Page 6 - Sept22T

Flying with Fido
by Grant Boyd
According to the American Pet Products Association’s most recent tally, more than 62 million American families own a dog. Chances are many reading this article fall into that category and have at one point either flown your or your passengers’ dog(s) – or possibly even rescue pups en route to their “furever” homes. Let’s cover some tips and tricks to better the chances that flying with Fido is a fun affair for both you and your pet.
First and foremost, there are several key differentiating factors
4 • TWIN & TURBINE / September 2022
between transporting an animal in a car versus in a private aircraft. Of course, altitude is one of the most obvious ones. Dr. Michaella R. Abu- gov, DVM, private pilot and practicing veterinarian in the Greater Boston area, explains how altitude, rate of climb and related aspects affect dogs in flight.
“In pressurized cabins where hy- poxia is a non-issue, a smooth and stable departure with a low rate of climb is key to the comfort of your canine companion. A dog’s ears can pop just like ours as we climb through
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PILOTS TO THE RESCUE
flight levels. Giving your dog a high- value treat (I love filling a hollow rubber Kong toy with peanut butter for my dog) for departure can stimu- late chewing and licking that will release pressure behind their ears as well as help entertain them dur- ing the most potentially frightening phase of flight.”
Another factor that may impact some dogs is motion sickness. Cer- tainly, if you have an animal who turns green the second your car goes into first gear, you are unlikely to take them on a ride in one of your