Can a rabbit cope with going overseas?

[Ami]

Hi,

So I live in Australia at the moment but i want to move to the Netherlands next year once I have saved a bit of money. This would be a permanent move. The one problem is I don’t know if Finn would be ok with the trip because its about a 20 hour trip. 

Do people travel that far with rabbits? Is there any way to make him more comfortable for the trip or should I give up on the idea and stay in Australia?

If anyone has any experience with travelling overseas with buns it would be much appreciated! Why must Australia be so far away from everything? =/

[Azerane]

Hi there

I don’t know a lot about flying rabbits overseas, but if you do plan to do it, I would suggest a company such as Jet Pets which is Australian based and can help organise overseas travel for pets and make certain arrangements for them along the way.

The main concern with rabbits travelling such long distances is of course whether they eat or drink during the journey. Many rabbits who get scared during car rides, won’t eat while in a moving car, this is likely the same for rabbits in a stressful situation such as a plane flight. However you have plenty of time to be able to accustom your rabbit to these sorts of things, training with plane sounds, training with her in a crate with the car running but not moving, and training her to be calm in a crate while in a moving car will all help with a transition to being in a plane. The other thing to consider is that if your rabbit drinks out of a bowl, you will need to train him to drink out of a bottle for the journey. Travelling internationally with rabbits obviously can and has been done, but you would need to be sure that you could get him immediate vet attention at the other end if required (though I imagine there’s possibly a quarantine period).

[Kat9055]

I have traveled across the USA with rabbits (flying and driving) and I think you could do it. When I fly, I take my rabbit as a carry-on in a flexible airline approved pet carrier and put him under the seat in front of me. I keep a harness on him (it makes the attendants happier) and stroke his nose and keep an eye on his eating/drinking. The people in security always love seeing a rabbit and they actually say it isn’t as uncommon as people may think.

Also, there are a couple medications that can help. For my 17+ hr drive, my vet gave me a medication that helps digestion under stress and a very mild sedative and Barnaby was as happy as could be the next day (he has a sensitive GI system). I also keep critical care with me and I have used a syringe if he wasn’t eating even his favorite snacks. If they aren’t drinking, you can try watered down juice to entice them as well.

Make sure you call the airline ahead of time and get them to specifically approve, otherwise the people checking you in can be hesitant. If the airline gives any trouble, I compare my bunny to a cat, which many airlines allow. I would let them know that people are less likely to be allergic to rabbits and the rabbits are a lot quieter. You definitely should avoid putting them in the cargo area like some people do with their dogs and cats, since rabbits can be sensitive to the loud noises and pressure changes when landing and taking off. I have heard of people sedating their rabbits, but that seems like too long for that.

I also agree with Azerane, try to acclimate your rabbit ahead of time and find a vet just in case!

[Azerane]

I think often with overseas travel they don’t allow pets in cabin. Otherwise it’s obviously preferable. Regarding the sedative, I’ve always heard that sedatives aren’t recommended for long journeys because rabbits need to be eating and frequently, perhaps something to discuss with your vet.

[Ami]

Thanks both for the advice!

The suggestion of jet pets is very much appreciated i will look into something like that, of course my main worry is the length of the flight if he stops eating but thats a good idea to get him used to car travel! Also he does drink from a bowl so i for sure need to teach him how to drink from a bottle.
From what I have researched rabbits don’t need to be quarantined when taking them into the Netherlands so that is a bonus!
Hmm yeah I would much rather have him in the cabin with me but I will have to find out if that is possible…

Thanks again, its good to have some other peoples opinions!

[Author]

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