Must move to Austrlia, lots of questions!

[Bobsmom]

Hello, we are new. Bob is our guinea pig, adopted two months ago. We belive he is about 4-6 months old. All has been going great, BUT, we need HELP! We just got military orders to Australia and are unsure about moving Bob. Apparently there is a mandatory 30 day quarrentine and we have been told that Cavies dont do well alone. Should we get him a companion? We have to leave in only 2 months. We are able to spend a lot of time with him now and will once we are there and he is released to us, but we fear he will get depressed or something while he is by himself. If we should get him a companion, any suggestions as too male or a female? Is he too young to get fixed? We are having a hard time finding a decent vet in our area, still hunting for one who knows ANYTHING about Cavies! As for the quarrentine time, he can only have pellett food, nothing fresh. We dont want to adopt him out becuase we love him so much already! But if the move will be bad for his health then we will start looking for a good family......

[cavy-cool-crazy]

Welcome to the forum!

Military orders suck. Especially when you've done 16 house moves in 17 years, with pets. It was fun as I was growing up but now it's just horrible having to uproot year after year after year. My view is probably totally the opposite of yours though!!

Now, back on topic. Personally I can't see how this could work out. The long flight is one thing, but the heat may be a bit much. I understand it is winter in Aus right now so it mightn't be so bad on that part if you go in the next few months.
Quarantine usually is no issue here in UK, but if it means no fresh food or hay then it wouldn't be very good. Piggies need fresh veggies, a few fruits and unlimited hay basically to live. To prevent illness and health problems, and partly to keep the pig happy. Pellets alone won't work out.
Maybe another Aus member can help you out a bit here.

Knowing only what you have said, I would recommend looking for a new home for Bob, as hard as it may be. Others may have different views. The stress of the big move wouldn't be fair on him. Dogs could probably handle it (we have moved our elderly dogs to Cyprus and all around UK for many years) but I honestly don't think pigs could. Guineas do live well in Australia, but moving from the US to Australia...I just can't see how it could work out well for Bob.
My own pigs do well with smaller moves (long car journeys with regular breaks, ferry trips) but taking them abroad wouldn't work because of all the stress and turmoil.

I hope it works out for you.

[Aertyn]

Australia has fairly strict quarantine regulations (due to our isolation, quarantine is our first and only defense against diseases) I googled it, and found this handy site. The animal must spend 30 days in Quarantine in Australia. So that's 2 months, 1 month in the States and 1 month here.

It's not healthy for the Guinea Pig, and the best thing to do would be to find a home for Bob in the States.

I'm really sorry about your situation. I'm going to message the link to you, as it's really long and would stretch the boards.

(And for any Aussies out there, you'll get this "Quarantine Matters, Don't mess with it!" - Steve Irwin)

[Bobsmom]

Hmmm....I understand about the quarentine stuff, heard about the 40 rabbit story already!
As far as I have been told from the AU Govt site, we would take him on the plane in the tempurature controlled cabin with us in a carrier, then he goes in for the 30 days but there is no 30 days on the US end. We give them his food which can include bagged hay and he will get food and H2O everyday, just not held. Thats why I wondered if he had a companion if that would help. I know no fresh veggies would suck for 30 days but it is only 30 days, isnt it?????? I guess we dont want to let him go..........