Flying With Your Dog

If you are flying to your vacation destination, you can safely bring your dog with you. While there are horror stories of airlines loosing animals and deaths upon arrival, the majority of dogs that fly arrive at their destination safely and no worse for the wear. If you want to bring your dog with you on a flight, keep these tips in mind to make your pets trip a safe and easy one.

You should thoroughly research your flying options well in advance of your trip. Pick an airline and families yourself with their live animal transport guidelines. All airlines require that your dog has a bill of health certifying him safe to fly from your veterinarian within ten days or so of flight. The prices for transporting your pet vary between airlines and with the size of your pet. You should expect to pay between 50 and 100 dollars unless you have a Great Dane or other huge breed. If you have a small dog, they can usually travel under your seat in their crate or on the seat next to you in their crate. You will either have to pay extra or purchase another seat. You should talk to your vet before you leave about sedating your pet. Some people think sedating a dog for a flight is a good idea and others do not. Get your vets opinion and make sure your dog will not suffer any ill effects.

Make your reservation in advance and make sure you include your pet. Most airlines have a limited amount of cargo space for live animals and if the flight you want is already full, you will have to make other arrangements. Make sure you arrive early to the airport, an hour and a half before departure is good. Walk your dog before he is boarded. There is no reason why your dog should be boarded more than a half and hour before your flight leaves so do not let them take him too early. You will want to make sure you dog has had a chance to go to the bathroom and stretch. You must also have an airline approved crate. It is a good idea to put stickers on your crate directing which side is up and to make it highly visible. You should also label your dog's crate with your name, address, phone number, fight number, and destination.

Try to avoid flying when the whether is very hot or very cold. You are required to provide a food and water bowl inside your dogs kennel although being able to eat and drink may make your dog prone to soil the inside of his kennel. An alternative to putting food and water inside your dogs kennel is to pack some separately in a bag attached to the kennel and leaving feeding instructions during your layover if you have one. Better yet, if you have a lengthy layover request to feed, water, and walk you dog yourself. Do not be afraid to inquire about how your dog is doing, especially on a lengthy flight. You should also not hesitate to wait at the gate and make sure your dog is loaded before you board the plane. These tips will make your dog's flight a safe and happy one.

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