Going on a trip

As with any other pet, going on vacation while having rabbits can be a complicated task. In general, rabbits should not be left alone longer than 24 hours at a time in case GI stasis occurs while you are gone.

Should I take my rabbit with me on vacation?
This will mostly depend on the length of your vacation as well as the distance.

For short-term vacations no more than a few days, it would be best to leave the bunny at home in a familiar environment to decrease the chance of stasis from travel stress.

For longer vacations, bringing your rabbit with you can be considered if the drive is not long (less than 8 hours), the vacation area has rabbit-savvy veterinarians if needed, and the housing will not change throughout the stay. If you are staying with relatives or friends, make sure that they are not allergic to your rabbit or their hay. Bringing your rabbits on flights can also be an option if the trip will be months long. See the Travel article for more tips on travelling with rabbits.

Otherwise, finding a rabbit-savvy pet sitter or boarding your rabbit will generally be the safer choice.

Extra resources

 * BunnyProof.com. Taking your rabbit on holiday with you

Should I board my rabbit or find a pet sitter?
Most rabbits will do best with a rabbit-savvy pet sitter visiting at least once a day with a remote camera monitoring them the rest of the day as rabbits can be easily stressed by environment changes. However, boarding your rabbit with an experienced professional may also be appropriate.

Pet sitting benefits:
 * Rabbit is familiar with environment.
 * No need to transport your rabbit and their supplies to and from boarding location.
 * Can be more cost effective with a large number of pets.
 * Free-roam rabbits or rabbits with large exercise areas will not be space-limited in a boarding facility.

Boarding benefits:
 * More daily human attention to rabbits.
 * Boarding facility will more quickly notice any issues with rabbits and be able to provide prompt medical attention, especially if boarded at a veterinary facility.
 * May provide more space to exercise if rabbit will otherwise be caged all day at home.

How can I monitor my rabbits remotely?

 * Coding with Bunnies, Monitoring Your Rabbits Remotely



How do I find a bunny sitter or boarder?
Check out the country subcategories in the Resources category to find pet-sitting and bunny boarding options in your area. Also ask your rabbit-savvy veterinarian and local rabbit rescues and shelters for more resources.

Check lists

 * Binky Bunny, Sitter Check List
 * Napoleon Bunnyparte, Rabbit Sitter Cheat Sheet
 * AlbaVet Veterinary Surgeons, Holiday Happiness Check List
 * The Bunny Chick, Pet Sitter & Vacation Checklist

Extra resources

 * Binky Bunny, Bunny Sitter Guide
 * Rabbit Advocates, Guin Boostrom, "Pet-sitter Primer", The Rabbit Advocate, Winter 2011