<p>D2 is coming home next weekend for a long weekend and is bringing her newly adopted (about a month ago) two-year old chihuahua. None of us in our family have ever flown with a pet, and I’m guessing there are some helpful hints to keep in mind that the airlines may not tell you about. She is flying Southwest (about a two-hour flight) and has reserved a spot for her dog. She has the soft-sided carryon required by the airline, and even tried her dog out in when she did an outing with her a couple of weeks ago, so she could get used to it. Her vet has recommended Benadryl to sort of sedate her and I suggested she try out that dose of Benadryl this weekend or early next week so she can see how the dogs responds before they actually try to use it on the flight, and heaven forbid find out the dog has a negative reaction to it. She has thoroughly read through the airline’s web page regarding all the rules, etc., but I’m guessing there are helpful hints to know that may not be on that web page, and thought I would post her and see if anyone had anything to offer. </p>
<p>Oh, she’s also bringing the dog home at Thanksgiving and Christmas.</p>
<p>We flew three cats on Southwest when we moved. The vet gave them cat valium which seemed to work great. They were very calm. We also sprayed the inside of the carriers with some sort of pheromone which is supposed to be soothing. On one leg of the flight we sat in the back with a couple of other pets. I’m pretty sure one was a dog. No problems at all.</p>
<p>We did have to take the cats out of the carriers to go through security. But we had harnesses and leashes on them, and they were fine, mostly due to the cat valium, probably.</p>
<p>However, once we got to our new place and let them out of their carriers, they found a way to get into the basement ceiling and hid there for several days.</p>
<p>My D has flown with her cat, but the same thing happens in the car. Her cat will meow REPEATEDLY at the beginning of the trip (once it went on for two hours in the car!). If my D keeps talking to her, she keeps meowing. She has subsequently found that if she speaks to her softly and reassuringly for the first couple minutes, then stays within her sight but doesn’t say anything, the cat will calm down and stop meowing sooner. The more she thinks she can get a rise out of my D, the longer she will carry on.</p>
<p>My teen S brought home a stray dog he took off my brother’s hands that way this summer. I imagine since the dog hadn’t bonded to him yet, she was more excitable than she would be now. No drugs, didn’t think of that. She was fine on plane, but found the airports too stimulating, wanted to bark.</p>
<p>The rules are the dog has to stay under seat in crate during the flight, but S found that they didn’t enforce it. Dog slept on his lap the whole time.</p>
<p>Is dog house-trained? If not 100% reliable, have to think how to handle that. Maybe have some kind of disposable large pad spread in bottom of crate? I bet they sell something in pet shop. We didn’t think of that, kind of last minute decision and I wasn’t there. So the crate was pretty stinky when he got home. I wonder if his seatmates noticed.</p>
<p>Although not a dog owner, I notice people buying pet diapers at the pet store. I assume they’re for females in heat, but maybe such a product could be used for a traveling pet.</p>
<p>I brought a stray kitten home from college one year. I got a small carrier for the plane, a plastic deep suitcase, almost, with air slits. I still see a similar product sold online. </p>
<p>Muffin stayed inside the carrier on the seat next to me, though the carrier was probably small enough to go under the seat. This was 30 years ago, and airlines had a lot less restrictions then. The flight was about 90 minutes long, and he may have meowed a bit, but he was well behaved and did not need sedation.</p>
<p>Yes EK4, it’s a rescue. Its owner died and the surviving spouse could not care for her. She spent a week in a foster home before D rescued her, so I think that’s why she doesn’t want to leave her at home in doggy day care. D wants to minimize the separation trauma if possible by bringing the dog with her.</p>
<p>Id recommend starting a regular massage schedule, it will help her dog bond with her, and given 12 hrs before the expected stress, will help the dog to relax.</p>
<p>Ive been giving my recent rescue pup nightly massages as he has a hard time settling down for the evening.
( my kids had the same problem)</p>
<p>I flew Southwest with my puppy since I got him from Mass and I live in NJ. He was within their weight limit and I had him as my carry-on. I bought the bag that the airline sold since I knew I couldn’t go wrong with guessing the dimensions. He did really well considering he was only four months old. He had only traveled short distance ( to the vet ) before his big journey home, but he was so good…not a peep out of him at all. The flight was full and I sat in the middle seat and the two young women on either side of me had no idea I had a puppy ! Maybe she should try a crated car ride or two before she takes the flight</p>
<p>D brings her 4 yr old rescue, just at the weight limit, with her coast to coast a few times a year. She does get a sedative from the Vet. I actually taught the dog to get into the crate and turn around for a treat. We started by putting the bag on a stool (so off the ground) at dinner and let her stick her head out and watch us, then to get in and out, and then D walked with her in the bag. So far the only issue is that she does not always want to get back into the bag after security. She did escape once the plane! but was easily caught and there were no complaint. I cannot imagine her traveling without the meds though.</p>
<p>Yes, she’s done that over the last couple of weekends. I hope it helps, because I’d hate for her to deal with the issue of oregon101’s D of not wanting to get back in the bag after security.</p>
<p>The good news is that D’s roommate (who the dog has obviously gotten to know over the last month) is traveling with D. So D will have some emotional support with her if things become difficult. </p>
<p>I’m really trying to look at the situation from both perspectives, as the one traveling with the dog, and the one of being a passenger on that flight!</p>
<p>DD travels on SW all of the time with her rescue dog. He is older though. The first time she did use the benedril but now does not use it at all. He knows when that crate comes out they are going and he is going with her instead of staying home. She always has his favorite treat (roast chicken) with her and a small disposable cup for water is case it is a long time. He just curls up against her feet and no one knows he is there. It just anoys the heck out me that they charge an extra $75 each way when he takes the place of one of the carry ons and is no extra cost to them.</p>
<p>The fact that anybody can abuse the ADA and claim an animal is a support animal is anathama to those who who need trained support.<br>
And the fact that a dog or cat could have been on or under the seat of my highly allergic toddler with no disclosure by the airline has always bothered me. I recently flew next to someone who had been hired to fly a newly purchased puppy to the new owner. He pulled the crate out and played with the puppy during most of the flight. Puppy slobbered all over me and the armrest between our seats. Nobody noticed to mark those areas to be cleaned. I like dogs but not in a confined area for 90 minutes. If an airline allows animals in the cabin they need to stay in the crates!!!</p>
<p>Please reread, dragonmom. If the animal can LEGITIMATELY be deemed an emotional support animal. They have criteria. I linked the criteria. They follow, they do not abuse, the ADA. We are not talking about anyone abusing the system.</p>
<p>That said, I have wondered about the issue of pets with passengers who might have a severe allergy. Then again, they still serve peanuts on some flights, don’t they?</p>
<p>Actually, it’s not only the airlines, but pets are required to stay in their carriers throughout the entire airport (except for relief areas outside) except for when they go through security. That’s the only time they’re allowed out of their carriers. That the hired person you sat next to on that flight took the puppy out speaks more to the crew on that flight for not demanding the puppy go back in the carrier. But it’s a policy that airport security is the only place they’re allowed out of their crates. If anyone ever observes anything else, they should alert airport security or the plane’s crew.</p>
<p>Jym, since the original post didn’t mention a need, I thought folks might want a check if they didn’t actually read your link. I support real animal helpers… Big article in my hometown paper about this recently. You can evidently order a “service animal” vest online and take Fifi or Fido into restaurants and stores and they owners can’t question the animal’s presence.<br>
My oldest had huge reactions to any contact with pet fur or saliva during his early years. (following the now discounted advice to limit allergens during the early years). He had a near anaphalaxis reaction that we finally traced to contact with dog bedding.</p>
<p>Teriwit, but how do you demand that the puppy go back when everyone around you is gushing about how cute he is and you have no allergies yourself?</p>