Transporting your Small Mammal

Rodents and lagomorphs are prey species and suffer greatly from stress, this stress is often a major contributing factor to the risks associated with hospital admission (and subsequently surgery), with this in mind we endeavour to reduce stressors, as much as possible prior to admission.

Bonded pairs / groups :

Pets that live in bonded pairs/groups should never be separated if at all possible. Therefore if your pet has a bonded partner, we will accommodate both animals (or group) , coming in on the day of surgery.

Food and water:

We do not withhold food or water from your pet. It is vital that they continue to eat throughout their visit to the vets. Please bring your pets normal food with them (including any favoured treats) so that they can continue to graze throughout their stay, whether this is anticipated to be a day visit or for longer overnight stays. We do provide food and water too, however we find it comforting to your pet to have the brand of food they are used to and it helps prevent any issues with their delicate digestive system.

 What should I put in my transport box?

Lining the bottom with a rubber car mat, newspaper or a towel will help prevent your pets from slipping in the box during the journey. Some of their normal bedding is useful and plenty of hay for rabbits and hay eating rodents. You can provide water via water bottles as bowls may spill during the journey. Pet Remedy is an excellent product that can be used to spray towels and place those towels in or near the travel box. The pheromones from the spray will help keep your pet calm during the journey and visit to the clinic.

The car journey:

Securing the transport boxes with the use of seatbelts or bungee cords is advisable, to prevent them from moving or falling over when, slowing down/stopping or turning corners/going around roundabouts.

Keeping the noise to a minimum is advised (no loud music or startling sat nav commands which could cause unnecessary noise and vibrations). The use of a thick blanket beneath the transport boxes can help minimise vibrations from the car, whist you are driving.

Other information:

We will often ask you relevant questions about your pet and their set up, it can be useful for you to take photos of tjheir enclosure +/- runs. It is also incredibly useful to know the following:

·        Enclosure size (including run system)

·        Type of food you give, how much and how often

·        What you use as a bedding for your pet

·        What supplements you offer (if any)

·        Your pets exercise habits

Hospitalisation:

We want your pets to be eating and passing faeces before we send them home post op in some cases, we may need to hospitalise your pet post-op to continue with supportive treatments such as syringe feeding and intravenous fluids, please ensure you bring enough food for them. 

Ensuring optimal health:

A healthy pet will be much better equipped to deal with stress and anaesthesia, we encourage owners to feed a high quality, non-selective diet, with good quality hay and fresh leafy greens, maintaining a healthy weight and receiving lots of exercise will keep your pet fit and healthy. Please ask a member of our team for species specific care advice.

If you have any questions or concerns about transporting your reptile, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the team at Origin Vets Clinic.