Traveling with bunny

[JamieM]

I am going to Iowa in September and I’m considering taking Layla with me (I don’t really know anybody to watch her for the 2 weeks that I’ll be gone, and I don’t trust those who will watch her to let her out of her cage as much as she should be out).  The thing is, it’s about a 16 hour drive from here to there if I go in one shot.  Does anybody have any tips on travelling with bunnies, or any reasons why I should not be considering this as an option?  Thanks!

[GHbun]

We moved cross country with two rabbits: 500 miles a day for 5 days, in the middle of July. They came through it just fine, getting the preferred ride in the air conditioned station wagon, while the human family members were bumped to another vehicle. Some nights we were able to sneek them into the hotel room, other nights we left them in the car with the windows partially down. We had to make sure we were up and checking on them before the sun was up; likewise, we had to be careful about leaving them in the car during the day. We picked restaurants based on who had shady parking within eyesight of the dining area. The buns didn’t eat or drink as much as usual, and one got a temporary case of poopy butt. They seemed exhausted at night, probably because they didn’t sleep deeply during the day. It helped that we had 6 people so that someone could stay with the buns while others went to the rest stop. You have to think about their security just as you would a child’s — don’t want strangers to get stoopid.

Of equal concern is where you’re going to land when you get to Iowa. When we got to our new state, the friends we’d arranged to stay with while looking for a house suddenly realized that these were meant to be INDOOR pets. We had to put the buns outside our window. For 3 months. I was a nervous wreck and insisted on sleeping with the window open so we could hear them. (Did have a funny scene when a Great Blue Heron came by with that slow, stately walk, then stopped and did a double take at the unexpected critters in the cage.) Anyway, what will you do with your furbaby when you’re there? Can you keep her with you? If you’re staying with others, are they familiar with house buns, and what will your do if they change their minds or your plans change?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I did two twelve hour trips just recently.

I folded half of my back seat down so they had access to the trunk and just let them roam (the only thing back there was our luggage so other then a pee stain on my mom’s suitcase it was fine ). That gave them room to hop around a bit and stay out of the sun.

When I stopped for dinner, I used my remote starter and kept my car running (for AC) the whole time we ate (45 minutes or so). If you have a starter or some way to keep your car running when your not in it, that’s best. If you can’t and it’s hot, go drive-thru for eating so they don’t go with out AC.

I stopped about every three hours and force fed them water and pumpkin baby food. Just a bit to ensure they were OK. I only brought hay and greens in the car as I knew they wouldn’t bother with pellets. I bought nice organic carrots with the tops and freash romaine etc so they definitely ate on the way.

I also stayed in a hotel with them. You could bring an x pen, especially if they are chewers. I just unplugged everything in the room and let them roam. WISH I had brought my dustbuster though, because cleaning up hay and fur by hand was a bugger. I just snuck them into the hotel by using my cloth carrier that does not look like a pet carrrier. I checked in, then went to the car to get my stuff and just went strait in.
I brought some toys, chews and their own food bowls from home, so immediately you could tell they were like “Oh Ok, we live here now” LOL

I brought all my regular emergency stuff (semithicone, critical care, preperation H etc. etc.) just in case, tonnes of food, hay toys, chews. It actually wasn’t hard at all.
I also duct-tapped pillowcases to the back windows of my car to keep the direct sunshine down. You’ll do fine

[Veronica Vigilant]

I just did something similar recently for the same reason- I was coming to my parents’ house for 2-3 weeks so I brought my 2 buns with me on the 24 hr drive. I drove two 12 hr days and stayed at La Quinta, which is a pet friendly hotel! I made the same trip when I moved from my parents’s house to where I am now so I’m getting some practice at long distance bunny travels!

A list of some things that I make sure to do…

1. I actually travel with them in a small sized cage that I put up front on the floor of the passenger seat so I can see how they’re doing. It has a wire bottom (I put tons of hay down to help their feet) so it’s easier to clean on a long car trip like that. I line the tray underneath with puppy pads used for litter training dogs so its super easy to clean. I also bring some 50% vinegar, paper towels, and trashbags with me for cleaning any messes.

2. I stop every 2-3 hrs (3 hrs at the longest) for 15 minutes to offer them water and greens, which I keep in a cooler with an ice pack. This last time I actually used a water crock that attaches to the side of the cage and filled it halfway with water- It didn’t spill at all, and by the end of the trip they were comfortable enough to drink out of it (A lot of times buns won’t eat or drink while travelling).

3. I bring a gallon jug of tap water from home for them to drink since I’ve heard that changes in water can upset them and I at least want to offer them their “normal water” while travelling.

4. I try to bring some “emergency/first aid” supplies: pedialyte, syringe for force-feeding or water, simethicone, in addition to more pellets, hay and litter than I think I’m going to need.

5. For the hotel I actually bring a litter pan- I prefill it with litter and hay then put it in a large plastic bag- that way I use it when I’m in the hotel and then wherever I end up (the plastic bag just keeps it from getting messy and stinky in the car)

6. The last thing I can think of is I try to keep the radio turned down as low as I can in order to still hear just in case the noise bothers them- no idea if it actually helps, especially since I have trouble hearing in the car so it’s not necessarily that low!

That’s all I can think of right now! Someone else just asked a question about travelling too, but I can’t remember who- I think some other people had some good hints though. My one rabbit did seem a little stressed out this time after we got to my parents and it took him a few days to start eating normal again (he was eating, just not as much as I’m used to) so once you get there keep an eye out for that. Overall though I thought it was better to have them with me then to leave them for so long with only a few minutes a day with someone that doesn’t know rabbits well which was my only other option!

[JamieM]

Well I’ll be staying at my parents’ house and they aren’t familiar with bunnies but they are animal lovers and I’m sure will take kindly to her.  They have a dog who will be scared of Layla (She’s a huge baby, golden retriever named DeJa) and a cat who may be a problem, but Layla and I will stay in my bedroom and the cat can be barred from that room if necessary.  Shasta is pretty protective as she was rescued after being abandoned by some jerks in a field to die.  My parents got her when she was 1 week old, after the dog found her and took dad to her.  So the cat is very protective over her home, but she’s declawed.  I’ll be visiting for a week before I return back to Erie.  My parents are pumped to meet Layla.. they call her their grandbunny.  Ha. 

[JamieM]

How’d your bunnies do with the trunk?  Layla might like that once she gets used to it… plus, since she’s albino, I have worried about too much direct sunlight.  Great ideas!  Any ideas on what to do about my parents’ pets?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

They loved the trunk, they actually played around in there, Rupert camped himself cosily between suitcases and got mad if we moved them to pull him out for feeding!

I’m sure the other pets are fine, especially if she’s in your room and they aren’t

[JamieM]

I’m pretty excited about this. It’s like Layla and I against the world! Ha. I’m a dork. Anyway, I have never heard of having an emergency kit of supplies for bunnies. What do I need?

[MarkBun]

Just make sure that if you let your buns free roam in the car that EVERYTHING is strapped down tight. too sharp of a turn and you could have a pancake with a cute tail.

[JamieM]

That’s terrible… but funny!   

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