Pet Air Travel Guide

Most pet owners would consider pet air travel only if moving overseas or interstate, not while taking their pets on regular holidays. Using pet air travel can be quite expensive and at the same time, is not a pleasant experience for pets, as they have to stay in restricted space for long hours.

Some Important Tips During Pet Air Travel

Most airlines insist that you must check your pet in as cargo, as they cannot be taken as luggage, no matter how small your pet is. You will have to put a pet in the crate or a container. Some airlines insist that you must use the crate provided by them to ensure that it matches certain quality standards and will not create any problem during flight. So, if you need to use pet air travel, it is a good idea to check with your airline to avoid any hassle after you reach the airport.

If you are planning to buy your pet carrier for air travel, ensure that your pet can sit, stand and lie down comfortably. There must also be enough space for the pet to turn around so that your pet is not stiff and uncomfortable during the journey. While selecting a kennel, length, width and height of the pet must be taken into account.

Before taking your pet for the air travel, it will be helpful if you familiarize your pet with a kennel so that your pet gets used to being in it during the journey. You can make your pet sleep in the kennel for a few weeks prior to traveling. Keep the carrier in the middle of the living room or kitchen so that pet understands that it is not being taken to a vet.

For their pet air travel, many people prefer to sedate them to make the journey easier and safer, as it will make them sleep throughout the travel. But, it is not advisable to do so, as sedatives and high altitudes are not a good mix and it can cause some respiratory and cardiac problems. Sedatives during pet air travel can also make them disoriented and prone to injuries. For pet air travel, they must be at least eight weeks old.

There are special services available for pet air travel so that you do not have to worry about them and can concentrate on your own travel plans. Check out with your airlines for any special certificate you need from a veterinarian regarding the health of your pet. Some airlines do not allow pets, while others refuse short-snout dogs such as pugs and bulldogs.