How to Keep Your Pet Alive on an Airplane
Another week, another unified PR disaster. This time, a giant pet rabbit died on a United flight from London to O’Hare, and the airline … isn’t entirely sure what happened. There is enough news to make any responsible pet owner think and ask, “How can I best protect my pet when he or she has to fly with a load?” What is the best thing to do to keep my beloved 1) alive and 2) as comfortable as possible? “
I spoke with Dr. Ann Hohenhouse, an in-house physician at New York City Animal Medical Center , to find out how best to prepare your pet – and myself – for a happy, healthy journey.
First of all, consider getting your pet on a plane.
Dr. Hohenhaus says: “I would tell the family: does the pet really need to go? If you are moving, of course. But for a weekend trip? Nobody is watching them [in the load], nobody can get to them. ” It’s a risk that might be worth taking on a relocation or long trip, but Dr. Hohenhaus asks his patients’ families to consider riding or chasing an animal rather than flying. “I recently put a kibosha on a 15 year old dog flying to Palm Beach. It would be a three-hour flight, which means six hours in an aircraft carrier, and he needs to get up and move around. As a result, the dog was taken to Florida. “
Start planning ahead.
At least a month earlier if you’ve never flown with your pet before, says Dr. Hohenhaus. “The rules are not the same for airlines, and they are not the same from country to country. This is a nightmare . ” She recommends that for international travel, start by collectingpet travel informationfrom the USDA website , and for domestic travel, from the website of the airline you are flying. “And find out which plane you’re flying – not all aircraft carriers will fit on all planes.” And place your order in advance; there will be restrictions on the number of animals allowed on each flight.
Hire a pet store.
Ask a member of IPATA or the International Pet and Animal Transport Association to help make your trip easier. They know all the intricacies of traveling with pets and can take the difficult logistical problem out of you.
Take two planes.
“You know how crazy you are when you travel – bags, kids,” she says. She suggests sending your pet the day in advance, or asking him to follow you every other day with the help of a friend or pet transport company for logistical support. You will be less stressed and the animal will be less stressed.
Get tested.
“All airlines require a veterinarian to examine a pet before traveling, but each airline has its own set of rules for when to examine an animal,” says Dr. Hohenhaus. Most airlines do not allow very small puppies or kittens or “soft nosed animals” such as bulldogs or Persian cats. And your veterinarian may not sign the certificate if the animal is elderly or in poor health.
Do not use drugs on anyone.
You might think you are being kind by giving your pet comfort, but “I say no, and Delta and American also say no,” says Dr. Hohenhaus. “An animal under the influence of sedatives cannot respond to a stressful situation.”
Eat a normal meal at home.
Airlines have different rules about when was the last time to feed an animal before boarding. Dr. Hohenhaus says: “Don’t feed your pet food all day and then stuff it into the crate. It is better to eat well at home in advance. ” Some airlines require you to attach food and water to the outside of the crate, along with a 24-hour feeding plan for unexpected delays. Again, check the airline’s website.
Microchip and ties.
“United is in the news right now, but every year pets get lost or run away from their carriers [on all airlines],” notes Dr. Hohenhaus. Make sure the animal can be returned to you by placing a microchip on it (15-digit microchip required for international travel) and securing the door and corners of the carrier with zip ties.
Place a spare leash and collar in your carry-on baggage.
“If you somehow lose the leash [which is hidden in the carrier] or the animal slips off the collar, you will have problems when you get to your destination and it will need to ring.” Redundancy is key here.
Place an absorbent mat in the crate.
“If the dog has an accident, the lake will be the carrier,” notes Dr. Hohenhaus, who says she saw some pet owners lining their cages with absorbent particulate material, like in gerbils’ cages.
But really the moral of the story here is to start early and read every bit of information on the USDA website and the airline’s website. If you are calm on the day of travel, your pet will also be more likely to remain calm.