Air travel can be nerve-racking for animals. “If we think we’re stressed flying, think about how stressed they are,” said Thompson, noting that pets are exposed to noise and unfamiliar surroundings.
Kelly said he tried to tire Miles out at the dog park before getting to the airport “so he was kind of spent and ready to nap anyway.” Kopczynski, for her part, always gives dogs pep talks before the flying.
Though you may want to load them with treats, Smith advised against feeding your pet within four to six hours of the trip (you should still give them water).
Consider finding a quiet part of the airport to hang out in before the flight. “Try not to go into the middle of the food court with your pet when it’s anxious and people are all around,” Kratt said. He also recommended limiting the number of people that come up to pet the animal and “get in their face and get in their space and everything.”
Smith added that anxiety wraps such as ThunderShirts can be helpful, but only for pets traveling in the cabin, as airlines will not allow animals to wear any type of apparel in the cargo hold.
If your pet is highly anxious, she said, you can ask your vet about a mild sedative. She noted that many airlines will not take a sedated pet, particularly in the cargo hold.
Kratt said he advised against that, as there are too many unknowns and potential risks. “They’ve not been tested under those situations,” he said. “They’ve been tested under fairly strict rules of how these drugs work.” Using them in travel scenarios with different stressors, temperature extremes and other factors, “we don’t know how the metabolism’s going to affect those drugs,” he said.
On the plane, pets must remain in the carrier. But if they’re getting anxious, Kopczynski said, owners can reach inside to comfort them, as she once did the entire way from Seattle to Boston with a restless Japanese Chin. “The dog was whining the whole time, but it would stop every time I put my hand in the carrier and gave it attention,” she said.
You can also help your pet by taking steps to lower your own stress levels. “I always tell people that if they’re already wound tight or anxious, the pets pick up on that, too,” Kratt said.
