Whenever possible, guinea pigs would rather keep the home-field advantage. But when their masters are moving home, they don’t have much of a choice but to brace themselves for a long relocation trip.
Moving with guinea pigs cross country – for example, moving to another state, can be kind of fun provided that you’ve done your homework in advance and your adorable pet is quite ready for the cross-country voyage.
Guinea pigs are shy by nature and can easily get stressed out on the road. Here’s what you need to know when moving a guinea pig to another home – from picking the right pet carrier to opting for the best transportation method for your domestic cavy.
How to choose a suitable pet carrier for your guinea pig
In most cases, the regular cage of your guinea pig – the one you have in your home – will not suitable for transport for a number of reasons.
First of all, the bedding, food, and even poo will pass through the metal bars and will scatter all around your vehicle – NOT a great start to the car journey. And secondly, your pet is likely to slide around the cage due to the extra space, thus potentially getting injured during the trip too.
While standard cages for guinea pigs – usually equipped with a food dish, a water bottle, and even a hide-out place – are great for the home, they are not a good choice when moving guinea pigs long distance by car or by plane.
So, get an appropriate guinea pig carrier for the road ahead:
- Soft. Get a soft-sided pet carrier that can’t hurt your cavy during transport no matter how shaky and bumpy the trip proves to be in the end.
- Ventilation. The guinea pig carrier should have adequate airflow for your cute pet. Usually, that is done with a mesh material with a zipper on the front and small holes on the sides so that the travel carrier gets well ventilated at all times.
- Space. The guinea pig carrier that you purchase should have enough space for your pet to stand up and turn around freely. Thus said, the carrier should not be too big either because the extra space will increase the risk of injury should the carrier topples and falls onto the ground.
- Bedding. Place a soft towel or a thick cloth inside the carrier for greater comfort. Some soft guinea pig carries come with removable and machine washable pads, which is always a bonus.
Bear in mind that having a good travel carrier for your guinea pig is critical for the success of your safe pet transportation. Using a plastic pet carrier that’s specifically designed for transporting guinea pigs is also ok.
Read also: How to crate train your cat when moving
How to move a guinea pig by car
The best and often the only way to move your guinea pig to a new home is to do it by car. As you’ll see below, most if not all airline companies won’t let guinea pigs travel in the cabin with you but rather have them as cargo – never a good option when moving guinea pigs across the country due to their fragile nature.
Here are some good tips for moving guinea pigs by car:
- KEEP one or maximum of two guinea pigs inside one carrier provided that there’s enough space for both pets so that they don’t trample each other. Consult with the pet carrier manufacturer when unsure.
- PROVIDE food for your pet during the car trip. In general, guinea pigs need a constant supply of food to prevent problems with their teeth and to keep their digestive system healthy. So, leave fresh, grassy hay (timothy hay), carrot slices, lettuce leaves, and a handful of dried pellets inside the carrier.
- HAVE a water bottle handy but don’t leave it inside the pet carrier and it may spill and make your pet rodent wet and cold. As a rule of thumb, the vegetables will give your pet enough hydration during the car ride but you should offer them water every time you stop for a break too.
- SECURE the pet carrier inside the car. Secure the carrier with a seat belt or have a family member hold onto it so that it cannot topple over. NEVER place the carrier in the car trunk – it won’t be secure there and there won’t be enough air for your dear pet.
- KEEP the pet carrier out of direct sunlight. Keep in mind that plastic carriers tend to heat up too much too quickly.
- MAINTAIN temperature inside the car between 65 °F (18 °C) and 75 °F (24 °C). Guinea pigs are sensitive to temperature fluctuations – they tend to warm up too quickly and maintain heat, don’t go above 75 °F to prevent heat stroke or other heat-related problems.
- LEAVE the AC running when the car is parked and try to park in the shade when moving in the summer. Whenever possible, place the carrier in the middle of the backseat to keep the guinea pig out of direct sunshine.
- PULL OVER at rest stops regularly to check on your guinea pig. Make sure they look comfortable in their carrier and behave normally. Restock the food supplies of your guinea pig and offer them water – they may refrain from drinking water or eating due to the stress, but you need to make sure they have enough hay available for them to chew on.
- KEEP an eye out for any signs of trouble such as your guinea pig squealing loudly or running wildly inside the carrier. If that happens, try to calm them down by petting them or talking to them in a calm and soft voice. If that doesn’t help, consider placing a thin blanket, a thin towel, or a large piece of clothing over the cage to reduce the sunlight.
- BE extremely careful if you decide the take your guinea pig out of the pet carrier for some reason or another – your pet may get scared and try to get loose and run away. ALWAYS use a harness and leash suited for guinea pigs when you do decide to take your pet out to stretch and get some fresh air during a car stop.
See also: How to pack a car when moving
How to move a guinea pig by plane
Do everything in your power to transport your guinea pig to the new house in your car. When that is just not possible, however, the other viable option is to transport it by plane.
The key to a problem-free air travel with a guinea pig is to plan everything in advance so that there are no unpleasant surprises in the last possible moment.
However, airlines do not usually allow rodents to travel in the cabin, so you’ll be facing a dilemma soon enough.
- CHOOSE to move your guinea pig by plane as a last resort. Remember that guinea pigs are rather fragile – their susceptibility to changes in temperature and noise levels increases the risk for your small pet when they fly as cargo or inside the baggage area of the plane.
When circumstances force you to take the risk, then you should know how to make your pet comfortable when they fly as cargo. - ASK the airline companies about the specific requirements they have regarding guinea pigs. Some may require health certificates that prove guinea pigs are in good health before the flight.
- TRY to book a non-stop flight so that your guinea pig spends as little time in the airplane as possible.
- GET an airline-approved pet carrier for your guinea pig. The airline may clarify whether the carrier should be soft-sided or hard. Again, the pet carrier should be big enough for the rodent to move inside freely and turn around without difficulty.
- PREPARE food and water for your guinea pig but be careful not to overfeed your pet before the flight. Provide hay as it’s the most essential type of food for your pet. Also, leave in the carrier vegetables that retain water – cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, and peppers.
