FAQ: Carriers & Crates for small pets

Yes, a favourite treat or a bunch of herbs at the back of the carrier helps the animal go in willingly. The treats should be familiar and in moderation, as new food before a journey can upset digestion.

Put the carrier back in the cage or pen without its door and place treats and hay in it for a few weeks without going anywhere. Once the animal goes in calmly again, start again with short carries.

Take the rabbit in a sturdy, well-ventilated carrier with a non-slip floor and hay, secured in the car. If the rabbit has a bonded partner, it is often worth bringing both, as they are calmer together.

Take the guinea pig in a hard carrier with a thick layer of hay to hide in, and keep it out of draughts and sunlight. Guinea pigs startle easily, so carry the carrier calmly and keep it level.

Often yes, because guinea pigs are herd animals and feel calmer with a companion. If the patient may have something contagious or is having surgery, ask the vet whether the companion can stay with it.

A big cage with all its fittings becomes dangerous on the move, as the wheel, house and bowls shift and can hurt the hamster. A small carrier is safer, and the cage can stay at home.

Besides the carrier with hay and bedding, bring some of the usual food, a towel, and notes on the animal’s diet, behaviour changes and anything it is being given. If the vet asks, bring a fresh droppings sample.

Keep the carrier on your lap or a chair rather than the floor and cover it with a towel. If possible, sit away from dogs and cats, or wait in the car until you are called if the weather allows.

If the top of the carrier can be removed, a vet can often start the examination while the rabbit sits in the base, where it feels safer. This is another reason to choose a carrier whose top opens or comes off.

After anaesthesia the animal may be drowsy and poor at keeping warm, so keep the carrier warm but not hot and drive especially gently. Follow all of the vet’s instructions on transport and home care.

After surgery a clean towel, fleece or paper pad is often recommended instead of fine shavings, so no particles stick to the wound. It is best to check with the vet which bedding to use.

Rabbits and guinea pigs are usually not fasted, even before surgery, because their digestion needs a constant intake of hay and they cannot vomit. Always follow your own vet’s instructions, though.

Stop somewhere safe, check that the carrier is not too hot, and give it fresh air and shade. Laboured breathing, lethargy or seizures are urgent signs, so contact the nearest vet straight away.

A weak animal struggles to stay on its feet, so it needs a soft, non-slip floor and a small carrier where it will not roll about. Protect it from cold and heat and drive as calmly as possible.

It is not advisable, as the carrier gets shaken hard, can fall, and the animal is exposed to wind, cold or sun. If there is no other way, fasten the carrier firmly in a basket, shield it from wind and ride slowly on smooth roads.

Yes, not every vet works with rabbits and rodents, whose care differs from that of dogs and cats. Call ahead so you do not have to drive the animal around several clinics unnecessarily.

The safest place is on the floor behind a front seat, or on the back seat secured with a seat belt. Avoid spots in direct sunlight and in the airflow from the vents.

Thread the seat belt through the carrier’s handle or belt loop and tighten it so the carrier cannot move. Or wedge it on the floor between the seats where it has nowhere to slide. A carrier left loose on a seat falls off in sudden braking.

Never in the closed boot of a saloon, where there is little air, it can be hot or cold and you cannot see the animal. The load area of an estate or SUV that opens to the cabin can work if the carrier is secured and ventilated.

In warm weather even a few minutes in a closed car can be enough for a rodent or rabbit to overheat, and in cold weather a car cools down quickly. If you need to stop somewhere, take the animal with you or travel with another person.