What you need to know before flying with your pet

Last updated on 5th January, 2024 at 01:17 pm

If you’re emigrating or planning a long-stay national or international trip soon, you may be thinking about taking your fur baby with you. Before you do, take heed of these expert tips to ensure it’s the right thing for you and your pet, and that they are as happy and healthy a traveller as you are.

First: is this the best for your pet?

It’s time to weigh up the pros and cons of flying your pet over national or international borders, primarily for their welfare. Does your pet travel well? This is a key question Dr Kaylee Ferreira, a veterinarian at K Buntu Veterinary Services, says you should ask yourself before boarding your cat or dog on any plane. “Some animals can be extremely anxious, fearful and uncomfortable in new surroundings and busy ports, while others love the excitement and attention,” she says. “Spend time with your pet during short outings and gauge how well they cope with car travel. This helps to see how they will fare if they were to experience air travel.”

If your vision of your canine or feline travel companion involves them ensconced in the airplane seat next to you during flight, shift this thinking because the reality is that most pets embarking on air travel are treated as cargo, unless they’re a service dog, for example. This means they’re transported in an animal carrier that needs to meet certain criteria, and yes, are loaded into the cargo compartment of the plane. “There are guidelines for the type of transport carrier that you need to put your animal in,” says Maria Watkins, general manager at Tourvest Travel Services. “There are travel agents who deal with pet travel specifically, and they would be able to tell you the specificaions of the carrier you need for your particular pet.”

If you’ve decided to take your pet with you, Dr Ferreira suggests getting the carrier a good few weeks before the big move to give them time to adjust to it. “Take the time to make your pet feel safe in their carrier. Train them with treats weeks before you travel, and try to get them to sleep comfortably in the carrier,” she suggests.

To medicate or not

As a pet owner, you want to do everything you can to calm your fur baby’s nerves during what can be a rather unsettling and even traumatic experience for them. But you may hesitate about administering calming agents. Dr Ferreira says natural remedies can help, if you choose the right one, and help your pet get used to it far enough in advance. “CalmEze or other L-tryptophan-containing remedies – L-tryptophan is an amino acid that the body converts into serotonin – can be used several days before, as well as on the day of travel,” she says. She cautions against using scheduled medications such as acepromazine or benzodiazepines, which can cause sedation, decreased thermoregulation (the body’s ability to regulate its temperature) and mask critical signs for concern in port authorities.

CBD for your pet

It’s relatively new on the market, and it’s not just beneficial to humans. CBD, or cannabidiol, the compound found in cannabis plants that is used medicinally for pain relief and mild psycho-active benefits, can be given to your pet in oil form to help calm their nerves, too. “Be sure to start giving it to your pet a few days before travel so they are adjusted to it,” recommends Dr Ferreira.

Paperwork and vaccinations

As a responsible pet owner, you should already be keeping your furry friend up to date with their annual inoculations and health checks. Travel adds an entirely new layer to their health clearance requirements, as Watkins explains: “The key is to make sure that your pet is up to date with all their vaccinations, and then to ensure they also have the vaccinations that are specific to the country they are travelling to.” Your pet travel specialist can help here, too, by specifying which vaccinations are needed for your pet.

Is your pocket ready?

One of the greatest deciding factors for pet owners considering taking their beloved furry friend over with them to their destination or new home is the cost of the process. “It can cost more to move your animal than it does to move your family,” says Watkins. She notes that prices are specific to airlines and destinations (how far the animal is being transported). “We’ve seen quotes between R30 000 and R80 000 to move anything from a cat to a parrot to a dog, and obviously the costs of the quarantine.” Quarantine periods can also vary, with some countries allowing pet owners to check their pet is okay immediately once they’ve landed, and others requiring anything from one to three months’ quarantine. There are cost implications for that, too.

What about pet insurance?

David Roache, chief operating officer at Dotsure, says that accidental injuries that happen in transit are covered under this benefit, but treatment must be administered by a vet registered in South Africa. “Some complications could arise [if accidents happen] on outbound international flights,” he says. And his suggestions for preparation ahead of the trip? “There is no need to notify us unless something goes wrong. The most important thing to do is to ensure that all necessary safety protocols are being adhered to on the trip, and that you do what you can to reduce the stress that your pet experiences along the way.”