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Traveling in the Cold?

hrsrdr

hrsrdr

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Nov 22, 2019
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Location
USA
Hi all!

We may be taking a trip to California soon. We don't have many details yet, but we're likely going to travel in January, and we'll be staying at least 4 weeks. The only kennels where I live are ridiculously expensive, and I don't like the idea of my piggies being in a strange place without me. My rainbow bridge piggie, Coco, was great about traveling, and went with us all the time on our trailer trips without much of a problem. We'll be staying in our travel trailer if we end up going, I'm just worried about bringing my two girls along on the trip for a few reasons.

One of which is that I live in South East US, which means winters are pretty mild. The area of California we'd be going is much colder and drier than we're used to, and I'm not sure what the best way is to keep the piggies warm. Our trailer has a great heater, and has decent insulation, but it also doesn't have a lot of floor space. Overnight, they'd be staying in a large cat carrier, and then during the day I'd be keeping them in a cat play pen that's about 10 square feet. I'm just not sure how to keep them warm with the pen outside. The area of California we're going is consistently around freezing temperature, so would that be too cold for them to go outside?

Second problem is that I'm not sure how to keep them quiet and comfortable at night. The trailer only has one room, other than the bathroom, so if they start wheeking, they'll wake up everybody. Is there anything I can do to prevent the wheeking?

Third issue is, we'd be driving for a long time each day, for multiple days. It'd probably be around ten hours each day, and I never traveled that far with Coco. Any advice for long travel and keeping them comfortable?

Final issue is, I've never traveled with two piggies before. Is there anything I should know? Anything else I'd need to prepare for since I'd be bringing two?

Thanks in advance!
 
That’s a long journey. Would you be making stops to let them out? You’d need to make sure they have access to hay and water. And you’d have to take their veg to give them during that time.

At those temperatures it would be much too cold to put them outside. As they’re indoor piggies the temperature change would do them harm. Is there anywhere you could set up the pen permanently or even during the day? If not it’s a very long time for them to be cooped up in the carrier and I wouldn’t put them through that.

There is no way you can keep them quiet. If they wheek they wheek. With regards keeping warm you could use snuggle safe pads. I’d advise 4. Put two in in the morning then another two in the evening.

I think given all these factors I would suggest you leave them at the boarding place. If you can then go and see where you’re leaving them to see what it’s like and what the boarders are like. It would be better for them to stay somewhere they will have the space they need, even if it’s somewhere new. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind you giving them a schedule and you could take some of their home furnishings to help them settle.
 
When travelling we try to stop every couple of hours (I know US drivers are used to long distance drives) even if its fir 10 minutes to give the piggies a chunk of cucumber. Best way to give them liquid while travelling. We put fleeces (over newspaper to soak up wees) in their travel boxes plus plenty of hay. So they have something to eat and burrow into. If travelling in the cold I'm assuming car heaters will be on but its easy enough to cover the boxes with extra fleece (ensuring plenty of ventilation. If you are staying in a trailer I suggest looking at our Facebook page pics. Guinea Pigs of the Turner Household. In a normal year our piggies spend over 40 nights in our touring caravan (trailer). We have found 4 are happy enough in a 120 cage for upto 20 nights without a problem. Happy to answer any other questions. By the way nothing on earth will keep 3 sows and a neutered boar quiet at night if all 3 sows come into season at the same time. Their cage is normally within 18 inches of my head at night in the van.
 
karonus said:
When travelling we try to stop every couple of hours (I know US drivers are used to long distance drives) even if its fir 10 minutes to give the piggies a chunk of cucumber. Best way to give them liquid while travelling. We put fleeces (over newspaper to soak up wees) in their travel boxes plus plenty of hay. So they have something to eat and burrow into. If travelling in the cold I'm assuming car heaters will be on but its easy enough to cover the boxes with extra fleece (ensuring plenty of ventilation. If you are staying in a trailer I suggest looking at our Facebook page pics. Guinea Pigs of the Turner Household. In a normal year our piggies spend over 40 nights in our touring caravan (trailer). We have found 4 are happy enough in a 120 cage for upto 20 nights without a problem. Happy to answer any other questions. By the way nothing on earth will keep 3 sows and a neutered boar quiet at night if all 3 sows come into season at the same time. Their cage is normally within 18 inches of my head at night in the van.
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Thanks Steve. I’m just laughing at the thought of guinea pig night time frolics next to your head :lol!:
 
If you can get a cage that will fit in the trailer. We look to get one that fits over the cooker and sink unit at night. Also a thick fleece to throw over the cage at night.
 
VickiA said:
Thanks Steve. I’m just laughing at the thought of guinea pig night time frolics next to your head :lol!:
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Its effin noisy its either that or someone thinks its funny to clankbthe water bottle. Its never all the time. All I'm happy for is Pluto is a fast worker (although with Celeste he gets a bit lost with the long fur. We have told him going in from the side is wrong)
 
karonus said:
When travelling we try to stop every couple of hours (I know US drivers are used to long distance drives) even if its fir 10 minutes to give the piggies a chunk of cucumber. Best way to give them liquid while travelling. We put fleeces (over newspaper to soak up wees) in their travel boxes plus plenty of hay. So they have something to eat and burrow into. If travelling in the cold I'm assuming car heaters will be on but its easy enough to cover the boxes with extra fleece (ensuring plenty of ventilation. If you are staying in a trailer I suggest looking at our Facebook page pics. Guinea Pigs of the Turner Household. In a normal year our piggies spend over 40 nights in our touring caravan (trailer). We have found 4 are happy enough in a 120 cage for upto 20 nights without a problem. Happy to answer any other questions. By the way nothing on earth will keep 3 sows and a neutered boar quiet at night if all 3 sows come into season at the same time. Their cage is normally within 18 inches of my head at night in the van.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the advice! I'll carry some watery vegetables in the car with us, and see if we can find a larger carrier for them! What size carrier do you use for travel? Their nighttime place is nice and comfy, and is stored in the back, close to the AC/heat unit, but not directly in the air flow. I figured there was no way to keep them quiet, but I figured it was worth it to ask :))
 
Will they be staying inside the carrier? If so you should try and get a cage that’s the minimum size - 120x60. Unless you can get a carrier of that size.
 
Siikibam said:
Will they be staying inside the carrier? If so you should try and get a cage that’s the minimum size - 120x60. Unless you can get a carrier of that size.
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They'll only be in the carrier for travel. At night and during the day, they'll be in a pet playpen, which is around ten square feet.
 
hrsrdr said:
Thanks for the advice! I'll carry some watery vegetables in the car with us, and see if we can find a larger carrier for them! What size carrier do you use for travel? Their nighttime place is nice and comfy, and is stored in the back, close to the AC/heat unit, but not directly in the air flow. I figured there was no way to keep them quiet, but I figured it was worth it to ask :))
Click to expand...

We normally carry 2 to a carry box as per the link. As our piggies are 1.45kg, 1.45kg, 1.2kg, 850gms and 790gms we reckon on 3kg of piggies per box. The longest they have travelled in the UK is 6 hours.

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/savic-discovery-compact-carrier
 
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