Helping My Animal

Posted on: 16 August 2018

If you're preparing for a flight and you'll be bringing your emotional support dog with you, it's crucial that you make preparations for your companion as well. You'll need to take steps to ensure that you avoid problems at the airport and on the plane. Traveling with your emotional support dog can be an enjoyable adventure, but you need to make sure you're prepared. Here are three important steps you'll need to take to make sure your travel plans go off without a hitch.

Start with a Thorough Physical

If you're going to be traveling with your emotional support dog, you'll need to start with a trip to a veterinary hospital like South Seattle Veterinary Hospital. Your dog will need a thorough physical before you take off on your vacation. This is particularly important if you'll be traveling out of the country. Most foreign countries require proof that your dog is healthy before you'll be allowed to bring it with you. If you don't have a certificate of health from the veterinarian, your dog may need to stay in quarantine for a few days, which won't be good for either of you. Be sure to obtain the certificate of health and a copy of your dog's shot records before you travel. If this is going to be your dogs first flight, it's a good idea to talk to your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication. That way, your dog will remain calm throughout the flight.

Contact Your Airline in Advance

If you'll be traveling with your emotional support dog, be sure to contact the airline prior to your flight. You'll need to verify their policy regarding emotional support dogs. All airlines allow emotional support dogs on their flights. However, some have size restrictions regarding the types of dogs they'll allow on their flights. If your dog is too big, you may need to place your dog in a crate for travel. To avoid complications, it's a good idea to check on travel restrictions prior to purchasing your airline tickets. You may need to choose another airline if your dog is a large breed.

Invest in a Travel Crate

If you're going to be traveling by airplane with your companion dog, it's a good idea to invest in a travel crate. You never know when you'll be asked to crate your dog, which can happen if the flight is overbooked, or if there are multiple people traveling with emotional support dogs. Having a travel crate with you, complete with food, water, and bedding, will ensure a safe travel time for your companion dog should it need to travel in the cargo hold.