Rabbits are very sensitive creatures that require a quiet and comfortable environment. But if you plan a trip or want to visit the vet, you may wonder if rabbits are safe to travel in the car. So, can rabbits get carsick? Can I travel with my rabbit in the car? How to travel with the rabbit in a car? Let’s find out all the answers in this article.
Rabbits can get car sick because of stressful environments, including car vibration and sudden vehicle noises. However, it also causes health issues like heatstrokes and GI stasis. So, consider providing a safe, appropriate carrier, hay access, and ice packs while travelling with your rabbit.
This article will briefly discuss how to travel with a rabbit in a car, the things to consider, and How long can a rabbit ride in a car? So, let’s get into it.
Contents
Can my rabbit get car sick?
For rabbits, riding in a car is usually stressful and causes car sickness.
They can become frightened by the smell and noises of other vehicles and car vibrations.
In addition, travelling with a rabbit, especially for a long ride, could make them stressed and anxious.Â
A rabbit can become very sick by travelling in the car, which may cause severe health issues like gastrointestinal issues, which weaken their digestive system and, as a result, leads their body to start shutting down.
So, taking precautions and providing a safe, secure environment while travelling with your rabbit in the car is essential.
A travelling rabbit cage is crucial, particularly if you intend to drive a great distance.
Also, rabbits are susceptible to heatstroke in a car without air conditioning since it can get very hot from the inside in summer.
So, turning on the air conditioning and setting the right temperature is crucial.
Likewise, when you turn on the air conditioning, keep the vents from blowing directly onto your rabbit cage.
In addition, Ensure that your car’s air conditioning is not set to full.
If the AC is used carefully, your rabbit’s little body won’t become stressed or catch a cold.
Similarly, keep the rabbit out of the sun while travelling in the car.
Also read: Rabbits Won’t Eat Critical Care.
Can I ride with my rabbit in the car?
You can travel with your rabbit by providing them with a safe and less stressful environment.
In addition, you should be ready to ensure your rabbit is as safe and comfortable as possible while riding in a car.
A rabbit can get car sickness because of the motion, unfamiliar smells, vehicle sounds, and car vibration.
Sudden changes in a rabbit’s environment, such as a new location, new cage, travelling in the car, or visiting the vet, can cause stress.
Stress in rabbits could cause health issues like gastrointestinal stasis (GI Stasis), which could slow down or even stop a rabbit’s digestive system.
To prevent this from being an issue, make sure any changes are made slowly.
Rabbits are animals of habit and can easily be habituated to their surroundings.
You can provide a large cage with proper ventilation, unlimited hay, and tasty treats to your rabbit while travelling could make them less stressed in the car.
Also, if going on a long route, it is essential to comfort your rabbit whenever you stop.
To reassure your rabbit that things will be well, pet them and speak softly.
In addition, a trusted companion nearby can relax your rabbit and quickly overcome stress.
Also read: Can Rabbits Be In Air Conditioning?
How long can a rabbit ride in a car?
Short car rides are usually entirely safe for rabbits, but longer ones can be very stressful.
Give your rabbit breaks every two to three hours for longer rides ( If the trip is under 8 hours or more ), so they can become relaxed and de-stressed.
Allow them to come out in the backseat, but ensure the car doors are locked to prevent your rabbit from getting lost outside.
Also, purchase a suitable carrier and ensure it is securely fastened inside your vehicle when travelling by car.
The best way to have a trip is in a safe carrier inside your car with your rabbit.
Doing this allows you to manage your pet’s surroundings and carefully monitor them.
Also read: Why Is My Rabbit Not Eating?
How to travel with a rabbit in the car?
A rabbit would prefer to stay at home instead of joining you on a road trip, but there are situations when you are forced to take your rabbit along, such as visiting the vet.
So, here are some tips and precautions to take while travelling with your rabbit on a road car trip to keep the journey more comfortable and safe:
Pick an Appropriate Travel carrier:
When picking a suitable travel carrier for a rabbit, ensure it is large enough so that your rabbit can move around comfortably.
