone from RU saw it years ago and it didn't sound great, so will see what it is like now.

She doesn't really get stressed about going anywhere, I guess she is used to the vets. I do need someone who can administer metaclop twice a day though. She licks it off the syringe but I don't think she would go up to other people like she does to me. She begs to my friends but not sure if they knelt down she would be off, so if I get a professional in I will probably say to put it on a bit of weetabix as don't want her stressed out trying to be caught!

Since it's a short time I may keep her at home purely so she can run around. I keep changing my mind on what is best for her!

We went away for 4 nights and left them at home, with our landlady checking on them twice a day.... but i think if we went away again i'd board them somewhere... if i went away longer than 4 nights i'd definitely board them (ideally). I was worried about them being stresed but the vet said they were both fine when rupert was in for his dental (until he had his op that was) they were eating and happy, that made me feel a bit better... they're so set in their routine (down to mins they know when we get home etc) i hate to think of them sitting waiting in their shed for us to get home from work.... but we don't, i hate the thought of that

cpayne said:

Haha Sarah you make me laugh. I wouldn't get her back!

I will have to look at the bunnery as someone from RU saw it years ago and it didn't sound great, so will see what it is like now.

She doesn't really get stressed about going anywhere, I guess she is used to the vets. I do need someone who can administer metaclop twice a day though. She licks it off the syringe but I don't think she would go up to other people like she does to me. She begs to my friends but not sure if they knelt down she would be off, so if I get a professional in I will probably say to put it on a bit of weetabix as don't want her stressed out trying to be caught!

Since it's a short time I may keep her at home purely so she can run around. I keep changing my mind on what is best for her!

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True, if Doughnut was ever left unsupervised with me, I'd bunny nap her :lol: I have four boys she can boss around to her hearts content too :lol:

Hmmm tough decision - I am hopeless at decision making, even really trivial ones - it once took me three weeks to decide whether to buy the purple or blue GHD hair straighteners a couple of years ago They came with a bag and I preferred the blue straighteners, but the purple bag :lol: and at £120 each, I wasn't buying both! I eventually went for the blue ones and they broke after 6 months :evil: got a pair of babyliss ones at £20 from Argos and they're still working!

I'm not near to you, but a good house bunny boarder would make sure that she has an environment as close to her own as possible. I only take one house rabbit at a time and they have a large indoor cage, which (as long as they are not super destructive/I am advised not to) is left open 24/4, with free ranging in my bunny proof dining room. I have french doors from the kitchen, where I spend a LOT of time :roll: so bunny is always visible. I check on them frequently, and they have tunnels and toys and as much or as little human interaction as they'd like, so those are the things you should expect as a minimum. I think that the difficulty with having a pet sitter in is that your rabbit is only checked once or twice a day whereas at a boarding place, they should be kept an eye on continually. It also means I get to know my boarders really well and am more likely to spot something quickly if it doesn't add up. It's not necessarily just the rabbit, either. I am constantly checking that the room is the right temperature etc. And as long as people are local, I always ask whether they would prefer my vets or theirs in the event of a trip.

Hope that gives some reassurance. :thumb:

Dandelion Den Bunnies said:

I'm not near to you, but a good house bunny boarder would make sure that she has an environment as close to her own as possible. I only take one house rabbit at a time and they have a large indoor cage, which (as long as they are not super destructive/I am advised not to) is left open 24/4, with free ranging in my bunny proof dining room. I have french doors from the kitchen, where I spend a LOT of time :roll: so bunny is always visible. I check on them frequently, and they have tunnels and toys and as much or as little human interaction as they'd like, so those are the things you should expect as a minimum. I think that the difficulty with having a pet sitter in is that your rabbit is only checked once or twice a day whereas at a boarding place, they should be kept an eye on continually. It also means I get to know my boarders really well and am more likely to spot something quickly if it doesn't add up. It's not necessarily just the rabbit, either. I am constantly checking that the room is the right temperature etc. And as long as people are local, I always ask whether they would prefer my vets or theirs in the event of a trip.

Hope that gives some reassurance. :thumb:

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Thank you, can you come and move to Kent please!

I think in your situation id opt for a bunny boarding where she can stay as a house bunny. Unless there was a good, rabbit savvy, house sitter near you (i know chances of that are very very slim). House sitters (who usually are happy to look after animals too) unlike pet sitters will often stay at your home for most of the day and overnight, so dougnut would have someone around most of the day but still be in her own surroundings. Ive not had a house sitter myself but i have a friend with a very easily stressed dog, with various health problems who uses house sitters rather than pet sitters because the house sitters are around most of the time to spot signs of illness and the dog is still in its normal home environment so doesnt get stressed.

I can't find any in my area where she can be a house rabbit. They are all in heated sheds in hutches and then they go out in the garden in the small triangular run. There is one in a shed with the runs attached to the bottom but none in a house.

I spoke to my specialist and said what did he think was the best and he said because she will miss me that it's better she stays in her own environment as less stressful. I know when a friend looked visited her twice when I had to go away as an emergency she stayed a while but Doughnut just stayed down the end of the room and wouldn't go over.

There is a vet nurse who has her own company who comes over twice a day for half an hour for £15 so may go with her. It's difficult as I give Doughnut the syringe and she just licks the medicine off but I don't want them to have to catch her because she may not go over to them. Will say to put it on a little bit of weetbix if not. Once I've picked her up for a bum check she is wary for about 2 weeks!

It's only a short time, leave about about 6.30 Friday, back midnight Sunday, may have to rethink if I ever go away for a week.

With regards to her medicine would it be worth paying whoever will be pet sitting to come over for a few evenings before you go so that you can try to get doughnut to take meds from them whilst your there. Like first night give her her meds yourself but with the pet sitter sat next to you, then try progressing to the pet sitter giving the meds with you there for a couple of nights and then hopefully shed be fine whilst your away? I know it would cost more but if you think it might work for doughtnut then its worth a try. Just an idea.

Yes I will do this. I know they come over once before but will let them give her the medicine and see how it goes. A few times would be better and maybe when I'm not there so she hasn't got my re-assurance.

I need to move to Dartford me thinks as I would be more than happy to help.

Mrs. Bunnykins said:

I need to move to Dartford me thinks as I would be more than happy to help.

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Lovely, let me know if you do, Doughnut would love to meet my RU friends. Especially if they are going to look after her and give her a little cuddle

cpayne said:

Lovely, let me know if you do, Doughnut would love to meet my RU friends. Especially if they are going to look after her and give her a little cuddle

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That would be me then, her #1 fan!! :lol: bet she would get fed up of fuss and cuddles and things before I do :lol: