Recommendations for Flying your Pets
Teach your pet how to crate train:
Flights are normally long hours and your pet may become stressed during those hours. Teaching your pet how to be comfortable in a crate will help decrease the chances of them becoming stressed and prevent injuries to themselves. Let your pet spend around 30-60minutes every day in the crate, providing positive reinforcement whilst your pet is in their.
Positive reinforcement ideas are, leaving your pet with treats, bones, kongs filled with tasty food, you can also sit with your pet reassruing them they are good and giving treats at the same time.
Prepare your pet’s crate for travel:
• Create a check list of what is required to prepare your pet for air travel.
• Make the crate sound proof: lining the walls of the crate will help to muffle out unexpected and unusual noises.
• Ensure your pet travels with their favorite blanket or plush toy, provided they are known not to chew it up!
• Have a small piece of material with your smell on it: this can be reassuring to your pet.
• Use appeasing pheromones tailored for your pet: they are artificial pheromones available for cats and dogs. This will ensure the stress levels do not escalate too quickly. For more information, ask one of our health care team members.
Preparing your pet on the day
It is important to be as calm as possible when organizing your travel that morning, as your pets are in-tune with your emotions, body language and the changes of routine.
• Try to remain calm.
• Do not fuss or panic over your pet: this will ensure your pet does not anticipate and create mixed emotions.
• Remain calm when crating your pet: if you are panicked or stressed, your pet is less likely to co-operate.
Does your pet require sedatives?
If there is a concern your pet will not travel well, and is highly suspected they will cause themselves bodily or mental harm, a veterinarian will be able to prescribe sedatives for your pet, but the following conditions apply;
• Your pet must have a consultation with a veterinarian, in advance, to ensure your pet is healthy and a trial of the sedation may be required, before your pet travels, to ensure there are no side effects. Some dogs actually become more stressed and anxious once sedated.
For more information, please contact the clinic on 07 3808 1085.
