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Altitude, motion sickness, cabin noise and anxiety are all pre-flight considerations when flying furry companions. Various products and simple preparation can help ensure an enjoyable trip.
most treasured investments. But the potential for dogs to become motion sick may increase in flight just as it does in people.
“If your dog gets motion sickness in the car, it is likely they will experi- ence it in flight as well. In an other- wise healthy dog, I would recommend withholding food (not water) for 10 hours before flying if they have the tendency to vomit. There is also a prescription medication that has a very strong anti-nausea effect and will prevent vomiting. I recommend discussion with a veterinarian to see if this would be a good option.”
A third identified factor in flight that pilots should bear in mind is cabin noise. There are several prod- ucts in the marketplace that can help dampen noise mid-flight.
“Mutt Muffs” from Sporty’s is a great option for ear protection. I also recommend equine ‘ear stuff- ies’ that you can buy from tack shops either in addition to or instead of the Mutt Muffs if your dog won’t tolerate them.”
If you have an anxious flyer on your hands, other products can help dogs enjoy flying more.
“There are many products avail- able to the general public that can potentially help your dog with anxi- ety, such as the Thundershirt (which applies calming pressure around the dog’s torso), the supplement Solliquin, or pheromone sprays and collars that work by mimicking natural phero- mones that a mother releases to relax her baby,” said Abugov. “Traveling with your dog’s favorite toys, beds or blankets will help them feel more at home during the flight.”
“While the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) dis- courages sedating pets for air travel, there are mild anti-anxiety medi- cations that you can discuss with your veterinarian on a case-by-case basis to take the edge off for extreme- ly anxious dogs.”
Scott Johnson, based at Laconia Municipal Airport (KLCI) in New Hampshire, is the owner of a 2020 Cirrus G2 Vision Jet, in which he has accumulated more than 700 hours. He, his wife, and 15-year-old daughter are often joined in flight by their nine-year-old Cattle Dog rescue, Lucy. The family has had Lucy for over eight years, and she has enjoyed a countless number of flights from her own designated area of the cabin. Being that there are more seats than family members in the aircraft, Scott has removed the rear seats.
“I always take out the last row of seats, which leaves a ton of space for storage. But we usually just put a pad back there...it’s gotten to the point where we get to the hangar and Lucy already knows what is going to happen. She just bounds right in and lays down on the little dog bed. And like most passengers, she’s asleep within 10 minutes of taking off. She doesn’t really meander around. She just lies there or sits up and looks out the oval window in the back.”
Johnson said he is fortunate to have a great dog, so he has little extra in terms of preflight considerations for Lucy. Whenever they must land for fuel or take a bathroom break,
September 2022 / TWIN & TURBINE • 5