Hi in a couple of months I will be flying with my young dog from America to Germany - a 10 hour flight. Does anyone that have experience with this?Can you give me some tips to make the trip as comfortable as possible for the dog? Do you give it any medicine before? THANKS!!
2006-12-21 05:23:15 · 6 answers · asked by allou 2 in Travel ➔ Air Travel
I just wanted to say Thank you all so much for your very thorough answers!
2006-12-23 05:36:45 · update #1
First, check with the airline; there are lots of regulations about animals being transported on planes, both in-cabin and in the cargo hold. They will be able to help you with selecting the right carrying container to make sure there are no problems getting the dog on the plane in the first place.
Flying is usually pretty stressful for animals so talk to your vet about getting a sedative for the dog. You should also be prepared with a towel and baby wipes or similar as it's common for dogs to soil themselves in-flight and you will want to clean him up when you get to your destination, to make him as comfortable as possible until you can give him a proper bath.
Also check into the quarantine restrictions. The airline can probably help you with this, too. Most countries force incoming animals to stay in quarantine for anywhere from 7-31 days, to make sure they are not carrying any illnesses that could be spread once he's had a chance to mix with the population in the destination. Different countries have different rules about visiting the animals in quarantine and what you are allowed to leave with him.
In general, this is a pretty brutal experience for a pet, especially if there is a long quarantine period, so if there is any way you can avoid bringing the dog on your trip, please look into that. It's nice to have your pet with you while you are travelling but it might not be worth it, if your dog is going to be miserable on the plane and then locked into a quarantine for weeks!
2006-12-21 05:41:26 · answer #1 · answered by dcgirl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are flying to Germany, I'm guessing your are flying Lufthansa.
If your dog is under 18lbs and the carrier is 22x16x18 inches you can bring the dog on board as your carry on item, anything larger with go cargo up to 45kgs.
For carry on animal, the carrier can be a soft sided kennel, and the animal must stay in the kennel the entire flight.
For a check in animal, it must be able to lay down and turn around comfortably (check in will be looking for this) have ventilation on all 4 sides, no wheel, and must be solid and attach food and water.
Make sure you have a tattoo/microchip to enter the EU, also you need a health certificate from a vet and up to date vaccinations, check with the country you are entering.
2006-12-21 23:52:34 · answer #2 · answered by Ashleigh H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk with few travel agents and get an idea how you can research prior travel records for domestic animals in transit. My friend lost her dog on a short flight, California to Hawaii because the 'cargo' was not handled properly.
It's very sad to bring a loved one along and have to have them locked in a cage. Include some personal toys for your dog.
I suggest also talking to your vet and find out if they would perscribe some type of medication to make the flight more comfortable for your pet. Good Luck and don't forget to say prayers prior to leaving for your dog.
2006-12-21 13:33:16 · answer #3 · answered by hot single mom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the dog has never been in a crate or carrier before, you should start practicing. Get an airline approved crate or carrier to put him in, and start putting him in it and driving him around so he will get used to the idea of being inside of a crate. The crate should be large enough for him to be able to turn around inside. I would also recommend making sure he is properly hydrated before you get on the plane. A lot of times, if my dog gets nervous, she'll stop drinking water so try to get it to drink plenty of water before you board.
2006-12-21 13:40:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi A.J.
Your dog does not need any medicine.You need to be calm and relaxed.The dog will sense your feelings and knowing your happy in your new surroundings,will become as relaxed as you.
If you become stressed so will your dog.
So relax and i hope you both enjoy your flight.
Bevy
2006-12-21 13:57:24 · answer #5 · answered by BEV B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would ask your vet to see if there is medecine you can give him/her just for then to relax. I have taken my puppy but it was only a 6 hour flight. I would make sure to give him/her a toy.
2006-12-21 13:26:12 · answer #6 · answered by Venezuela 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