It is always important to consider your pet’s health when traveling, especially when flying, and more importantly, when traveling by cargo. It is therefore strongly recommended to visit your pet’s vet before taking your fur baby on a flight. One of the main dangers when travelling, especially during air travel, is actually temperature changes and its effects on dogs.
With A Pet On A Plane
Only small dogs under 20 pounds can be brought aboard on a “one-per-person” basis, so long as they fit into a carrier of dimensions not exceeding 17″ x 12.5″ x 8.5″ and can be tucked under the seat in front.
While some airlines do not allow large pets, many allow dogs larger than 20 pounds to be transported as cargo in a transport crate. Share on XThis is not an easy time for any pet since their water and food supply for the trip is limited, in addition to layovers and delays that might not give them the opportunity to take a much needed potty break.
Moreover, since an airplane cargo bay is not a heavily regulated environment in terms of temperature, a trip could become a life-threatening experience and increase the risks of heart and respiratory problems on breeds who have a low tolerance for extreme temperatures.
Short-nosed dogs or “brachycephalic” breeds such as Boxers, Shih Tzu, Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Pekingese, are heat intolerant and consequently prone to respiratory failure, heat stroke, fainting, and collapse due to respiratory limitations.
Because of this, airlines impose weather, temperature and time of the year restrictions when they allow pets to be shipped as cargo. Due to these restrictions, travel by cargo may be prohibited if the temperature in at least one of the cities in the itinerary exceeds eighty or eighty five degrees Fahrenheit. Share on X
To avoid the negative reputation associated with animal deaths and to protect pets at a higher risk of developing health problems during flights, many airlines have published a list of dog and cat breeds which are not permitted to travel on their planes.
Since pet policies and safety regulations vary according to the airline, some breeds that are banned by a given airline may be allowed by another. Share on X
Airport Pet Relief Area
If you are flying, remember that many airports have a pet relief area that often includes a green space or park for traveling pets. Some of these facilities offer animal care, grooming, veterinary services and other amenities to best serve your pet during trips and make your family vacation more enjoyable.
Most international airports in North America and some major airports in South America and Western Europe offer indoor or outdoor pet relief amenities. Share on X
Some facilities such as the Vancouver International Airport in Canada provide pet parents with the advantage of accessing the in-terminal pet relief space without leaving the airport’s security area.
However, for any traveling family whose fur babies does not fit within in-cabin requirements and that therefore will have to ship their pets by cargo, the animal facilities at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) are guaranteed to fit your and your pets’ every need.
The Ark at JFK International Airport offers pre- and post-flight care to pets as well as to sporting and agricultural animals. The facilities are meant to provide a comfortable environment and reduce the stress that owners and animals suffer during the importing and exporting process. Horses, cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, turtles, baby goats, and a broad variety of animals, its owners, and shippers find veterinary care and relief services at the reception terminal, quarantine center, and in-transit bonded area of The Ark at the JFK airport.
Services and amenities are divided in six different sections at The Ark, which include a veterinary hospital for small animals, a long-term pet boarding facility, spa and grooming facilities, training services, an equine export and equine import quarantine area, The Ark Aviary, and a 24/7 central resource for in-transit pets, called the Ark Pet Oasis.
Turn your love for animals into a rewarding career!
Enroll in an online course
Avoiding Cargo Shipping
For pet parents whose itinerary includes flights, but refuse to ship their fur babies by cargo, online marketplaces for shipping services offer the opportunity to ship dogs, cats, horses, and other animals by land. Share on X
Their guidelines to prepare your pet for the trip generally include a health certificate showing that your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations and properly identified or microchipped. You can also generally list your needs and choose amongst many different quotes to find the transporter that best suits your needs, so as to ensure your pet’s safety and well-being.
Many no-kill shelters also use services such as these for shipping adopted pets to their forever homes.
If ever you do not feel at ease with flying with or shipping your dog, you can also consider travelling by land whenever possible, there are also many ocean-crossing options to consider for longer trips that avoid planes altogether. Whatever the method of transportation you choose is, there are some universal things you should plan and be on the lookout for, such as dog travel anxiety and motion sickness, two easily manageable conditions, if you take the right measures. If ever, you are unable to bring your dog along with you, safely, you can also consider a fun kennel where your dog will be able to play and make new four-legged friends while you are away.
