Safe air travel for pets
A recent report showed that in a 6 month period for all U.S. air carriers of pets, there were 19 reported deaths, 6 injuries, and 6 pets lost. In most cases, the owner could have prevented the loss or death of their pet. The 3 most common errors were: 1) Opening the kennel at the airport for “one last hug” and allowing pet to escape. 2) Using a low quality portable kennel that failed and came open. 3) Insufficient portable kennel training in advance to reduce fear, especially in dogs suffering from separation anxiety. Preparing your pet for travel prior to departure by focusing on positive kennel training and incorporating short car trips inside a portable kennel for a few days can be very helpful. The use of sedatives are not typically recommended and can even make matters worse however an antihistamine can be a safer more effective alternative. Please be sure to check with the particular airline that you will be using for all guidelines and restrictions prior to arriving at the airport. Safe Travels!