Preparing for Air Travel with your Pet

Pet parents and their animals may experience significant stress when traveling with pets. This site highlights pet travel best practices and offers traveler information.

Regardless of how experienced you are, traveling may be very stressful. It can be a nightmare to prepare for your trip, wait in long security lines, and have delayed flight times, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You will need to make additional preparations if you intend to travel with your dog or cat in order to make sure everything goes as planned.

What conditions must you meet for your pet to fly with you?

Prior to your journey, it’s crucial to check all airline regulations regarding pet travel. Each airline has its own set of rules; for instance, some airlines forbid pets from traveling in the cargo hold. Some airlines want a vet checkup 30 days before your flight, while others demand a checkup and rabies shot 10 days beforehand. Make sure your pet’s carrier satisfies the size and safety regulations set forth by the airline.

You might need to get your pet microchipped with a brand that is recognized by the country you are visiting if you are taking your pet on an international trip and basic precautions for domestic flights. Your pet might be imprisoned and quarantined for several days or weeks if you don’t comply with all the criteria of a certain foreign country.

Ensuring the comfort of your pet

Get acclimated to being in the carrier before traveling to assist guarantee that your pet is secure, relaxed, and less stressed throughout the flight. Provide lots of liquids, but limit meals six hours before takeoff.

Before you check in for your flight, take them for a bathroom break. Line the carrier with blankets or towels for comfort and to catch any messes they may produce. If your pet will be waiting in cargo for a long time, the carrier should be prominently tagged with his or her name, address, any medical information, and feeding and watering instructions.

Never give your pet a sedative before a flight unless a physician has explicitly prescribed it. The sedative will affect their ability to balance, which could result in damage on a turbulence-filled flight.

Plan your dog’s flight weeks in advance.

You must get your dog ready for flying, whether it will be in the cabin or the cargo. For a smooth vacation, abide by these professional advice:

Step 1: Crate Training

Long before the flight, your dog should be crate trained. In their crate, your dog must be able to stand up and turn around. Make certain they’ve had enough time to acclimatize.

They ought to feel at ease in their kennel and be able to sleep there.

Step 2: Overcome Separation Anxiety

Even in the cabin, your dog must be able to lay down in his kennel by himself. You have to make sure they can be in the kennel alone since they have to stay in a kennel underneath the seat for the duration of the journey.

Step 3

Desensitize Noise Your dog needs to be properly socialized in order to be desensitized to loud noises and crowds. There are certain things to do to train your dog to remain calm around people.

To help the dog become acclimated to the noise and stop thinking the sky is falling, Playing loud noises through the speaker systems or playing sounds of jets taking off in the house.

Day of the Flight

There are a few things you need to keep in mind on the day of your journey.

• Keep an eye on your dog’s water and food intake. Although it would seem obvious, stressed-out pet parents might forget how long their dog will be confined to a crate and unable to relieve itself. This concern must be balanced against the necessity to keep your dog hydrated throughout the trip. Even if you don’t want them to become dehydrated, You should somewhat limit their water intake. A water dish must be linked to the kennel, but it might splash during flight or your dog might be too anxious to drink.

Keep in mind not to leave any food in the crate.

Considering that no one is nearby to assist them, “don’t leave anything they could eat and choke on.”

• Move quickly! Make sure your dog engages in enough of strenuous activity to burn off his energy. Even if that means getting up at three in the morning, you have to walk your dog for the longest walk they’re used to in order to make sure they’re as exhausted as possible and empty their bladders.
• One final bathroom break. You could be depending on that final pit stop to provide a restroom for your dog. If you’re flying your dog in cargo, make sure you do this either right before check-in or right before you walk through security (if your dog is flying in the cabin). To find out where there might be a grassy area at your airport, do some advance research. Although some airports have dog waste facilities, against using them as a last resort. Make sure your dog is accustomed to using the pavement as a bathroom, just in case.

Please Read: Keep your Pet Busy

A Word of Caution

Prior to booking a flight with your dog in cargo, be aware of the airline’s potential liabilities. Learn the airline’s handling procedures and be aware that you are “shipping” your dog to them.

Don’t get alarmed if you don’t immediately see your dog; it will come off after the luggage, according to some experts. “They take the bags off first, then they take the live animals off, even though you pay more to fly with your dog.”

If the airline’s rules make you uncomfortable, you can always go by car, train, or occasionally even boat—or locate a devoted dog sitter at home. The most crucial thing is to ensure the safety and comfort of our four-legged pals.

Conclusion

Repetition and endurance! Some pets may have a difficult time learning to unwind in a crate or carrier for an extended amount of time. Make the container a cheerful place to begin with. Fill the pet’s crate with food.

When your pet explores the crate on their own, scatter some treats inside for them to find. As your dog grows accustomed to its new environment, gradually extend the time. You should teach your dog to remain in its crate or carrier for the duration of the flight plus an additional two hours (to allow for boarding, security, etc.).