ARKLE Veterinary Care / Traveling with your pet

TRAVEL for your PET

We love our furry friends. Sometimes we need to travel to distant places and we want our pets to accompany us. Or we need to send our pet to someone else in another state, maybe even another country. There are rules and limitations on how, when and in what way our pet can safely travel.

If your pet is going to fly, they will need a USDA health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian. While the certificates are usually good for 30 days, most airlines will insist on them being no more than 10 days old. This certificate, which the veterinarian will sign after completing a physical examination of your pet and verifying their vaccinations, is to protect your pet and other animals. If your pet has a contagious disease, other animals could become infected. Your pet will have lowered resistance to the stress of travel if they are sick.
Your pet will have to be in a carrier for the trip. If they aren't used to being in one, start TODAY getting them used to one. If you aren't sure how to do this, ask your veterinarian. Travel is scarey for your pet. At least they can feel calm and safe in a familiar place if they are used to sometimes being in a carrier at home. We do NOT recommend tranquilizers for pets flying as it may have bad effects on their blood pressure, ability to regulate body temperature and may only immobilize the pet rather than actually calm them down.

Important things to do if you are going to have your pet travel by air:

1) Have a copy of their most current rabies vaccination (and all other wellness treatments, current registration of microchip number, medications, any specific health needs and a recent photo of pet)
2) Have a complete name and address, including telephone number for the pet's destination.
3) Contact the airline and arrange your pet's travel ticket. Find out what that airline requires for your pet to fly.
4) Contact your veterinarian's office and make sure they can examine and issue your pet's health certificate.
5) If your pet is traveling out of the country, contact the consulate for their destination country for specific requirements. Some countries may take months of preparation to avoid lengthy (and expensive) isolation.

Here is an important paragraph that defines the conditions in which your pet should be handled by the airlines:

"This animal must be maintained within a range of ambient temperatures to which it has been acclimated, as determined in consultation with the owner or authorized agent to be no lower than 45° F and no higher than 85° F. This animal may be able to tolerate brief periods outside of this range while being transported to or from the aircraft. The animal must be provided adequate shelter, protection from the cold and heat, and be protected from the direct rays of the sun and from the direct effect of wind, rain, or snow."

Traveling/shipping your pet is stressful. And potentially dangerous if your pet is not confined and handled safely throughout the entire trip. Planning ahead will makethe trip much more pleasant and safer for both you and your pet.

According to the Animal Welfare Act, there are specific temperature guidelines to which airlines must adhere.
Ambient temperatures in holding areas for cats and dogs must not fall below 45° F or above 85° F for more than a brief time.
Dogs and cats must not be exposed to temperatures below 45° F for more than 45 minutes when being moved to or from holding areas.
Animals transported in a carry-on are not protected under the Animal Welfare Act, so it is up to the person carrying them to see that they do not become too cold or overheated.