Moving Bunny

[directionsplans]

Hi all, my little Huxley (Holland Lop/Velveteen mix) is currently in Boston and will be moving to Miami with me. Unfortunately this move is very sudden so I am not all that prepared as things stand right now. I am doing a straight drive without any major stops starting Tuesday morning, so this is going to be a long ride (about 1600 miles). I need help and suggestions for moving my rabbit with me. I have a carrier, but it is on the smaller side and has only ever been used to transport him short distances. I am sure I am not the only one who has ever had to move with a bunny. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Roberta]

So you are looking at approx 3 days driving…. Do you have an Xpen so Huxley can relax and exercise at the motels in between ? or a mat and some toys for the motel bathroom if Huxley is to stay in there. A cooler full of lots of fresh greens and a big bag of hay. It would be good if you could get a larger carrier so Huxley can have some where to potty and dine during the trip otherwise it is just a matter of making what you have work for the journey.

[directionsplans]

We actually am doing the driving in one go and not stopping anywhere to sleep, just switching off (unfortunately, due to time constraints we have to do this). What would be a good size carrier for him to hang out in while we are on the road for so long?

I intend to bring enough hay with us and a water bottle, though I am not sure how I will attach it. I will bring some fresh greens, but he never seems to eat them when I try to give them to him (which is a whole other issue that I will resolve once I get him moved).

If i can get a big enough carrier I will definitely be putting his litter box in it and I will definitely bring some toys along for him to chew on and play with. Every chance I get I will pull him out and hold him for a bit. I would put him in his harness and walsk him around, but he is very uncooperative about getting into it and I figure that trying to put it on him would likely cause more stress, which is something he is not going to need.

Unfortunately I know this is not an ideal situation, but I have no choice in the way I am having to move I just want to make this as easy for him as possible.

[bunnylova123]

How big is your car? He could always have the bottom to hop around in. Carrier wise try to get one that is quite large and maybe a dog crate for playtime if you can fit/afford it. Cat and small dog ones are best. If you get one too large it would be unsafe if you crashed, my buns never seem to move during car journeys anyway. Maybe get him checked over by a rabbit savvy vet before you go so you can get expert advice and not have to worry about finding a vet if he gets ill while on the road.

[bunnylova123]

Prepare with some practice runs, 30 mins- 1 hour also visit these sites

http://www.rspca.org.uk/ImageLocator/LocateAsset?asset=document&assetId=1232727710884&mode=prd = guidelines for travel
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Transport/Car/Car.htm = safe positioning of the carrier
http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/travelling.htm = info written by someone who regularaly takes a 200 mile journey
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/travel.html = a very good, thourough piece of info

[Stickerbunny]

I would suggest a dog crate, or pet store cage so he can at least move around some, but nothing too big or with levels where he’d get hurt. Put some mats on the bottom so he doesn’t slide around with the movement of the car. It should be buckled in place so it can’t slip and slide. NEVER let a pet outside a carrier while a car is moving. Water will probably slosh around, making bottles drip and bowls tip, so maybe bring some extra towels in case you need to flip one out for a dry one.

He should be OK. Just try to keep the stress levels down as much as you can. Good luck with the move.

[bunnylova123]

You could try using a dog travel water bowl
http://www.muddypaws.co.uk/road-refresher-nonspill-travel-bowl?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=GoogleShopping&utm_campaign=GoogleShopFeed&gclid=CMLP_bCIw7YCFXDMtAodfQwARw

[Roberta]

I agree with Stickerbunny. Huxley needs to be inside his crate for the whole journey for safety any thing could happen if he is loose in the car and if you were to have an accident he would have no protection what so ever. Not to mention the possibility of bolting from fear or stress when the doors are opened at stops. I would not even risk the harness for the same reason, if he got away in a strange place you would never find him. Have plenty of nice leafy greens and some water bearing ones. A good drip bottle should deal with the movement and possibly try some puppy training pads under the towels in the crate as they will absorb water better than just cloths or paper. Also take a light rug or sheet to cover the crate so that he has some sense of security.

[Monkeybun]

If you can stop every couple of hours so he can have a few minutes of the car not moving and some fresh air (open windows) that could be good for him, otherwise I have participated in a few trips of transporting bunnies that went from Canada down to San Diego.. long drive for them! But they can handle it if they do get a few breaks every now and then, even if its just a couple minutes.

[Author]

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