Yes, you can travel with a chinchilla!
Chinchillas are relatively easy to care for, excellent travelers, and don’t get on your nerves because they’re so small.
Chinchillas need hay and a clean living environment with plenty of natural light. One other thing: be careful not to fly too close to the sun or let your tiny friend near the window, or he might get stuck.
You wouldn’t want to have your chinchilla suddenly poke his head out of the window.
If you’re planning to take your chinchilla on an airplane (or any other kind of travel), there are a few safety precautions you’ll want to take. Chinchillas are delicate animals, and they need special care while traveling.
Before taking your pet anywhere, there are a few things you should do:
Tips for Traveling with Your Chinchilla
Here are some tips for traveling with your chinchilla:
1. A good-size carrier and chinchilla cage or box (learn how to set up your chinchilla cage) that you can put the chinchilla in and close securely should be used. A carrier can be any size; he’s not going to gain or lose weight during the flight, so a big one is unnecessary and may cause stress to your chinchilla.
2. Check the airline’s rules on live animals. Most airlines will allow pets in cargo or checked baggage, but some require them to be shipped as cargo. Each airline has its own rules for travel with pet chinchillas.
3. Double-check the airline’s regulations on what type of carrier your chinchilla will need to be in when you travel. Some airlines require that small animals such as chinchillas be transported in a specific carrier, and some do not allow pets to be carried on by passengers (though they may still be allowed in cargo).
4. Feed them dry pellets, not carrots or fruit. You must tell your vet about any fruit or vegetables you give them before taking them on a plane. Some airlines won’t accept chinchillas at all. Always pay attention to your chinchilla’s poop to monitor their health!
5. Make sure you have the proper food available for your chinchilla while away from home if they will not be able to eat their regular diet while traveling. Some airlines will allow you to bring along a water bottle filled with moist food, but it must be an airline-approved food. Some airlines may not allow you to bring along anything other than a bowl of fresh food.
6. Have someone on your flight who knows how to look after your pet chinchilla during the trip. You won’t be able to rely on a flight attendant to know what they’re doing, so someone else should take care of your pet while you and your travel partner are away from home.
7. Get your chinchilla used to being in a carrier. Any time you put your chinchilla in their carrier, make sure you give them comfort and love. Make sure they’re in their carrier for at least 30 minutes so that they’ll calm down when it’s time for travel.
8. Traveling on the day after going to the vet is not the best option for taking your chinchilla on a trip. It would be best if you did not take your chinchilla on a trip for at least 48 hours after you’ve had them checked out by the vet. Even if your pet seems fine, the vet may have prescribed medication that needs to be kept in their system for a total of 24 hours.
9. Try to make sure your loved one has their shot before going on a trip. Your veterinarian can give vaccinations against flu and other diseases and give them human rabies shots (if they are not already protected).
10. You may want to start feeding your pet chinchilla a few hours before you plan to travel. This will help reduce the chances of having an accident in their carrier during transport.
11. Take your pet chinchilla out of the carrier 10 minutes before you get to the airport so that they can get used to being in a new place.
12. If you are checking your pet chinchilla as baggage, check with the airline first to ensure they can be transported this way. Some airlines do not allow chinchillas to be checked as baggage or even for pets to be checked at all.
13. Make sure you have a cage ready for your pet after returning home from their trip. This may include any medicines, chinchilla toys, or other necessary items in their new environment.
Safety Precautions
When you are transporting your pet chinchilla, you should follow the same rules as with any other piece of luggage:
- Ensure that your pet chinchilla can’t fall out of their carrier and injure themselves.
- Make sure your chinchilla carrier is secured to the plane as if it were any other piece of baggage. Airlines may not allow pets to travel in the cabin, though they can be shipped as cargo.
- Do not leave pet chinchillas unattended in a public place. Pets are still animals and may run away, get lost, or get stolen. If you go them in a cage, ensure that it’s secured to keep them from escaping.
- Please do not leave your pet chinchilla in its cage for extended periods. Chinchillas need room to move around, so you should give them as much space as possible in the carrier.
- During trips, make sure your chinchilla has access to water at all times. This will keep them from getting dehydrated during the trip.
Conclusion
You can do many things to keep your chinchilla happy and healthy- check out how to tell if your chinchilla is dying, to stay atop their health status.
One of the most important things you can do is make sure they get plenty of exercise. They will feel more at ease when they have plenty of space to run around and explore, so play with them often throughout the day. A healthy diet is also essential for your chinchilla. If their poop looks like marbles or stones, change their diet right away.
Chinchillas are very gentle animals and make wonderful pets. Follow these safety tips when traveling with them in the carrier, and you’ll have a safe trip for you and your chinchilla.
Hi, my name’s Elena Coolidge, and this is my site. Chinchillas are so cute and such intelligent animals that make great pets. They’ve become the subject of fascination for many animal lovers who enjoy their antics. I blog about their care, where to buy them, breeders, and more. Shoot me an email if you have a question!