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What should I know about flying with my dog?
More than two-thirds of pet
owners will travel with their dogs this year, according to the American Animal
Hospital Association Pet Owner Survey, and a large number of them will take
those dogs on planes. By taking a few precautions and consulting with your
veterinarian beforehand, you can help make flying a safe and healthy experience
for your dogs.
Traditionally, dogs have often been
checked as baggage, flying in the baggage hold with passenger luggage. However,
baggage holds may not always be adequately shielded against the extremes of heat
and cold that can occur during flights. They can become particularly hazardous
if animals are exposed to extreme temperatures for extended periods because they
miss connecting flights or have to wait out delays. There is no way to monitor
or assist dogs that become uncomfortable or ill during the flight. In fact, due
to concern for the health of pets that fly as checked baggage, the US government
recently enacted regulations requiring better training in pet handling for
airline employees and requiring airlines to notify the Department of
Transportation of any adverse incidents involving animals. Also, many airlines
now refuse to ship dogs as checked baggage during the hottest months of the year.
For smaller dogs, flying as carry-on
baggage is a good solution. Most airlines allow passengers to bring a small dog,
cat or other pet into the passenger cabin as long as it is quiet, odorless and
safely restrained in a pet carrier throughout the flight. This is a good
alternative to checking dogs as baggage, because temperature and air pressure
remain at a safe level inside the cabin, and dog owners can monitor animals at
all times for signs of distress. Generally airlines limit the weight of carry-on
dogs to about 25 pounds, including the weight of the carrier, and carriers must
be small enough to fit under the passenger's seat. Most airlines require advance
notification of the animal carry-on and limit the total number of pets that may
be in the cabin at one time. Dog owners should notify airlines of their
intention to bring a pet as early as possible to ensure that space is available.
Depending on the airline, there may be a fee for using the carry-on option.
Every airline establishes its own set
of policies regarding shipping pets, whether as checked baggage or carry-on
luggage. Owners should discuss these policies with their airline before they
book a flight. Airline personnel can also help owners choose a flight that will
be most comfortable for their dog. Early morning or late evening flights are
coolest in the summer, for example, and flights with a minimum number of stops
are the safest for dogs. Less crowded flights available during off-peak hours
can protect dogs from the stress of large crowds and a great deal of cargo.
Airline personnel can also ensure that dogs do not share cargo space with
materials that could be toxic to their health, such as toxic chemicals or
shipments packed in dry ice.
Regardless of how dogs fly, there are
precautions owners need to take to be sure traveling is safe and healthy. AAHA
suggests, and major airlines require, that traveling dogs be examined by a
veterinarian no more than ten days prior to the date of travel. Current health
and rabies vaccination certificates from the veterinarian will be required at
the time of departure. A veterinarian can also provide the owner with specific
feeding instructions. The age and size of the dog, time and distance of the
flight and regular dietary routine must be considered. Regulations state that
dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old and weaned at least five days
before flying. Dogs should also be exercised and picked up promptly upon arrival.
A sturdy dog carrier, available
from most airlines or pet shops, is another important precaution. The carrier
should have hard sides—with the exception of carry-on pets, which may ride in a
soft-sided carrier designed specifically for that purpose. The carrier should be
ventilated on at least two opposite sides, with exterior rims or knobs to
prevent blocked airflow, and it must be large enough for the dog to stand, turn
around, and lie down comfortably. It needs to be free of interior protrusions
and have handles or grips. It needs to have a leak proof bottom covered with
plenty of comfortable, absorbent material. Finally, both the dog and the carrier
should be well marked with the owner's name, address, and phone number, and the
pet's updated health certificate and the feeding plan from the veterinarian
should be posted on the carrier.
Finally, owners should consider whether
the dog is comfortable with traveling. Dogs are just like people who sometimes
become anxious when they don't travel frequently. This leads some owners and
veterinarians to question whether administering sedatives or tranquilizers to
dogs or cats prior to flight is a good idea. According to national and
international air transportation organizations, as well as the American Humane
Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association, in most cases the
answer is "no"! "An animal's natural ability to balance and maintain equilibrium
is altered under sedation," says Dr. Patricia Olson, DVM, PhD, former director
of veterinary affairs and studies for the American Humane Association. "When the
kennel is moved, a sedated animal may not be able to brace and prevent injury."
Whether flying in the cabin or as
checked baggage, animals are exposed to increased altitude pressure of
approximately 8,000 feet. Increased altitude, according to Dr. Olson, can create
respiratory and cardiovascular problems for dogs and cats who are sedated or
tranquilized. "Brachycephalic dogs and cats [those with short, wide heads] are
especially affected," says Dr. Olson. "Although thousands of dogs are
transported uneventfully by air, airline officials believe that when deaths
occur they often result from the use of sedation."
To help ensure a safe and pleasant trip
for you and your pet, make sure to consult your veterinarian beforehand.
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