Winter transportation

[Halister]

Hi all I wasnt sure where to put this. I was wondering for those cold months how do you transport your beardies from the house to the car and keep them warm? Thug has his first vet visit Monday and its getting pretty cold in Buffalo.

 

[Luthien]

The best way to transport a beardie in the winter is to get a closed in pet carrier (dog or cat carrier) Make sure it has no mesh but can still get air. You'll also need a hot water bottle, fill the water bottle with hot water then wrap it in a towel (to prevent burning your beardie and to keep claws away, trust me it sucks when they puncture a hole in it ) Put the towel wrapped water bottle in the carrier and your beardie on top. Viola you have a home made heated carrier for your beardie that will keep him warm no matter the temps outside

 

[AHBD]

You can also use hand warmers, [ wrapped in a small towel or newspaper to keep the dragon from getting burned] these will keep the heat longer than a water bottle if you have a long drive / wait at the vet. Any small box will do to transport, such as a shoebox, and you don't need to worry one bit about airflow, cardboard boxes breath without any holes [ dragons are shipped like that ] Another way to keep them warm if you don't have a heatpack or water bottle is to use a sock filled with rice, microwaved for about 2-3 minutes. You must add a small cup of water in the microwave though, so the rice doesn't scorch. It keeps the heat for an hour or two.

 

[bambichik39]

If I'm going somewhere quick, where he will only be outside of the car or a building for a few seconds, I just zip him up in my coat. I turn the heat on in my car full blast so hes comfortable in the car, then when its time to go in somewhere, I put him on my chest, then zip up a hoodie over him (except his head), then zip up my coat (which is huge and fluffy so he has plenty of breathing room). I've done this a few times, and hes always fine after it. My car also has auto start, so I let the car warm up before we run back out to it. Hope this helps... I find it easier to do that, and quicker than to hassle with a carrier. I also think it keeps him warmer, bc my coat protects him from the wind/cold air, and my body heat helps keep him warm.

 

[AHBD]

Yes, I agree Bambi, the under the coat transport is safe and no frills way to transport, and can be done to get them in the car without any worries. Only one potential problem there is if they have to go to the bathroom, it will be on you , so it's good to have a box or carrier in the vets office/ car ride. And yes, definitely warm the car up to 75 degrees or so.

 

[Halister]

Monday he went to the vet. I put him in his old bath tub about 8 inchs high and 20 long. Drilled holes in the lid, hot glued in velcro straps on each end and got two water bottles heated them up and strapped them in and placed a towel ontop. We were at the vet for like 2 hours and when we went to go back in the car the bottles were still warm. Worked great. It was 35 out also BBBRRRR

 

[AtlasStrike]

Charlie has a lunchbox/can cooler that he is quickly outgrowing, gotta get a bigger one. Stays room temp in there, hot water bottles will keep it within a safe range for 8+ hours even in -15F outside temps.

 

[Halister]

Got a pic of it?