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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Traveling with Kraken

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    • kmurphy
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        I have to bring Kraken home from college on Wednesday. He has never been to my house and certainly has never gone through an eight hour car ride. We have a small carrier for him for emergencies but it wouldn’t fit his litter box or anything, just him, a towel and some hay. We keep him in a pen normally so I don’t think that would work…. Does anyone have any travel advice for me? Would the small carrier work if we changed the towels if he wet them? Sorry, I’m super nervous. Has anyone taken their bunnies on long road trips? Have any words of wisdom?


      • Bam
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          There are puppy pads that you use for house-breaking puppy-dogs, there’s some kind of absorbant gel in them and they can be used in carriers. I think they’re available in most pet-shops. Otherwise you can of course use towels and change them when he’s gone to the bathroom on them. Water can be troublesome, but if you bring a supply of fresh greens that your bunny likes he can get water that way.


        • kirstyol
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            We use puppy pads for Bramble’s carrier. My vet told me to keep a close eye on him to make sure he wasn’t eating them as the stuff inside them is apparently not good for any animal to ingest but strangely enough Bramble has never made any attempt to chew on them which is odd because he chews on just about everything else! I buy mine from a discount store as they are much cheaper than pet shops. They are sort of padding for the carrier too which I always think is nice.

            I don’t know what your carrier is like but the one we have you can attach a water bottle to it, Bramble has a bottle anyway because he just throws a bowl about but even if yours doesn’t normally use a bottle its much easier for in a carrier than worrying about a bowl spilling over (assuming your bunny knows how to use a bottle, you may need to show him). I agree with Bam about taking a supply of fresh greens and lots of hay.


          • Beka27
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              I second (third?) the suggestion of puppy pee pads, although you could cover them with towels also, just in case. Water will be tough, and not all buns will eat/drink in a moving car anyways. Make sure to plan at least a few stops where the bun can be still and eat/drink.


            • Whobott
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                I recently took my rabbit on a car trip quite far. I put puppy pads on the bottom of his carrier and put and old fuzzy pillow case on top of it but you can use a towel or anything I put treats and hay in hiss carrier and try too feed him greens because it gives them hydration since they typically won’t drink anything I also had a movie going from my tablet and it kept him busy (lol he watched it the whole ride) good luck!!


              • kmurphy
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                  Thanks everyone for the reassurance! I will go out and pick up puppy pads and a water bottle for Kraken (he only has a dish), but that has to happen after my last final tomorrow :/ His carrier is super small. Its probably just big enough for him to lay down but that’s it. Is that alright?


                • Beka27
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                    As long as he can stretch out fully, that should be fine. It’s temporary.


                  • Giggles
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                      I travel quite frequently with my bunny — about every other weekend. It’s a 2.5 hour drive.

                      Here’s what I do:

                      1. Prepare the travel carrier. I fill a travel-size litter box with new litter, hay, veggies, and 1-2 treats. I line the carrier with a towel for traction.

                      2. Before we hit the road, I make sure he eats and drinks plenty. My bunny does not drink much during the drive, so I make sure he’s properly hydrated before we hit the road.

                      3. During the drive, I talk to him occasionally — just so he hears my voice and knows that I’m nearby. It sounds silly, but it helps. Every 10 or 15 minutes, I’ll call out to my bunny. He seems responsive and knows I’m right there. Sometimes, I put a shirt in the carrier, so that he’ll have my scent with him in the carrier.

                      4. During the drive, I also take a 5-10 minute every hour. During this break, I offer water. Sometimes, he’ll drink. Other times, he won’t. Most bunnies will not drink during car traveling. So, be aware, and be prepared.

                      5. When I’ve arrived at my destination, I set up his cage immediately–exactly like I do at home. That way, he can go back into his own little home to eat and drink as he normally does. I allow him to settle back into his cage for an hour or two before I let him out for floor time. This is important because he needs to drink and eat since he doesn’t drink or eat much during the drive. Traveling affects his appetite, so it usually takes him an hour or so before he starts eating normally again.

                      Traveling is almost always stressful for bunnies. My bunny has traveled with me for awhile now, so he’s becoming accustomed to it. He now settles comfortably into his carrier, eats a little, and naps during the drive.

                      That’s my personal experience with traveling with my bunny. My recommendation is to make sure your bunny eats and drinks plenty prior to the car drive, make the travel carrier as comfortable as possible, and allow your bunny plenty of recovery time once you’ve reached your destination.

                      Good luck!


                    • MeketatenBun
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                        Everyone has already posted wonderful advice, so I’m going to throw in that you shouldn’t worry about the carrier being small. That’s actually a good thing! In a large carrier, if some kind of accident were to happen, your bunny would be thrown around and injure himself. But in a small carrier, he’ll roll shortly to the side of the carrier and stop. Just make sure the carrier is in a secure location such as on the floor of the vehicle or even finding a way to bungee or seatbelt him in so that he’s secure!

                        Also, I agree about breaks. While it’ll make the overall ride longer, it will give your bunny a break from the vibrating car. If it wouldn’t stress him out too much, it may not be a bad idea to get a cat collar with a bell on it for him in case, again, heaven forbid, some kind of accident happened and he got loose. Then you could as least hear him.

                        Just keep a close eye on your bun during the trip. Make sure he’s munching on something (Meki and I took a 4 hour drive last summer and she wouldn’t eat or drink unless we were stopped), and talk to him often! Let him know you’re there with him!


                      • kmurphy
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                          Thank you so much for all of the advice!! Kraken was pretty good for the journey. He didn’t really drink that much but we gave him tiny pieces of apple soaked in water to keep him hydrated. He ate some hay. The puppy pads sort of worked. The absorbed his pee but Kraken really just wanted to dig them up put them in a corner of his carrier. When he got to my house he ate some soaked greens and some hay and drank some water last night. He is now exploring the area but we have wood floors and tile so he is a little unsure. He met my dog through the cage and he didn’t seem to scared so hopefully they will be ok together under supervision. Hopefully he likes his new summer home!


                        • kmurphy
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                            Oh and here is a quick picture of Kraken figuring out his new home. 


                          • Giggles
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                              Aw, look at that cutie! Glad to hear that you both made it home safe and sound! =)


                            • Giggles
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                                Aw, look at that cutie! Glad to hear that you both made it home safe and sound! =)

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                            Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Traveling with Kraken