Have you considered what’s it like for a dog on a plane? I often wondered the experience dogs face when we flew them. Since, they cannot talk, it makes the situation complicated because they cannot tell you their feelings.
I cannot deny the fact that many of us don’t like flying. I have seen dogs on most flights scared, especially those shipped as cargoes. A long haul flight can keep your dog distressed because of the restriction placed on it.
To help you decide whether you want your dog to fly with you, I have made this article for you to help you with your informed decision.
How to Plane Travel with your Pet
Since we often experience a degree of stress when we travel by plane, you can imagine what a dog will have to undergo. From the security searches to waiting endlessly for a cancelled flight, the stress could be overwhelming.
I can tell you that pets don’t have a different experience from us. However, while some breeds are comfortable with the altitudes, others might fall sick or get overly stressed.
The Environment
If there is something you should know about flying with your dog, it’s the unpleasant nature of the cargo hold. Planes can produce excessive heat and this might affect your dog.
Most airlines don’t allow you to fly your pet if the outside temperature is hot to a certain degree. Likewise, if the outside is cold, your dog might freeze because of the coldness of the cargo hold.
Maybe, you checked the weather, before your schedule departure, the temperature can change within some seconds. It happens all the time and that makes flying with pets delicate, especially if they are staying at the cargo hold..
Some Things You Can Do
I have a few tips that can help you take care of your dog’s discomfort and stress.
The first thing you should do is to help your pet get acclimatized to life in a cargo hold. You achieve this by placing the dog in a crate for some minutes daily.
I recommend that you lengthen the period until your dog can comfortable stay at least an hour in a crate. With this training, your dog can have a feeling of what to expect inside a plane.
A smart move is to fly your dog during spring and fall months. During winter and summer, the temperature could be harsh and dangerous to your dog. For instance, a state like Kentucky have the extremes of these two seasons.
Documents required to Fly with Dogs
You need some documents required to fly with your dog in cabin. In addition, the documents you present vary on which airline you are flying with, your destination, and departure city.
Here are some of the documents you need:
- Rabies vaccination certificate
- Animal health certificate
- Rabies titer test results
- Parasite treatment certificate
- Microchip certificate
- Additional vaccination certificates
However, you should talk to your airline before you travel with pet.
a) Microchip.
You can take your dog to a local vet to get it microchipped. Some charity like the RSPC. Meanwhile, this should not be a necessary if you are traveling with your pet. However, you should do this if you want to track your pet if it goes missing.
I advise that you get your dog chipped before you allow it get his or her rabies vaccinations.
b) Rabies vaccinations.
You must ensure that you dog receives the right dose of rabies if you want to fly with your dog. Most international flights demand that pets receive every major health vaccinations like rabies.
As a result, you should ensure that your dog receives its rabies vaccination between 30 days and 12 months prior to your travel. A local vet can give your dog this vaccination and it does not take time.
c) Animal health certificate.
Some airlines need pet owners to possess official animal health certificates issued by accredited veterinarians. You can only fly with your dog if you have such certificate.
In most cases, you need the relevant body in your country to endorse such certificate before you can import or export a dog. For instance, travelers from the US need the endorsement of the USDA before they can fly your dog out.
Meanwhile, Canadian travelers need the endorsement of CFIA, and other countries have their relevant bodies.
d) Additional vaccinations.
When it comes to flying with your dog, you should ensure that you give your dog the most relevant vaccination shots.
Depending on where you are flying to, some countries require additional vaccinations. For instance, dogs must get vaccinated against bordetella, distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, and parvovirus, if they must enter Turkey.
e) Rabies titer test.
You might be required to subject your dog to a rabies titer test before you enter some countries. If you are heading to places with high risk for rabies, this test is important.
The process of getting a titer test include the following:
- A dog will have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.
- A vet will send the blood sample to an approved blood testing laboratory.
- The dog’s blood test results must show a rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml.
- Furthermore, you must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you travel.
- The vet will give you a copy of the test results.
f) Parasite treatment.
Finally, you may have to get your dog treated for parasites like cestodes, nematodes, ticks, fleas, and tapeworm.
FAQs
Do dogs get traumatized from flying?
Dogs often get traumatized by the entre experience. The process is not just about the flight itself. Dogs feel traumatized from checking in at the counter to waiting to board to deboarding the plane.
If you have a big dog that must be shipped as a cargo, it means that the dog would suffer more stress.
Do dogs get scared on flights?
Some dogs feel stressed and scared flying in a plane, because the experience could be unnatural for most dogs. For instance, the plane’s air pressure can affect a dogs’ balance. When this happens, the dog can suffer anxiety or uneasiness. Meanwhile, a dog may have a reaction based on a variety of reasons, different smells, sounds, etc
What’s it like for a dog on a plane?
A dog might experience stress depending on the situation of the flight and the dog’s emotional state.