Travelling with your dog as well as transporting it through any pet travel service is really a tough task to accomplish. Though there are several ways to transport your dog, most of the pet parents look for the shortest convenient method to transport their dogs across the country or outside. Among all the transportation ways airline pet shipping is the least time consuming travel process. Millions of animals get safely transported via plane every year and the airline parsonnels make their best efforts to ensure your dog’s comfortable journey.
All the pet shipping airlines must follow the rules and restrictions of The International Airline Transportation Association (IATA) regarding world-wide live animal transportation. In this article I will highlight the process of proper dog transportation via airlines. Here are some necessary tips to follow that might be useful to you:
Ask to allow your small dog in the flight cabin with you (if possible):
When there is no other option rather than flight transportation, if it is possible to carry your small pup inside the cabin with you. Some airlines allow small dogs in the cabin with some additional charges. To avail this offer, you must contact the particular airline in advance to avoid the inconvenience during the journey.
Transporting by cargo services:
Sometimes these processes can be confusing to many of the pet owners. In this situation you can book a pet travel agent to transport your dog’s from one place to another. Most of the transportation companies arrange dog transportation via cargo holds.
There are several tips to ship your dog through the cargo holds. Here are some of them given below:
- Choose a spacious and comfortable dog carrier that is well ventilated from at least three sides. Make sure that the crate is large enough according to your dog’s size. Try to avail those crates approved by the certain airline.
- Try to travel on the same flight as your dog traveling. Ask the airline whether it is possible to look at your dog’s boarding and unloading to the cargo hold.
- If it is possible, choose a direct flight to transport your dog. And ask your travel agency to do the same. It will help both you and your dog from getting exhausted by frequent changing of planes and to avoid unexpected flight delays.
- Label your dog’s crate properly with your name, permanent address, your phone number, final destination and an emergency contact etc so that you can be informed in case of any unusual incident.
- Affix exact identification of your dog to it’s collar. Also add your name, home address, phone number, final destination and the contact of the person whom the dog would deliver to.
- It would be a smart move if you can make your get microchipped. It will help you to find your dog in case it gets lost.
- Make an appointment with your vet before starting a trip with your dog. The airline will require an updated health certificate and recent vaccination records of the dog. These processes should not be older than 10 days from the travel schedule.
- You should not tranquilize your dog during cargo travel without an accredited veterinarian’s prescription as any kind of sedative can harm your dog’s health in the cargo holds.
- Do not feed your dog immediately before boarding to the cargo. Feed it at least 5 to 6 hours before boarding.
- Don’t make your dog dehydrated. Keep some ice cubes in the attached food bowls of the crate. Liquid can be spilled and create discomfort.
- Don’t make your brachycephalic or pushed faced dog like Bulldog, Pekingese dog or Boxer dog to be transported by the cargo holds. It may cause breathing problems and heart collapsing to your dog.
- Try to book an airline that is well accommodated to the temperature extremes. In summer the extreme heat of the cargo hold may cause heat stroke to your dog, similarly in winter it might get freezed in the cargo holds. So, in summer, schedule an early morning or late evening flight whereas afternoon flights are better to travel in winter.
- Give your dog at least one month to get familiar with it’s new carrier. It will minimize it’s travel stress.
- Avoid traveling or transporting your dog during holidays as that is the most busy time for most of the airlines. So there is a chance of rough handling of your dog because of the hectic schedule.
Lastly, after arriving at your destination, check whether your dog is healthy or not. If there is any problem, take it immediately to the nearest vet.
Hope these guidelines will help you to transport your dog safely.