Car rides

[BootsMum]

 Do you babies like going in the car?

I am a new Flemish Giant mum, and hoping that I’ll be able to take him with us to the park and places. What’s the best way to have him in the car? In a cat carrier? On someone’s lap? Would love advice!

 

Thanks

[bellemarie]

I take my bun on my lap, because he gets VERY scared in his small carrier cage! I just pet his head and he’s moderately calm haha!

[KytKattin]

First, be really careful having him out where there might be dogs (stray, or just uncontrolled), wild animals, etc. There are even a few diseases that rabbits can get from the ground (possibly wild rabbits?). Pasteurella is the first one that comes to mind, but there are others.
Second, if you are the driver, I don’t recommend having the rabbit in your lap. This is a safety risk, both for you, and especially your rabbit should you get in an accident and the airbag goes off. I will admit that I drive with my dog in my lap, but she has been trained to lay perfectly still during car rides so I know she won’t be a distraction to me. I would never trust my rabbit to do the same, and I am still putting my dog at risk for being killed if the airbag goes off. If he does sit on a non-driver’s lap, make sure that the person holding him has full control at all times so that he doesn’t somehow get by the driver’s feet!
Third, what I do with my bunny, as I do travel a fair amount with her, is I have made her travel crate like a second home for her. She has a litterbox with hay in it, and I give her wet veggies in the place of water. Now that I have done 4-5, four hour long car rides with her between home and school, car travel is routine and comfortable for her. She literally flops in her litterbox and just sleeps the whole time. The crate is large enough that (at 3lbs) she can stand up, and as she is so small, she has no problem stretching out in her box. As you are thinking more about short trips, your bunny obviously doesn’t need this much space, but he should not look cramped in his carrier either. My guess is that he is going to need a medium size dog carrier. Not huge, but a little bigger than the standard ones for cats.

[Monkeybun]

ALWAYS use a carrier. It is MUCH safer for your bunny, should there be an accident. Would you hold a baby loose in your lap? No, so don’t do the same with a pet!

[Elrohwen]

Definitely use a carrier – it’s the only way he’ll be safe in case you get in an accident or have to stop suddenly.

I also wouldn’t recommend taking him anywhere – bunnies are pretty nervous about new places and there are always things that can scare him like barking dogs, cars driving around, etc. I think he’d be happier just at your house. Mine do go for car rides when they have to (vet, going to a friend’s house for pet sitting) and one is ok with it while the other freaks out. The one that’s laid back about it would still much rather be at his own house than out and about.

[BootsMum]

Thank you for your answers

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