Dog Blog

When You absolutely Have to – Dogs and Plane Travel

Traveling by plane is rarely ever a pleasant experience for a dog. It is often confusing and frightening, and at worst it can be dangerous. The bottom line is that dogs should only be transported by plane if it is absolutely necessary, and not because you can’t bear to be without Fluffy for three weeks while you’re on vacation. This being said, when it really is necessary for your dog to fly, there are ways to make it as positive for him as possible.

First of all, spare no expense. Never try to cut costs when it comes to transporting your dog on a plane. This is not the time to look for a bargain. It may turn out that you spend more money for your dog’s plane travel than for your own—but it can be worth it if it means a safe and stress-free trip for your pet. Also, you need to plan your dog’s trip as far in advance as possible to make sure that all the details are covered.

Consider a pet travel agent. In fact, don’t just consider it, seriously consider it! A reputable pet travel agency will help you plan your dog’s plane travel from beginning to end. They will know details about pet plane travel that you hadn’t even thought of. They will also have sound advice about what you need to do before your dog ever gets on the plane, and what to do once your dog’s plane lands. What these people know and the connections they have can be invaluable to you. There is an organization called Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association International that has members who are professionals dedicated to ensuring safe plane travel for pets. These include pet travel agencies, veterinarians, and kennel owners. Their website address is http://www.ipata.com, and it is a great place to start for finding people that can help you transport your dog by plane.

You know your dog better than anyone, and you need to use this knowledge to figure out how to make his trip as stress-free as possible. If your dog has a favorite toy, you might consider letting him travel with it, as long as it wouldn’t be dangerous to your dog in rough turbulence. If there is a blanket that your dog is used to sleeping on, you could put it on the bottom of the crate that he will be transported in. Along with this, you could also put in a pullover shirt that you’ve worn so that your dog will have your scent with him. Of course, you want to make sure that he has a sturdy, comfortable crate for traveling. None of these things are over the top—they are the least you can do to minimize your dog’s stress in an unfamiliar environment.

Take your dog to the vet no more than two weeks before his trip. If he’s current on his rabies shot, make sure you have the certificate. Get him his shot and certificate if he needs one. Have the vet give him a complete physical examination. If your pet has any health problems, you need to know about them and get treatment for them before he travels. It’s usually not a good idea to ask the vet for tranquilizers for your pet’s trip. Though tranquilizers may seem like a good idea at first, it really is better for your pet to be awake and alert during his trip so his health and welfare can be monitored properly. Of course, whether you are traveling within your own country or overseas, you need to know the laws about transporting a pet in the place where he’ll be going. Some states and most foreign countries have strict rules, often including quarantine.

Do everything that you can to ensure that your dog’s plane travel will be safe and as incident-free as possible, and not only will your dog be happier, so will you!