However, using a too-big carrier is not a good idea because the rabbit could hurt themselves if pushed against the side in the event of a sudden stop or crash.
But, do not provide a small travel carrier for your rabbit because it could make them uncomfortable.
You should always provide a travel carrier according to your rabbit size.
In addition, the rabbit travel enclosures should have a minimum height of 6 inches and have enough ventilation.
We recommend using Vceoa Soft-Sided Pet Carrier for your rabbit to travel as it has soft footing bedding and could be comfortable for rabbits to relax.
Slippery plastic surfaces in carriers are bad for rabbits’ feet and might contribute to their stress when travelling.Â
In addition, line the bottom of the carrier with a towel to offer your rabbit some traction.
Usually, 19″ long small cat carriers are a good size for rabbits, but if you have a giant rabbit or several rabbits, you might want to choose a bigger size.
Also read: Do Rabbits Need Hay For Bedding?
Provide plenty of water and food:
Throughout the journey, your rabbit needs access to plenty of food and water.
Dehydration is a risk for rabbits when travelling by car.Â
While most rabbits won’t want to eat or drink while travelling by vehicle, you still need to figure out how to provide them with the choice to do so when you stop for breaks.
Ensure your water bottle won’t leak or spill while travelling. You don’t want your rabbit to get wet and cold during the journey.
A bowl of water should always be available for your rabbit whenever you stop.
In addition, if you have extra water, bring it along and fill a small bowl with it.
Packing treats, water, and hay are still essential, even if your rabbit usually won’t want to eat or drink while travelling.
Additionally, stay away from heavy feed bowls that can slip while travelling.
Also read: Why Do Rabbits Flip their Food Bowl?
Shorten your trips and stop when necessary:
If you plan to travel in the car for a long ride ( for a couple of hours), you need to take frequent breaks for your rabbits to make them feel less stressed and feed them.
For rabbits, short trips of up to two hours are best.
In addition, longer trips can be stressful and necessitate more regular checkups to ensure your pet is doing okay.
Usually, stressed-out rabbits in cars won’t eat.
However, rabbits must feed regularly throughout the day to ensure proper digestion.
These stops will allow your rabbit to relax without being disturbed by the car’s vibrations.
In addition, for the next portion of the journey, they will be able to eat and hydrate themselves.
So, schedule these visits for 30 to 60 minutes each to give your rabbit time to relax.
However, avoid letting your rabbit out of its carrier when the car doors open.
Avoid Traveling in Excessive Temperatures:
Travelling in a car with your rabbit in excessive temperatures or heat waves could cause severe health issues like heatstrokes.
Even though rabbits can tolerate temperatures as high as 85°F (30°C), they are more susceptible to heat stroke at higher temperatures.
The ideal outdoor temperature for a rabbit should be between 55° and 70°F (12° and 21°C).
Due to the way vehicles trap heat inside, their risk increases during car travels, and the rabbit will probably drink very little.
Keep your rabbit’s carrier out of direct sunlight to lessen the chance of overheating.
In a vehicle, rabbits need the air conditioning on humid summer days.
When you turn on the air conditioning, keep the vents from blowing directly onto your rabbit cage.
Make sure your car’s air conditioning is not set to full. If the AC is used moderately, your rabbit won’t become stressed or catch a cold.
Alternatively, you can roll down the windows to let in fresh air while driving with your rabbit.
Or else, if your rabbit is overheated, you can provide ice packs, cover it with a towel, and put it near your rabbit to cool down.
To assist them in cooling off, you can also spray some cool water behind your rabbit ears or cover them in a damp towel (which is not entirely wet).
Also, convince your rabbit to sip cool water while lowering the car’s temperature.
Also read: My Rabbit Died Suddenly.
Plan ahead:Â
You can be ready with a secure carrier for your rabbit if you prepare ahead of time.
Making preparations in advance helps ease travel hassles and guarantees your pet’s journey is successful.
