Question before getting pig ?

[sabinevicky]

I wonder could anyone answer a question for me please ?
I'd really like to get two guinea pigs, however i live in two places...one during the week and one at the weekend... and i have to travel every friday and sunday night for 2 hours in the car between my two homes. As I've read that guineas can be very easily stressed by travelling in the car I'm wondering would it be cruel to impose this lifestyle on them ? Does anyone have any advise ?

 

[ClaireL]

Is there anyone who could look after them for you at the weekends rather then taking them with you?

Mine have travelled in the car but only a couple of times and I dont think they enjoyed it a great deal - I'm thinking if you are travelling in effect 4hours over the weekend every week this maybe abit too much x

 

[minimowers]

Hi, its great that you have thought about this before getting your pigs and not once you've got them. You are right to question whether or not guinea pigs would cope with commuting twice a week here are my thoughts:

Guinea pigs cope with the odd long journey but they would struggle to do it regularly, where a dog may be happy to sit on a back seat and look out of the window a guinea pig couldn't and would probably find it quite stressful being moved from piller to post so regularly.

Do you live on your own in both homes? Would it be possible for a friend/ family member to piggy sit at one house so that they didn't have to travel with you? Is the commute a short term thing or will you be doing it for the next few years? If its only in the short term why not wait until you are working from one home only. Otherwise why not see if you can help out with a local piggy rescue instead of actually getting some for yourself.

I hope this helps

 

[Wiebke]

If you can take them with or in their cage, they will get used to the travel within a month or two. The first few times will tough; they'll probably pile up on top of each other, so there might be a bit of squealing, as neither will give even a millimetre! Give them somewhere where they can hide and make sure it can't topple when you brake hard.

Make sure that you stuff them up with food before you leave, so they are sleepy during the drive. Especially when you're driving in the dark, be aware that the flashing lights in the dark can frighten them, so place a plaid on top. I always tell them with a special phrase before we leave and flash them a picture in my mind, so they know what's coming up. I also talk to them regularly during the first few drives when they are most frightened. It might take them a few hours or even a day to come out in the new place, but once they are familiar with it, they'll straight at home! Especially if you take their toys, mats and paraphernalia that smell of them and tell them it is "their" territory.

We have been taking ours regularly on a two hours trip to see my elderly mother-in-law at least once a month or more, sometimes on the drop of a hat (especially after she'd had her stroke). Nowadays, the pigs are just flopping down and sleeping it off. I had one that liked to watch the shadows of the trees and clouds go by; but she was a bit unusual!

 

[Castaway]

Many years ago, I had to make regular trips from North London to CCT, which took about an hour, and they got quite used to it. Later, with pigs 3 and 4, I made fortnightly trips from my place to the Pet Rodent Centre to get Kurt's teeth done and again, they got used to it quite well.

For a while, I went out with someone who lived in Suffolk (yes, I know) and Gethin and Celyn were still quite young then, so they made monthly trips of about 4 hours each way and the occasional 2 hour trip to London as well, but they really seemed to enjoy it. In fact, they could tell when I was getting ready to go and got quite excited, popcorning and everything. If it was just an overnight trip or something and they weren't going, they seemed to get really cross that I didn't take them! All I had to say was "road trip" and they went nuts.

I tended to stop about every 1 1/2 hour so they could have a drink (with a syringe) and a cuddle and yes, I got some pretty strange looks from people at motorway services. I remember one person pointing and saying, "Wow, look at that gerbil!"

They went in their travel bag, which was a Sherpa Bag I got from America. It looks something like a sports bag, but has mesh on the sides so they can get air and see out, but its soft and dark. I put a newspaper and vet bed in as well as hay, dry food and veggies. They also had a "mobile home" (basically, a large plastic box on wheels) and I put all their hay, food, blankets, toys, etc. in there in the boot. The Sherpa bag strapped to the back seat belt and they seemed pretty comfy there. Occasionally, you'd get some squeaks - a bit like a couple kids in the back seat.

The Sherpa bag was looking pretty tired, so it's been retired. I couldn't find another, but got a nifty travel bag (I think they are designed for small dogs) which is also a ruck sack and has even more secure straps for the seatbelt. They don't get to make as many trips these days, but they still seem to like it. I think it makes a difference that they were young when they started and they are both fairly laid back (especially Gethin) so take it in their stride. I've got a very good neighbour who comes over daily and feeds them (and even tends to Gethin's impaction problem - now THAT'S a good neighbour!) if I'm just away for a few days.

Mind you, when I was younger, I had a cat that I took in the car from when he was a kitten and he used to love going with me places. I had to be careful he didn't sneak in when I didn't want him to!