Moving Interstate - Advice Urgently Needed Pls

[donski]

Thanks guys, that has all been really helpful.

No, I didn't really think anyone was suggesting leaving him in a locked car. You just have to read this forum to realise how much you all love your animals. No, it was my misunderstanding of what was being written. I couldn't figure out if you people were talking about the driving part or the stopping for breaks part. Thanks for taking the time to clarify.

Ok, yep I think I'll drive up. Jack loves the car for short trips and even though I'm on my own (no hubby to rely on - sigh), I'll put in place all your suggestions and we'll be just fine.
Ta

[littleraton]

Wow, I think everyone has already offered heaps of great advice! But just in case you would like some more, and because it probably won't do any harm....

I would decide purely on what you think would be best for your rats. Traveling in the car with him sounds a little stressful to me, especially as it is a very long drive and both you and Jack are likely to get a little uncomfortable. Although the tips offered in other posts sound really valuable.

If you do decide to fly, and personally I would bias towards this option out of the two, I would do some research into the transport of your little one. I would try and find out if it is actually possible to sedate/general anesthetic (i'm not sure if this is the correct terminology, but hopefully you understand what I mean) during the trip. I have heard they do this with bigger animals, and of course I've no idea if it's safe or reliable for rats, but I imagine it should be, as rats undergo surgery, etc. I'm not sure if this would be too costly, but I certainly think that, if possible, and if you are comfortable with the idea, that this would really be the least stressful for Jack. It would be just as if he had a quiet snooze and woke up in a new place! Well, I would hope that would how it might be anyway!

I hope this isn't too much useless advice, but just a suggestion, hope it helps!

little raton

[Gothic Shadows]

Although its a good thought, you can not sedate rats for flights.

Sedation is actually dangerous for rat as the risk they wont come out of the sedation are high even when done by experienced vets. Its not something that I would recommend at all.

I've done both flying and driving with rats and although flying is the quickest way, I've had rats arrive with head tilts due to the pressure and I've had rats arrive very stressed by the way they were handled by the actual ground loading crew.

But as we have all said to Donna, only she can know what is best for Jack and what he will be or wont be able to handle.

But its good to have so many different views, ideas and suggestions.



Cheers Kris

[wart]

Sedating an animal for air travel is not recommended at all these days.

Off the top of my head, I can't remember exactly why, but its something to do with a sedated animal can't properly regulate its breathing (and possibly body temperature), so has a higher chance of respiratory distress/death.

With rats, the best anesthetic for them is isoflurene, which is administered via gas. And when the gas is turned off, they come around pretty quickly, so its not viable for air travel.

Tablets, injections aren't particularly safe for rats due to their small body weight, and the difficultly in administrating the right dose. It is easy to overdose them using these methods.
Before isoflurene was used, the mortality rate for operations on small animals was quite high.

Zoe

[donski]

ARgh, after everyone's helpful suggestions and advice, the move has been postphoned until August 08. I was planning on keeping you all informed as to how the journey went, but no need now. Jack will just have to stay living cosily down the back of my couch!

Although I am after a ratsitter for the 7-17th Feb, somewhere in Melb? Any takers?

[littleraton]

I will be free to sit around then! Where abouts do you live? How many rats do you have also?

little raton

[donski]

Thanks for the reply. I live in Kensington but am happy to drop him off wherever there is a good home. It's just Jack I'm afraid. He did have a mate, but, no more sigh.
Jack has his own cage, food etc. and has a gorgeous, sooky personality.

Would those dates suit you?

[fireyvixxen]

I have no idea if this is true in Oz, but in the states if you book a flight in far enough advance you can take ONE animal as your carry on luggage. you also have to register your request to take an animal as your carry on luggage as only one pet is supposally allowed in the cabbin. This was one of the ways suggested for transporting parrots on an american site. and it never hurts to ask.
FV

[bekki]

another transport company that is great is dog tainers i use them to transport pups but they transport all sorts of pets they have a website but i'm not sure of the web address but you could google it

[dimruthien]

Dogtainers is very expensive. I live in Darwin, and I shipped 7 rats from Brisbane to Darwin with me last June. It was cheaper to fly them with AAE than Dogtainers (who wanted to charge me $700 for 7 rats!!!!!)

[bekki]

I found when transporting to Darwin it is always expensive but if you were say going from Melbourne to Sydney i know its about $125- it depends on the desitation as to the cost

[bekki]

Also another Transport company that is quite reasonable is
All Creatures Air-Road i have used them for the puppies when going Over Seas