

Discuss your travel plans with your veterinarian-it may be safest not to fly with your dog. Confinement in a carrier could cause anxiety which could exacerbate these conditions,” notes Dr. “These breeds can run into respiratory challenges in increased temperature or humidity. Take particular care if traveling with a brachycephalic (or short-muzzled) breed.If you and your veterinarian decide that your dog does need medication and you have to try a new-to-pup med, make sure to test it out for adverse effects or unusual reactions a few days before you travel.

He advises discussing your plans with your veterinarian to find a way to manage any doggy nerves during travel, and considering alternatives to medication such as calming collars and anti-anxiety T-shirts.
Southwest airlines pet policy plus#

Aside from complying with these requirements, make sure to: See below for our airline-specific information on flying with dogs. If flying is definitely the way forward for you and your pup, make sure to set aside time to gather the necessary paperwork, get your dog’s medical records up to date, and fulfill any other requirements. Here’s more on that: Preparing to Fly With Your Dog: Health Checklist No matter how young or healthy your dog is, check in with your veterinarian before taking a flight. If your dogs fits into one of these categories, consider flying with them only when absolutely necessary, and always make sure to prepare well to make sure their needs are met. Meanwhile, changes in diet and water on arrival can affect dogs’ gastrointestinal health, and the upheaval of traveling and time-zone changes could lead to dehydration or interruptions to strict medication schedules, such as insulin for diabetic dogs-leading to potentially serious consequences.Īs those warnings suggest, air travel is most likely to be challenging for older dogs or those with an underlying medical condition, impaired immune system, or heart condition. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the American Kennel Club, notes: “Traveling by air can be stressful to people and to dogs,” adding that the strange sounds, sights, and smells of airports and new destinations can be challenging for pets. Though air travel is sometimes unavoidable, it can take a toll on dogs’ health and emotional wellbeing. The first question is, should you fly with your pet at all? *Dog friendly rental filter applied to results Should You Fly With Your Dog?
