Taking your senior pet along when you fly can be stressful, requiring careful planning and preparation. Follow these tips to ensure their trip is safe and stress-free.

#1: Take your senior pet for a veterinary wellness check

Depending on your destination, you may need a veterinary health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian within 10 days of your scheduled flight. A veterinary professional should check your senior pet before boarding a plane. In addition to a thorough physical examination, your veterinarian may recommend screening bloodwork and an electrocardiogram before giving them the OK to fly. Ensure your senior pet is current on all vaccinations, and take a copy of these records when you travel. Microchipping your pet is recommended to ensure you are reunited in case you and your pet are separated. Register the microchip after implantation, and keep your identification information accurate and current. Suppose you are concerned about your senior pet’s stress level. In that case, you can ask your veterinarian about a sedative or anti-anxiety medication, but in general, medicating your senior pet before flying is contraindicated because the effects can be unpredictable and may cause respiratory or heart issues.

#2: Avoid transporting your senior pet in the cargo section

Pets small enough to ride under your seat in a carrier can travel in the cabin, but larger pets will likely be relegated to the cargo section. This is inadvisable because temperature changes in the cargo section are unpredictable, and no one will monitor your senior pet during the flight. Heat stroke, injuries during turbulence, and escapes from broken crates may occur, and senior pets are more prone to issues like heatstroke. They may arrive unscathed but will still be highly traumatized. If transporting your senior pet in the cargo section is unavoidable, book a direct flight so your pet is less likely to be left on the tarmac during extreme weather or mishandled by baggage personnel during a layover. Purchase a USDA-approved shipping crate and place a “Live Animal” label on the crate. Also, ensure your contact information and a recent photo of your senior pet are on the crate.

#3: Choose an appropriate carrier for your senior pet

Check ahead on the airline’s restrictions on carrier sizes and weights. Some airlines limit the carrier size, while others specify a total weight limit for the dog and their carrier. Your senior dog should be able to sit, stand, and lie down in the carrier. If possible, take your senior pet when you shop for a carrier so they can test the merchandise, and you find their best fit. Once you’ve found the perfect carrier, start training your senior pet before the scheduled flight to ensure the space is familiar and comfortable. Place your recently worn clothing in the carrier, and provide favorite toys and treats so your senior pet finds the carrier a welcome place. Gradually increase the time your senior pet stays in the carrier from about five minutes to the flight’s predicted time.

#4: Help your senior dog sleep through the flight

Booking a late or overnight flight to coincide with your senior pet’s regular sleep schedule will help them sleep through the ordeal. Exercise your senior pet before heading to the airport. Excessive exercise is contraindicated, but an extra 15 minutes on their regular walk or fetch game can help tire them out before the flight. Once you arrive at the airport, let them explore and walk around until your boarding time is called, and board the plane as late as possible. 

#5: Be prepared to clean up after your senior pet

Your senior pet may need help refraining from doing its business on a long flight. Place a puppy pad inside the carrier to prevent unfortunate puddles, and take plastic bags for easy cleanup. Hand wipes or hand sanitizer are an excellent way to disinfect your hands after cleaning up. Never punish your senior pet for relieving themselves on a flight. Their advanced age and the stress from the flight contribute to their inability to wait, and scolding them will only add to their anxiety.