Cats

Up until just recently, pets have only been welcome on airplanes if they’re flying with the luggage stored beneath the plane. One of the main concerns we have with this old practice is that most luggage compartments aren’t properly shielded to keep out the extreme hot and cold temperatures that occur during flight. This then goes from bad to worse if they’re forced to remain locked in their cage for hours on end when your flight gets delayed. While you’re up in the terminal trying to finish that book you brought they’re suffering in a dark compartment with practically no room to move around. If a traveling pet becomes ill during flight there is no way of monitoring, let alone being able to assist the animal until the flight has landed in their scheduled destination. As you can imagine this has resulted in countless tragic pet deaths over the years. Due to the growing concern for animals traveling with their owners in the air, most airline companies now enforce stricter training for their baggage handlers, even requiring them to report any adverse incidents to the Department of Transportation. In addition to that most will refuse passage to animals during extreme weather and during the hottest months of summer.

If your pet is a small animal than you’ve got it pretty easy as far as travel preparation is concerned. The large majority of airlines these days will allow you to bring your small dog or cat with you onto the plane as long as both the animal and pet carrier weigh no more than 40 pounds and can fit underneath the seat in front of you (please don’t even think of trying to put them in an overhead bin!). Due to allergies and passenger discomfort though there usually is a limit to the number of pets allowed on any given flight to if you’re planning on taking your pet with you just make sure to notify them of your travel buddy as soon as possible.

Before booking any flight you should call your airline and discuss with them what their policies are for traveling with pets. Each airline is different in their policies towards pets both traveling in the cabin as well as stored underneath the plane. Airline personnel can also help owners choose a flight that will be most comfortable for their pet. Try to aim for a flight in the early morning or late evening during the summertime as it’ll be the coolest during those hours. Any airline representative should be able to assist you in picking a flight that is right for your animal/situation so contacting them should be one of the first steps in your travel preparations.

In order to safeguard the health of your pet, there are various precautions you need to take before leaving for the airport. The AAHA suggests that you have your pet examined by a veterinarian no more than ten days before you first round of travel plans. It’s also good to note that you will be required by law to provide proof that your pet has all the necessary rabies vaccines/shots when you first arrive at the airport, so don’t forget your paperwork! Federal Law also prohibits any animals younger than eight weeks old to fly in an airplane, regardless of whether they’re in the cabin or not. Don’t forget now, there are no late pickups when it comes to traveling with your pet.

As far as what to look for in dog kennels just make sure whatever you get is a sturdy container with hard-walls and ventilated on at least two opposing sides (to allow for proper airflow circulation). Being free from any knobs on the outside is handy as it will catch on surrounding items less often when moving it. In addition to that your kennel should be marked with a large label at least one inch tall that reads “Live Animal” to let any baggage handler immediately know to take care when moving the container. For pet carriers you should look for ones that are just big enough to where your pet can stand up on all four legs, turn around and lie down without much maneuvering. Almost all pet carriers these days are made with airline regulations in mind so the key thing is to look for one that’s sturdy on the outside by soft on the inside. That way your pet will have a little cushioning in case of a bumpy ride. Lastly both the kennel as well as any pet carrier should have a water-resistant bottom lining to contain any accidents that might occur if your pet becomes startled mid-flight. Even some of the best house-trained animals will have accidents sometimes when startled by a rough case of turbulence so it’s better to be on the safe side. With both kennel and carrier you should also have papers either taped to the outside or placed in one of the side-zip compartments detailing your vet’s contact information, any important medical or dietary requirements that your pet might require as well as a copy of your entire travel itinerary.

Taking your pet on a vacation with you is a rewarding experience and in the end you’ll be the only one who can truly judge whether or not they’d be able to handle themselves on the flight. There are a lot of both dogs and cats who are overly sensitive to changes in cabin pressure and flying may not be for them.

Still have pet questions? Head on over to OnlinePetAnswers.com and submit them to be answered for free by our online veterinarians.