Going into a long car drive with your rabbit without a plan is the most undesirable thing you can do, as the car ride stress might cause rabbits to become critically ill.
Ensure you give yourself plenty of time to acquire the required things and make veterinarian appointments.
You’ll be aware of the best places to pause so that your rabbit may relax and be at ease.
Additionally, you can prepare for potential emergencies.
If your car breaks down and you end up stranded on the roadside, you’ll be prepared with supplies and extras if your rabbit feels ill.
So, here are some essential things to carry while travelling with your rabbit for long trips or car travels:
- Hay
- Treats
- Pellets
- Greens ( Whenever you are at your location, you can purchase extra vegetables )
- Travel litter box
- Pee Pads (To line dish pan and rabbit’s carrier)
- Water bowls
- Exercise pen
- Emergency kit ( Syringes, Critical care, Infant gas drops, Cottom balls)
- A rug, blanket, bed (that smells like your rabbit)
- Toys ( hay chews, hay cubes, etc.)
- Pet carrier
- A heating pad ( in winter )
- Harness
- Brush
- Digestive supplements ( Oxbow Digestive Supplement )
Also read: Are Puppy Pads Safe For Rabbits?
Monitor health issues:
It would be best if you watched for any signs of disease in your rabbit before, during, and after the car travel.
Since rabbits frequently exhibit extremely subtle symptoms, it can be challenging to identify these indicators.
GI stasis is a common condition to watch out for when travelling by car with your rabbit.
When your rabbit is overstressed, GI stasis happens.
Their digestive system will slow and start to shut down because they won’t be able to eat anything at all.
The rabbit’s condition will worsen during this period, and its body temperature will drop.
Less active, small poops, loss in appetite, loud stomach gurgles, and not pooping are the symptoms of gastrointestinal stasis in rabbits.
It is essential to keep an eye out for these symptoms once you reach your location.
Keep an eye on your rabbit carefully until their energy levels and eating patterns normalize.
Warm the rabbit up and make an effort to get it to feed if it begins to enter stasis.
To raise the body temperature of your rabbit, use the heating pad or your body heat.
Then, try to convince them to eat by offering them leafy greens as an incentive.
However, if they would eat, you should feed them critical care by syringe.
Since the car ride might have upset your rabbit’s stomach and caused severe gas, you can also try giving them some simethicone (gas drops).
Also read: How Much Food Should I Feed My Rabbit?
Secure the carrier:
The back seat floor is the best location for your rabbit’s carrier if it is one of the two that have undergone safety testing.
In addition, the airbags could dent the carrier and hurt your rabbit in the front passenger seat.
The initial impact is minimized and taken by the surrounding seats when the carrier is placed on the floor nestled between the front and back seats.
It can be helpful to place a folded towel on the floor beneath the carrier because there are frequently more vibrations on the floor than on the seat of a car.
In addition, it can lessen the stress on your rabbit during the ride by absorbing some of the vibrations.
Also read: My Rabbits Are Scared Off Me
Avoid loud music:
Rabbits can stress out by sudden or loud noises.
Some vehicle and outdoor noises can stress out the rabbit and cannot be avoided, but you can control the radio and music in your car.
At the most fundamental level, you should refrain from playing music at a loud volume.
However, you can go further and play soothing classical music or entirely refrain from playing any music.
You can also use a podcast or audiobook to pass the time without worrying about your rabbit.
Conclusion:
- A rabbit can become very sick by travelling in the car, which may cause severe health issues like gastrointestinal issues, which weaken their digestive system and, as a result, leads their body to start shutting down.
- They can become frightened by the smell and noises of other vehicles and car vibrations.
- It is essential to purchase a suitable carrier and ensure it is securely fastened inside your vehicle when travelling by car.
- A bowl of water should always be available for your rabbit whenever you stop.
- If you plan to travel in the car for a long ride ( for a couple of hours), you need to take frequent breaks for your rabbits to make them feel less stressed and feed them.