Is flying safe for my short-nosed Shih Tzu in the airplane cabin?

Talk to your vet about anxiety medication to calm them. This will control the vocal one so it will not be an issue. If the older shih Tzu has renal disease and having a shorter nose I would make that one that travels in your lap so the airline is not responsible for her at all and you can monitor her and make sure she get water as needed. You may have to take 2 trips, splitting them up to get everyone to your new home safely.

Flying can be very stressful, especially when flying with pets. Since Eva is so small she should be able to go in the cabin with you, under the seat. The cabin is pressurized and she will be with you. I always recommend putting a few of her favorite treats in a take off to help with the ear popping. Most of the time the animals fall asleep. More often then not we worry about this and they usually do fine. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and enjoy your trip!

Several different drugs are available for this purpose. The drugs I use the most often for this sort of situation include trazodone, alprazolam (Xanax), and acepromazine. The last of these drugs will not provide any relief for anxiety for Muttley, instead it will simply tranquilize him. The other two will have both sedative and anti-anxiety activity. Discuss the situation with your veterinarian and determine which option you believe will be best. Hope this works out. If your pup is going to be travelling in the cabin, for the sake of the other passengers the use of the tranquilizer may be the best option.

Most, if not all airlines, transport animals in a temperature controlled and pressurized cargo hold separate from the luggage compartment. Animals are typically last to be loaded and the first to be unloaded to minimize time in the hold. You may even request to watch your pet being loaded/unloaded. It is true some pets have died in transit but I do not have statistics. You would need to inquire with the specific airline. Being a Pug can make flight/travel a bit more risky, especially if Chief gets stressed easily. Many airlines allow pets in the cabin. You would need to call the airline you are flying well in advance to secure a spot and to pay any additional fees if necessary. Chief should have an exam with your veterinarian prior to travel. I suggest contacting the Australian embassy to confirm all his travel papers, microchipping and vaccines are in order to prevent him from being quarantined when you arrive at your destination.

The safety of flying with pets varies widely depending on an individual pet’s temperament, anxiety level and underlying health issues, as well as the duration of the flight and temperature both at the destination and departure location. Generally speaking, most pets do not make the best travel companions while flying, as they can become very anxious with the hustle and bustle of the terminal, loud noises on the airplane and handling during security checkpoints. Anxious pets are more likely to become destructive, vocal or have accidents. Larger pets need to travel in crates in the baggage compartment of the plane, where they are unsupervised and may be exposed to extreme temperatures for potentially prolonged periods of time while waiting to be loaded or unloaded from the plane. In addition, most airlines require a veterinarian to sign off on the health of the pet before they can fly in cargo. When possible, most pets will be more comfortable and safer if left at home with a trusted friend or pet sitter or may travel better by car. If you must travel with your pet, be sure to pack a travel water bowl, extra food, a leash, travel litter pan, supply of medication and bags for cleanup. Always discuss the safety of flying with your individual pet with your veterinarian.

The transport of animals on an airplane is subject to many different rules and regulations, and ultimately depends on the airline that you choose. Some airlines are more lenient than others. I would speak to the airline you would like to take and also to the TSA to find out any special regulations in terms of what will be needed for transport. In terms of your animal's health, depending on where you are traveling you will likely need a certificate of health stating that Chachi is in good health and free of any contagious diseases. Chinchillas are also very high stress animals in new situations. It would probably be beneficial to offer some sort of sedative during this type of journey in order to keep the anxiety level to a minimum. Speak to your veterinarian about this so that he can come up with an appropriate drug and dose. For very small animals, sometimes these drugs will have to be specially made at a compounding pharmacy.

I'm assuming that Lana is small enough to be flying in the cabin with you - if so, I would not expect her to have any trouble with the flight, even if she has a mild upper respiratory infection. You could try bringing her into the bathroom with you with the door closed while you take a hot shower prior to going to the airport, as the steam and humidity will often help to break up nasal congestion and temporarily relieve her symptoms. I would also suggest taking a washcloth with you on the plane so that you can clean away any discharge on her nose if needed, to make sure that she doesn't have any trouble breathing. Otherwise, as long as she's acting normal, she should be just fine :)