Taking them on holiday...

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animalpsycho

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We really need some advice:

My two sows are rescues and we had to take them straight away, but we're going on holiday on Saturday. I've spoken to the cottage owner and she's happy for us to take them along (she must think we're a little crazy), but what is the best, least stressful way for them to travel? We're planning on transporting them in their hutch and taking a run with us, what do the experts think? We're going to be on the road for about 5-6 hours, but will stop for rest breaks.

They're already bonding with us and will happily sit on my lap under a blanket.

Thanks,
Pippa
 
We travel with ours a LOT. We find the best way is to take their cage or as big of one as possible. We put it in the back seat so it is easily accessable. We have a smaller short sided tuberware tub or box with a towel and guinea pig bed or pouch that they can crawl and hide in and let them start out sitting in that being petted by my hubby. He keeps them company for an hour or so. Mine like to bathe under the sunroof/sun. They love their pouch to sleep in and towels to hide under (so you need a couple layers of towels). You can also bring veggies and let them snack towards the end of their time out. After a while we put one or both back in their cage and they generally eat hay and lay down and sleep for a while. We don't leave the water bottle in. we put it in at stops otherwise it tends to leak everywhere. It is best to initially be petting them as you start out moving in the vehicle so they get used to the feeling. Be aware of the radio and loudness. It has taken our pigs a while, but they love it so much now they sunbathe.
 
When Furbie died Bubbles came everywhere with us cos she got lonely :'( . She went all the way to Norfolk with us to see my Grandsy for a wheek.
Yup, ppl thought I was crazy when I told them! Oh well!
 
Thanks for your advice and reassurance!

It's quite exciting really, taking our pets with us! Who knows, if this works out we may take them whenever we go away... :)

Pippa
 
I love watching them on sunny days. They will stretch out in their tuberware thing with the towel and just bathe. They get up and move when the sun moves and shines a different way. They don't like being in the shade. LOL
 
Just be careful while you are travelling. When we moved house we left one of our hamsters in her cage in the car for the journey. The cage tipped while we were going round a corner, and she broke her leg. Felt incredibly guilty! We always travel with our pets in a well padded pet carrier box now.
 
Oh yeah, good point. Our cage is so big it barely fits so it can't tip over.
 
Just make sure your cage is level with the car.....most back seats have the slant towards the boot, so you might have to put a blanket or two underneath to cover that gap. Use the seatbelt to secure the cage.
Instead of the waterbottles you could give them cucumber for thirst - when you stop add the waterbottle.
Also, be aware of draughts - when you have the window open - also when you stop, don't leave them in the car....even in the shade the car can heat up in just minutes and you have heatstroke piggies or worse.
 
Well we're about to leave, the girls are having one last nibble of grass then we'll load them up!

Thanks to everyone for their advice, we'll not let them get too hot as we've got two dogs as well, so it's ingrained into my head!

I'll let you know how it all goes when we're back!

Bye for now,

Pippa
 
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