How Do Dogs React to Airplane Rides?

Travel is done for vacationing, moving or even simply going on a visit to see others. For some, traveling with pets is part of the adventure, and a responsibility that comes along with pet ownership. If you take your dog with you on a trip and air travel is necessary, you should know the potential impact the flight will have on your dog. Knowing what to expect is one way to help you determine whether your dog will join you on your next trip.

  1. Confinement

    • Dogs are confined to a small area while flying, which can be a challenge to larger or more active breeds. If a dog is flying in the passenger area of a plane, it will be required to stay in one spot for the duration of the flight. If a dog is flying in the cargo area of the plane, it will be confined to a kennel. The additional challenge for flying a dog in the cargo area is that the dog enters the kennels well before the plane departs and will remain in the kennel until returned to the owner or handler after landing.

    Heat

    • Dogs flying in the cargo area of the plane will be subjected to higher temperatures than those inside the body of the plane. In the cargo area, the space is not air conditioned. This requires careful planning when flying a dog with heat sensitivities. Opting for early morning or late night flights can help ensure the cargo area is cooler than it would be in the middle of the day when temperatures are at their highest. You may also consider the converse, which is cold conditions during winter months. This temperature issue could impact dogs with arthritis, where extreme temperatures cause physical aches and pains. The other issue affecting dogs is changes in altitude and pressure. These pressurization fluctuations can be an issue in dogs with joint or ear problems, the same way air pressure changes can impact human comfort while flying.

    Separation Anxiety

    • Dogs can experience separation anxiety when flying, especially when the dog is taken from the owner early in the check in process. Typically a dog in a kennel is given to airline personnel at the ticketing counter, when the passenger checks in for the flight. This can occur anywhere from one to two hours before the flight departs. Add this time to the flight time, and the dog will be away from its owner for an extended period of time. Dogs uncomfortable in unfamiliar places could be scared or cry out for attention throughout the process. You can help combat this by making sure you are immediately available when your dog is returned to you at your final destination.

    Sedation Effects

    • Sedating a dog for a long flight is a practice done by using medications to help subdue and calm the animal. The dog's primary care veterinarian is involved in the process and assigns the correct sedation medication based on the dog's size and weight. Though the medication will help the dog rest easier throughout the flight, lingering effects of the medication may make the dog sleepy and lethargic after you retrieve the dog once the flight is over. This can also occur when a dog flies in the passenger area with you, if the animal is given a sedative.