Airline Travel with Your Dog

Traveling is very exciting! Rather than have a house sitter stay with your pets or kenneling them while you are away, you may be thinking of taking them with you. At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, all our doctors are certified to complete the necessary forms for travel inside the USA and abroad. Some of these forms need special certifications from the State veterinarian as well, so you need to plan ahead to get the proper paperwork completed. Depending on where you are flying with your dog, the process may be as simple as an examination and a signature, or it may take a full year to meet the specific testing and certification process. Be prepared! The Animal Hospital at Thorndale has assisted owners transport their pets as far away as Australia and South Africa. We understand that the requirements and schedules that you need to meet in order to bring a dog into certain countries can seem daunting. Most of the information you will need to understand your destination’s requirements for admitting a dog into that country can be found on line. Our doctors will work with you to be certain you are kept on schedule and meet the required documentation deadlines.

You should consider several factors before traveling by plane with your dog:

It is impossible to overemphasize the need to consult with the airline well in advance of your trip. This is essential if you hope to avoid last minute problems. Here are some basic tips for airline travel with your dog:

1. If you will be traveling outside the continental United States or to a foreign country, you should inquire about possible quarantine requirements for your dog. Be very aware that it may take up to 6 months to a year to complete all the required documentation to enter certain countries. As soon as you know your travel plans to a foreign country, obtain the necessary information from that country’s website, and contact your local veterinarian so the process can be started. Be certain your veterinarian is U.S.D.A. certified, as are our own, to complete the necessary documents. In most cases of foreign travel you may need to transport these documents to the State Veterinarian after your local U.S.D.A. certified veterinarian has completed their portion of the paperwork.
2. Always try to get a direct flight. In the event that you are unable to secure a direct flight, the pet carrier may be left outside the plane for a period of time. Determine whether the airline has requirements for “acclimation.” To avoid liability on their part, many airlines require a letter from your veterinarian stating that the pet is acclimated to a minimum or maximum temperature (must be given in precise degree, e.g., 20°F) for a defined period of time.
3. Consult with the airline regarding baggage liability. In some cases, this can include your pet. If you are sending an economically valuable pet, you may need to consider additional liability insurance.
4. Have your dog examined by your veterinarian in advance of the trip, especially if it has been more than a few months since the last checkup. This is especially important for geriatric dogs. Travel by plane can pose a risk for dogs with pre-existing medical problems, such as heart or kidney disease. Also, some short-faced breeds of dogs (Bulldogs, Pekingese) do not travel well in some situations.
5. Be certain that you have written proof of current vaccinations and, where required, a health certificate. If you are traveling to a foreign country, you must have the proper documents and signatures or your pet will be turned away at the airport. These cannot be obtained “after the fact.” You must be able to present them on demand.
6. Take direct flights and try to avoid connections and layovers. Sometimes this is easier to achieve if the trip is planned during the week. The well being of your dog could be a source of concern if the baggage connection between flights is missed.
7. Some airlines will allow one small pet in coach and one in first class, with some provisions. To find out whether there are limitations on the number of animals present in the cabin, you should advise the airline if you plan to travel with your dog in the cabin. Check on the cage dimensions so that there won’t be a problem stowing the carrier beneath the seat.
8. Consider in advance all medications that you might need for your dog. These might include heartworm preventive, flea preventive, and heart or kidney medications. Also, give thought to any special diets that your dog may need and whether they can be obtained at your destination.
9. If there is any chance that your dog will be out of the carrier, give thought to an appropriate collar or harness and keep a leash with you. If possible, the collar should have a small pet identification tag. Order forms are available in most pet stores.
10. Microchips are highly recommended and are required for international travel. Be certain your pet has the proper type of microchip in place. If your pet has a microchip that is not recognized internationally, you will need to have a second one placed, and in many cases a rabies vaccination after the correct microchip is in place.

At the time of your flight:

1. Do not tranquilize your dog unless you have discussed this with your veterinarian.
2. Make sure that the carrier is permanently identified with your name, phone number, flight schedule, destination, and phone number at your destination point.
3. Feed your dog several hours before you leave home. Water should be available at all times, including inside the carrier. If you have a geriatric dog with marginal kidney function, it is important that the dog not be deprived of water. Discuss this with your veterinarian. Try to secure a direct flight with no layovers. The dog should have fresh water after arrival.

Consider the following when purchasing a carrier for the airline flight:

1. The cage should provide sufficient room for your dog to stand up and turn around easily, but not so large that it can be tossed about inside during turbulence. Remember size constraints if the carrier is to go on board under the seat.
2. The walls of the carrier should be strong enough to prevent the sides from being crushed. Also, the flooring of the cage should not allow urine to leak through the bottom. An absorptive underpad (designed for bedridden people with bladder control problems) can be placed in the bottom. These can be purchased at a pharmacy or home health care supplier.
3. The cage should have sufficient openings for good ventilation.
4. The cage must have sturdy handles for baggage personnel to use.
5. The cage should have a water tray or bottle which is accessible from the outside so that water can be added, if needed.

Pet stores, breeders, and kennels usually sell cages that meet these requirements. Some airlines also sell cages that they prefer to use. Check with the airline to see if they have other requirements. Try to familiarize your dog with the travel cage before you leave for your trip. Let your dog play inside with the door both open and closed. This will help eliminate some of your dog’s stress during the trip.

Some considerations for your point of destination include:

1. Be sure that your hotel will allow dogs. Many bookstores carry travel guidebooks with this type of information or you can look it up online. It is always best to confirm this by a telephone call ahead.
2. Give thought to provisions for food bowls in the hotel room. Look for safe areas to walk your dog and remember to clean up afterward.
3. Place a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your hotel door so that housekeeping will not inadvertently let the dog escape. Plan to have your room cleaned only when you are present or your dog is out with you.
4. It is probably best to leave the dog in the carrier or inside the bathroom whenever you plan to leave the room.
5. Should your dog get lost, contact the local animal control officer and the area police.

Advance planning is the key to a safe trip with your pet!