Holiday Boarding Suggestions

Hi everyone, sorry to post on here twice in two days but have a quick question about the best thing to do when we go on holiday for a week. The longest we have left our rabbits is 3 days (a long weekend) and in this occasion someone came in to feed our 2 rabbits and spend a bit of time with them for half an hour each day. We are going away for 7 days at the end of June and wanted to get some advice on whether it would be better to keep them at home and have someone come in every day, or board them. There are some nice looking places near us which look like rabbit hotels where the rabbits have their own 'suite' and get let out every day and can socialise etc. Just weighing up the pros and cons because obviously this is the more socialble option for them but they're away from a space which they know - which would fellow rabbit owners suggest as the best option?

Personally I leave my rabbits at home and my neighbour comes in to feed them etc twice a day. I also have a webcam (I call it bunnycam set up so I can check on them a lot too, from wherever I am.

I’m in a similar predicament - my regular pet sitter who would come to the house is moving very far away, and I’m not sure whether to use a boarding service.

You say ‘socialise’, I hope this doesn’t mean they let all the rabbits interact in the same space? :?

I’d be wanting to know if the boarder is tight with vaccination records, whether the accommodation always has access to a run, whether other boarding rabbits are within sight or touching distance, which vets they use, if that vet has an emergency/on-call procedure, how often the rabbits are checked on, whether the staff have experience and/or qualifications, if they’re used to or trained in giving medication and hand-feeding.

Food for thought maybe.

capable said:

I’m in a similar predicament - my regular pet sitter who would come to the house is moving very far away, and I’m not sure whether to use a boarding service.

You say ‘socialise’, I hope this doesn’t mean they let all the rabbits interact in the same space? :?

I’d be wanting to know if the boarder is tight with vaccination records, whether the accommodation always has access to a run, whether other boarding rabbits are within sight or touching distance, which vets they use, if that vet has an emergency/on-call procedure, how often the rabbits are checked on, whether the staff have experience and/or qualifications, if they’re used to or trained in giving medication and hand-feeding.

Food for thought maybe.

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True, I meant to say this. I’d want my rabbits to be away from others and have permanent access to a none grass run, and the accommodation to be disinfected between stays.

I would always prefer to have someone come in to look after my rabbits, assuming they are normally fit and healthy.

If you board them out, make sure that they are fully vaccinated and that all other rabbits using the boarders are checked for vaccinations (RVHD1, RVHD2 and Myxomatosis). There is also the risk of picking up the EC parasite, so you need to check how they minimise the risk of infection and be prepared to treat yours on return home.

Vet nurses will sometimes do home visits for small pets - it is worth asking at your local vet if they know someone who can pet sit.

I agree with others. Generally speaking it is better for bunnies to stay in their own environment and be checked on (preferably twice a day) cleaned out and fed etc. I have been looking after my friend's 2 rabbits for about 5 years now. They go away 5 times a year. I used to go up to their's but now they come to me. They know me (I rescued them) and it is easier for me to have them here. How old will bunnies be when you go away?

Thanks for your responses everyone. I've done some research into the boarders around us and they will just let them out in turn so the rabbits are not all socialising together fortunately. I was thinking about going to visit some this weekend to get a feel for them and see if it is somewhere our rabbits would like. We would only really be able to get someone to come in once a day as we have to pay for the service and do not have any neighbours who could come in as we are fairly new to the area. I think I would rather know they are safe and being monitored at the boarders rather than them being left for hours on end at our home. The borders I have looked at online also have big sheds which they call suites so they have space and are not just kept in a cage, as they are free range house rabbits at home. They will be 5 months old when we go away for a week.

Thanks everyone

Hi there did you find a good boarders? Looking for somewhere for my bun and would rather go on recommendations