Panic Attack on 20min drive to Vet

[Nutmeg]

Hello, Let me start off by saying she is ok – but I worry for next time I have to take her to the vet (for her spay) and am looking for advice.

So we took our two bunnies (Dwarf/Dutch mixes) to the vet for their first check up and to book their spay and neuter….. I got them into their individual carry cases ok, along with a towel that smelled like them and home, then we got in the truck and it all went down hill…. 
…. 
So we decided to take the truck so that I could have room for both of their carries on my lap so I could watch them and talk to them…  Well Penny (Penolope) the girl had a total freak out. They both started off looking a little wide eyed… but thn I noticed she breathing a little faster than I would expect and faster than Rupert (the boy) was and seemed more bug eyed 

The vet is only a 20min drive away. When we were about 2min away she suddenly flopped on her side and was breathing heavy. I started panicking, while my husband thought I was over exaggerating when I said she could die from fright… so my mood probably wasn’t helping.
We got to the vets a few minutes early – so I rushed her in. Of course me carrying her in caused her to sit up. They took her to the back to check her over. They said she was ok, just very scared but suggested I monitor her on the car ride home. 

She stayed 100% prey mode still for her whole first check up. She looked scared again on the car ride home, but didn’t flop on her side again. And she didn’t move for a good two hours after she got home and needed her favourite treats to bribe her  They suggested waiting two or three more months (so she would be 7 – 8 months old) as she was still pretty small. 
But now I am terrified to bring her in the car again  – especially going in for such a big surgery. 

Does anyone have any tips for keeping a bunny calm on a car ride? I don’t want her being so scared that she goes in to shock! 

PS – and Ironically Rupert – the boy – could care less… he hoped right out of his carrier and right on to the vet table like he was right at home haha. And then freaked out on the vet when she tried to check him over. *Face palm* 

[Wick & Fable]

Were you in the middle of talking to her when she began to panic? One observation I had with Wick is he actually doesn’t find my voice soothing when he’s in the car. He finds my hand much more comforting, so I keep it in view for him.

Small car rides, or simple exposure to being in the car can hopefully help sensitize your rabbit. Maybe let her “free roam” in there so she’s used to the environment, smell, noises, etc.. It may be helpful to have music playing. Maybe begin playing the same song at home so there’s an association, and decide that’s the music you’ll play every time you’re in the car.

Having food in the carrier may help as well.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Nutmeg]

Thanks so much Wick – I was talking to her and had my hand near beside the outside of the cage… but that’s good to know that maybe my talking doesn’t help and would be good try.
And good idea to try getting used to just the vehicle as well as a music.

I did put kale (her fav!) into the carrier, which got her in there, but she didn’t touch it after. And then when I tried to bribe her to eat it when we got home to get her eating and she ignored it (smart bunny probably remembered that it was what got her into the carrier in the first place haha)

I just want her that stressed when she’s going in for a big surgery like a spay – so I will try everything.

[Bam]

I have Bam in my lap for most car rides (no airbag on passenger seat). I try to do stroking in circles, a home-made version of Tellington T Touch. http://www.ttouch.com/howtodoTTouch.shtml It seems to calm him.

Getting the bun to eat when it’s really stressed out is not realistic. Bam can refuse a craisin when he’s scared.

I think Wick’s idea about desensitizing the bunny to the car first of all sounds brilliant.

[Nutmeg]

Hey Bam – thanks for the link! Do you mean you have Bam right on your lap – or in a carrier on your lap?
These bunnies are young, wild and crazy full of energy. I I think they would start running around the vehcile while it was moving and end up under the gas/break pedals haha.

[Gordo and Janice]

With Icey, the first couple of trips she seemed scared. We opened the front of the carrier enough to stick a hand in and pet her throughout the trip. She would just sit scrunched up in the back corner. It seemed to help. And even at the vet she wouldn’t come out of her carrier when opened. So hand pets inside the carrier until the vet was ready to scoop her out to do her thing. The next few we would just put our fingers through the front door/grate of the carrier while in the car and she would come to the hand and get finger rubs on her nose and the sides of her face and she seemed okay. Then she progressed to moving around in the carrier looking out of the front and sniffing around all the openings checking out the environment, sometimes getting finger nose rubs, sometimes ignoring the hand altogether because she was busy investigating. And, at the vet’s, she would come out of the carrier on the table to check out the environment. So it was a gradual desensitizing or familiarization with Icey.

The ever calming hand seemed to be the trick with her.

[Nutmeg]

Thanks Gordo&Janice – With my last bunny I could have my hand in with her no problem, but with these two being so young and “new” to me I was too scared to open the door to put my hand in in case they tried to bolt or bit in fear. I did put my finger in through the holes, which she ignored.
It was just so scary when she flopped on her side and was breathing heavy and bug eyed. I’ve never seen her scared before. At home she’s the braver one of the two.
So I’m so thankful for all the advice and will try getting her used to the car and to car rides as I don’t want her that stressed when going back in for surgery in a few months.

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