Flying With Fido? Get Travel Tips

An estimated two million animals will travel by air this year. But is it safe to take your pet on an airplane? And what should you know before you and your pet take off? Saturday Early Show resident veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner answers these questions and more.

When booking a flight with your pet, Turner says it is best to book a nonstop, midweek flight, and avoid plane changes, if possible. During warm weather periods, choose early morning or late evening flights. In colder months, choose midday flights.

Here are her traveling tips:

Travel arrangements - Keep in mind that there is usually a limit for the number of carry-on kennels allowed on flights, so if you want to bring a pet in cabin, let the airline know as soon as possible.

Checking in - Pets traveling with passengers must check in at the ticket counter. No curbside or self-service check-in is allowed. So please allow extra time beyond normal check-in guidelines, but not more than four hours prior to your flight time.

Fees - There is a service fee required to transport a pet. It varies depending on the airline, but it ranges from $50 to $100 one-way. Animals traveling in service to passengers with disabilities (with trainers, for law enforcement, or search and rescue) usually are allowed to travel on the plane free of charge. But it is still necessary to inform the airline that you will have a service animal. And the animal is allowed to travel in the cabin without a kennel, but properly harnessed.

Policies - All airlines have different pet travel policy and requirements. So be sure to check your airline's requirements by going to its Web site or calling in advance. And remember that you need to follow state entry requirements that apply toward animals entering the state.

If you are flying abroad to a foreign country or Hawaii, find out whether there are quarantine or other health requirements at the destination. A full-service travel agency or pet travel service should be able to assist you with this information. You should contact the appropriate embassy or consulate well in advance of your travel date.
Health Requirements - Some airlines require a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days prior to travel to ensure that your pet is fit to travel.

Sometimes, sedatives are used on the animal. They are usually discouraged because their effects at high altitudes are unpredictable. However, if your veterinarian decides that tranquilizers are medically necessary, the name of the drug, the dosage, and how the drug was administered must be indicated on the kennel.

USDA regulations require that your animal be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned before traveling. All states require proof of rabies vaccination for dogs over 12 weeks old and some require proof of rabies vaccination for cats.

If an animal is acting violently, looks ill, or physically distressed, the airline has the right to not allow the animal to travel on the plane.

Turner notes not all pets can or should travel by plane. Air travel is stressful for pets, so you should consider a number of factors before deciding to transport your pet on an airplane, including your pet's disposition, age, breed and health.

Heat or pregnancy - Animals who are in heat or who are pregnant should not travel by plane.

Age - Federal law requires that animals be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned (meaning weaned for at least five days) before they travel in the cargo hold of a plane. Although the law does not say so, veterinarians generally recommend against putting elderly pets through the discomfort of air travel.

Breed - Pug-nosed animals should never travel in the cargo hold of a plane. This is because of the structure of their faces, which may inhibit their breathing during air travel. If your dog is of one of the breeds listed below, be sure to discuss the issue with your veterinarian and with the airline. Many airlines will not accept pug-nosed animals for air travel. The following dogs are considered to be pug-nosed:

• American Staffordshire
  
• English Toy Spaniel
  
• Dutch Pug
  
• Shih Tzu
  
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  
• Brussels Griffin
  
• Pekinese
  
• Boston Terrier
  
• English Bulldog
  
• Japanese Pug, and
  
• Japanese Spaniel.

There are, however, some restrictions on location animals can travel to, so check with the airline. For example, no carry-on pets to/from Hawaii or Transatlantic/Transpacific or Central and South America.

One of the most important steps you can take to ease the stress of travel for your pet is to make sure it becomes familiar with the kennel. Purchase the kennel as far in advance as possible. Veterinarians recommend leaving the kennel door open in the house with an old sock or familiar object inside so that your pet may spend time near the kennel and perhaps venture inside on its own. Since it is important that your pet be as relaxed as possible during the flight, familiarization with the kennel is essential.

Kennels
All kennels must follow the following guidelines

Type/size: The kennel must be sturdy, properly ventilated, and, most importantly, must be large enough for the animal to freely sit and stand with its head erect, turn around, and lie down in a normal posture. To prevent accidental injury, no part of the animal's body can protrude through any openings in the kennel. For this reason, kennels made exclusively from wire are not accepted.

Closing Mechanism: Check the closing mechanism to make sure it works properly. Do not put a lock on the kennel door. In accordance with federal regulations, your pet must be accessible in the event of an emergency. Doors made of plastic or fiberglass can be prohibited.

Wheels: Most airlines discourage kennels with wheels on the bottom unless the wheels have a locking device. If your kennel has wheels, it is recommended that they either be removed or taped in order to prevent them from rolling in transit.

Weight: Each kennel should contain no more than one adult dog or cat, or no more than two puppies or kittens younger than 6 months, of comparable size, and under 20 pounds each. Dogs and cats cannot travel together in the same container. For carry-on pets, the maximum weight of pets and kennel is 15 pounds.

Absorbent Material: The kennel must contain absorbent material or litter. (Black and white printed newspaper is a good choice. However, newspaper with colored ink or advertisements can be toxic to animals.) Please note that the use of straw, hay or wood shavings is prohibited for international shipments.

Kennel Label Requirements:

• Display a "Live Animals" label with letters at least 1 inch high, on top and on at least one side of the kennel.
• Indicate the top with arrows or "This End Up" markings on at least two sides.
• Display Feeding Instructions. (If food is necessary, it must be attached to the outside of the kennel.)
• Certification: Any animal traveling must display certification attached to the kennel stating that the animal has been offered food and water within four hours prior to scheduled departure. Do not feed in the two hours prior to departure as a full stomach can cause discomfort for a traveling pet.
• Contact Information: Label the kennel with your name, address and phone number at origin as well as destination. Include your pet's name and clearly indicate the final destination on the top of the kennel.