Is it safe to travel with my dog on a plane?

Question

I have heard that there are some horror stories and the airline employees put the animal at the wrong end of the plane where the air is not pressurized.

Does anyone have experience with dogs on a plane as cargo? I am traveling with mine in late september and a little nervous.

Answer 1

A friend of mine travels with his siberian husky from New York to California at least every other month, and has never had any problems.  He jokes that if his dog had a frequent flier number, he would have racked up a lot of miles by now.

His advice:

Make sure you notify the airlines that you are flying with a pet.  They need to know so that they will prepare for it.  Most airlines will not allow you to fly with a dog without prior arrangement.

When you check in, make sure to mention again that you are flying with a pet.  

When you are boarding the plane, mention one more time that you are flying with your pet.  This will ensure that at least 3 people at 3 different times heard you.

For your dog:

freeze some water and then attach it in the crate.  As the flight goes on, he will have a constant supply of water nearby that won't spill.  He puts calming formula in the water, which helps to calm his dog.  http://www.petherbsdirect.com/calming-fo...

Feed him a small meal a couple of hours before flying and then walk him.  Make sure he has a bowel movement.  Allow him to stretch his legs and try to tire him out.  He will rest for most of the flight.

Place a toy or favorite blanket in the crate.

Make sure that your dog has tags with a number where you can be reached.  Make sure that the crate has the same info.

Best of luck on your trip.

Answer 2

Your dog will be fine.  There are not any cargo areas on a plane which are not pressurized.  The temperature may be a bit cooler in the cargo hold and will vary from plane to plane, but won't drop below 55F.  The biggest problem is heat, but by Sept won't be a big deal.  You can also ask the pilot when you get on board to check on your dog and be sure he is on board.  They always get paperwork if there are animals in the cargo area and sometimes say hi to them when they walk around the plane.  They will totally care about your dog and he'll be fine.