Moving across country with degus

[justjamiegee]

Hi everyone!

I have two degus (sisters!) that are about 4 years old. I am hoping to enter a masters program this fall (2022), but I’m worried about how I will get my girls across country with me. For context I live in Alberta, Canada and my prospective masters program is in Toronto, Canada. I thought I would be able to fly with the girls in the cabin, however it seems like the Canadian airlines will not allow this. My options then are to either put them in the animal cargo on a plane or drive across the country with them, which both make me nervous! Any advice or anything would help!

Thank you!

[bouncy]

Given the choice, I would certainly opt to drive! Take it easy, give them breaks, and they should be fine.

[savvy]

The concerns I would have with flying, particularly if they are in the hold, are the temperature as it can be very cold, and the fact that you can't monitor them, you won't be able to be with them, you won't know if they are stressing, getting too cold, or even tunnelling out.

I know it will take longer to drive them, but I think it would be the best option.

[deguconvert]

Hey Justjamiegee! If I were you, I would opt for the drive as well. I've made that drive . . . did it with a friend of mine, and we loved it, though we did it driving Toronto to Alberta, rather than Alberta to Toronto.

If you have someone that is a good friend or a close family member, whose a good driver to do it with, that makes it a lovely trip. It is a good five day drive, and I don't think I would want to do it faster than that. I would say the most taxing part of it is between Thunder Bay and Toronto, second to that would be Thunder Bay to just west of the Manitoba border . . . but it is a distance second. The road from Thunder Bay to Toronto is through a lot of the Canadian Shield and it is rocky and twisty and turny. You can't fly through there like you can through the prairie. Then once you get to the wide, busy highways of Toronto . . . it's daunting. If you drive . . . find out when the slower, less dense traffic times are and then schedule accordingly.

I have also traveled with degus . . . I had three boys that we twice took with us on trips to BC to visit with friends. I converted a medium sized dog kennel into a travel kennel for that purpose, and they always did very well. We made sure the van we drove was cool enough for them, and when we were driving, we covered the kennel with large towels to reduce the impact and stress to them. Every time we stopped for something, we would uncover them, talk to them, check their water bottle to make sure it wasn't leaking everywhere, checked their food. DON'T take them out of the cage. EVER. (Unless there is a serious emergency) If they get loose in the vehicle, you will have HOURS of trying to catch them, as there are so many small places they can hide and run to without being seen. Yes . . . personal experience. One that was my fault, and one that was the result of a child wanting to hold their degu. It is a terrifying experience . . . especially if you have had to open a door.

[bouncy]

As a thought, you can try a couple of short drives with them to get them used to the car. A couple of mine have only been in the car once and weren't keen. However, two that regularly go to the vet 20 miles away have worked out their own ways of coping. One likes to burrow down under the substrate to get as close to the heated seat as possible. The other knew he was likely going to the vet for a dental, would feel better afterwards, and spent all his time at the bars trying to peer through the windshield. If it's hot outside, they all tried to get in front of the a/c vent

[teemu]

Whether you end up taking them in a car or a plane (and I'd greatly recommend the car, puttings animals in plane holds is very unpleasant and in the car you can at least monitor them), try to find a metallic carry solution. Degus can go through plastic in the blink of an eye if they feel trapped and stressed!

[bouncy]

As a slight reminder, degus and other animals also get travel sick. If they're going to be on the front seat, perhaps find a way of boosting them so they can see through the windshield.

I used to have a house rabbit that would happily jump onto the front seat. If there was someone to hold him up, it was fine. If not, his travel sickness meant he'd hop off and sulk when we arrived.

[justjamiegee]

Hi again everyone,

Thank you so much for all of your replies! I just wanted to update this thread and say that me and the girls made it to Ontario safe and sound! They did wonderfully in the car for even more days than we expected, and they are now all settled back into their big cage! Thanks again for all the tips and everything!

[deguconvert]

WOOHOO!!! This is definitely good news, and I am so thankful for your return to update us on how it all went!!

[yasmin]