Travelling with your rabbit

Rabbits are best left at home, but sometimes they need to be transported – moving house and veterinary visits are obvious examples. Travelling can be stressful for your bunny so, in recognition of Rabbit Awareness week (2nd-10th June 2018), the team at your local Healthy Pet Club practice have put together some tips about travelling.

Preparation

How to minimise stress:

• Use a carrier that is:
  • Designed to transport animals
  • A suitable size (e.g., small/medium dog carrier)
  • Designed to open at the top and sides – this makes it easier to get your rabbit in
• If you have more than one rabbit, consider taking a companion
• Familiarise your rabbits with the carrier before you travel:
  • Put into the carrier:
    • Treats/food
    • Toy
    • Lightly used bedding (the familiar smell provides reassurance)
  • Let your rabbits explore the carrier
  • If they don’t go in voluntarily, place them in it
  • As they get used to it, shut them in for short periods
  • Then pick the carrier up – keep it close to your body, and don’t swing it about
  • Work up to periods of 30 minutes in the carrier
  • Get your rabbits used to using a water bottle.

The journey

• Keep journeys as short as possible
  • If the journey must be long, take regular breaks
  • If the trip will last more than one day, take an exercise pen for overnight
• Place something absorbent in the carrier base
• Provide hay
• If the journey will be of any length:
  • Attach a water bottle to the carrier
    • If you cannot do this, offer water once/hour
  • Take with you a litter box, cleaning supplies, and enough food and litter for the journey
• Place the carrier on the vehicle floor or use the seat belt
• Keep your rabbits’ environment cool and well ventilated > 
  • If possible, travel when the weather is cool
  • Keep the temperature inside the car <24°C
  • Do not place the carrier in direct sunlight
  • If you use the air conditioning, do not let it blow straight into the carrier
  • If necessary, put an ice pack, wrapped in a towel, into the carrier
• Consider covering the seats to protect them from stress-induced spraying.

Keeping your rabbits safe

• Only take your rabbits out of the carrier in an enclosed space
• Consider having your rabbits microchipped in case they escape
• Don’t let cats or dogs get too close
• Cover the carrier with a blanket in situations that might scare the rabbits (e.g., at the vet)
• Never leave your rabbits unattended in the vehicle.