Dogs travel by air better than cats, and we’re not just saying that! Research has shown it. If your dog is accustomed to car travel, then air travel shouldn’t be a problem. Use the following air travel tips for safe and pleasant airplane travel with your best furry friend.
Certify your dog’s health before air travel.
Not only is dog air travel better for your dog if the dog is healthy, but it’s actually the law. Federal law requires that a dog has been certified within 10 days of the trip to be healthy, vaccinated, and free from contagious diseases. This is a very important for any pet travel, large or small.
Avoid excessive temperatures.
Ensure the safety of your dog during air travel by never flying with your dog while temperatures are over 85 degrees or under 35 degrees, on either end of the flight. Many airliners put “heat embargos” and/or “cold embargos” on dog air travel during the summer and winter months respectively. This means that the airliners prohibit dog air travel during these times. This shouldn’t be seen as a problem, because the airlines do it to prevent disease or death, and to guarantee a safe flight for your dog.
Know that overseas dog air travel may involve quarantine.
For international dog air travel, keep in mind that some isolated countries, such as New Zealand and England, quarantine animals arriving by air. Before traveling and booking reservations, familiarize yourself with the laws, requirements, and procedures of your particular destination. Unless your flight is nonstop, remember that you may have to deal with regulations in multiple places.
Don’t tranquilize your dog during air travel.
Although tranquilization may seem like a good idea during canine air travel, it isn’t. Tranquilizers are the leading cause of death or sickness of dogs during air travel. A dog can’t receive immediate or professional medical care during air travel, so unnecessary medications do more harm than good. In fact, many airliners reject tranquilized pets as a safety precaution.
Practice obedience training for dog air travel.
Training your dog before airline travel is the best way to ensure a good flight. Unfortunately, even short air travel means hours of separation between owners and their dogs (except for service dogs). Your medium to large size dog will be confined to a shipping crate for the entire flight. You can help minimize the strain and discomfort on your dog by preparing him for dog air travel beforehand. Do this by getting your dog used to being inside a travel crate for extended periods of time. Also, make sure your dog works well with strangers, namely in busy, frantic, or uncomfortable environments. This will do wonders for traveling with your large furry companion.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to make sure you and your dog are able to travel safely. Be sure to always check with your vet to make sure it’s safe for your pet to travel. By being prepared and knowledge of all the regulations, everyone will be able to enjoy the trip to the new destination!