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Pet travel via cargo can have a bad reputation. However, this need not be the case.
All US airlines (with 60 or more seats) have been required to report animal incidents to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) on a monthly and yearly basis since 2015.1 Data provided by the DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics show that in 2022, airlines transported 188,223 animals, with 9 incidents reported. These included 7 animal deaths, 1 injured animal, and 1 lost animal.2
Most airlines have developed policies and procedures to prevent such incidents. However, many animal incidents are caused by pets not being prepared for air travel, being in crates not meant for cargo transport, and not being medically fit for air travel.
Currently, pet travel education is inadequate. Much of the following information covers the needs of transporting pets, such as making reservations/bookings for air travel, obtaining a pet health certification, and getting an appropriate travel crate. However, limited resources are available to provide adequate information to properly educate owners on preparing their pets for air travel. As a result, pets may be treated as an accessory or an afterthought, and their safety is unknowingly jeopardized.
I am accustomed to seeing animals transported via cargo up close because of my experience in the airline industry. I have seen evidence of the lack of preparation, such as pets trying to escape their crates, owners attempting to transport their beloved companions in travel crates that do not provide adequate protection, and requests to ship animals in crates that are too small. I have also seen considerable images, reels, and videos on social media of pets during air travel that convey inaccurate information regarding the requirements for pets traveling by air.
Over the past several years, my mission has been to improve the travel experience for pets and the owners who love them. I have sought to bring my veterinary and public health perspective to these challenging issues.
The greatest misconception about pet travel is that obtaining a domestic health certificate (HC) or an international HC (IHC) means an animal is healthy and medically fit for air travel. A thorough examination, review of medical records, and additional diagnostic tests are needed to determine whether a pet is medically fit for air travel. If a pet has a preexisting medical condition, such as cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, anxiety, or pregnancy, air travel may not be in the animal’s best interest. Pet owners must know about their animals’ medical conditions and whether air travel could negatively impact their health. There is value in clients having a very guided discussion on this matter with their veterinarian.
Pet crates have multiple uses, including training purposes (potty training or behavior control), traveling via car (veterinary visits), and traveling via air. Additionally, many different crate designs are available, such as wire, plastic, soft-sided, and heavy-duty crates.
Based on the uses and types of crates available, it should not be assumed that one crate fits all, even though this is a common misconception. Without thought and effort by pet owners, the crate used for potty training their puppy is often used years later to transport the now-adult dog via cargo. The crate that was large enough when the dog was a puppy is now too small. T he pet owner is often unaware of the crate size requirements or that the crate lacks safety features for transporting pets via cargo. Some pet owners also use a crate for air travel that is easy to assemble and has double doors, typically used to transport a cat to veterinary visits. However, pet travel crates used for transport via cargo should not be easy to assemble nor have double doors.
Additionally, most pet travel crates on the commercial market are falsely advertised as “airline-approved/compliant.” This stems from crate manufacturers’ and suppliers’ lack of awareness of the requirements that most commercial airlines follow in transporting animals via cargo. Most airlines—and many European countries—comply with the International Air Transport Association Live Animals Regulations (IATA LAR) and will prohibit animals from being transported in many of these so-called “airline-approved/ compliant” travel crates.
IATA LAR provides safety and animal welfare guidelines for transporting live animals via air. This includes crate specifications, such as construction, ventilation, and size, to provide adequate protection and comfort during transport. Pets traveling via cargo must be transported in an appropriately sized crate that complies with the current edition of IATA LAR Container Requirement #1.3 For example, it is required that each animal in the crate has enough space to stand, sit erect, lie in a natural position, and turn around normally while standing.3 An actual “airline-approved/compliant” crate must be modified to meet the requirements of the IATA LAR Container Requirement #1.
Veterinarians can recommend strategies to reduce travel-related stress for pets, such as crate acclimation and using calming supplements or medications when and where appropriate, based on a review of all pet history, physical examination, and detailed discussions with owners. Pets ought to be acclimated to confinement in their crate well before travel. They should be encouraged to spend increasing amounts of time in their crate, be provided positive reinforcement when they do so, and take short trips while crated to simulate the travel experience. Be aware: It can take weeks to months for a pet to acclimate. Some pets may require significant time to acclimate, whereas others may never do so. For guidance, review the YouTube video “How to Acclimate Your Pet to a Crate for Travel.”4
While completing the HC/IHC, discussing strategies for reducing stress during travel is advisable. Most pet owners request the use of mild sedatives or antianxiety medication; however, alternatives should be considered, such as calming supplements (eg, pheromones, cannabidiol). Remember, the American Veterinary Medical Association does not recommend using sedatives during air travel.5 Also, airlines will prohibit sedated pets from being transported via cargo.
The right anxiolytic strategy is often developed through trial, documentation, and further client follow-ups with the veterinarian. Some pet-motion capture devices and video or photo feedback may be useful in understanding the true benefit of a particular strategy.
Your anxiolytic strategy may often be started hours before leaving home for the airport. Pets should be fed a small meal at least 4 hours before leaving home, and they should be exercised and have a potty break prior to arrival at the airline’s cargo facility. Why? A tired pet will relax and rest during air travel.
Pet owners tend to believe an HC and IHC are simple and easy to obtain from their veterinarian. However, these are official documents certifying that a pet has met the requirements of the destination. Some destinations require months of planning, testing, and documentation.
Ideally, when a pet owner decides to travel with their pets to a destination, they must immediately inform their veterinarian. If requirements are not met, the pet can be denied entry. A great place to research the requirements and for veterinarians to point owners to is the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website.6 Also, in the current edition of Ettinger’s Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, a chapter is devoted to international pet travel.7
Lastly, compliance with airline pet travel policies is mandatory. Noncompliance can lead to pets being denied transport via cargo. These policies can be more stringent than federal, state, and international regulations, and they are in place for the safety and welfare of pets. Some policies include temperature limits for transport, embargoed or restricted dog/cat breeds, no sedation, etc. Unfortunately, the policies can vary by airline. Therefore, it is recommended that pet owners contact their airline of choice to determine accurate pet travel policies.
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