Sedation for Flying

Pets can travel one of three ways on a plane with the owner. They can go as cargo, meaning they are on a different flight from the owner. They can go as checked baggage. Or if they are small enough they can ride in the cabin with the owner. The first two methods mean that the pet is in cargo in the belly of the plane. It's pressurized, but not temperature controlled.

I routinely have people ask if they can sedate the pet for flying. If the pet is flying in cargo - the answer is NO. The American Veterinary Medical Association even put out a position statement that says not to do it. In the belly of the plane with no heat, a sedated animal can't be monitored and is at great risk for hypothermia. Truth be told, most of these guys settle down and sleep when they are flying because it is loud and dark.

For pets riding up in the cabin, a sedative MAY be appropriate. Most importantly, we need to know if the prescribed sedative actually sedates the pet or if they get an idiosyncratic reaction where they actually get hyperactive.

I'm reminded of my daughters. When we flew with them the first time they were something like 8 months old. We gave them Benadryl. We figured that a little over-the-counter chemical restraint wouldn't be all bad :) One daughter passed out and slept the entire flight. The other one went CRAZY. Screaming, upset, crying, flopping about like a fish outta water. I spent most of the flight in the tiny airplane bathroom trying to calm her down. After 2 hours the flight attendant came and knocked on the door to say they needed me to go back to my seat. Luckily, by then she had calmed down and did not scream the rest of the flight.

Here's the point- don't give a medication for the first time right before you take off. You may end up spending two hours in the bathroom with a freaked out dog.

I'm a fan of using the Valium-type drugs in dogs. Better for sedation and anxiety. Many folks try acepromazine (Ace) and like it. Ace makes a dog drunk, but if they are anxious enough, they're just a stressed out drunk. Remember, this recommendation only counts for a small dog riding in the cabin with the owner.

In cats, the Valium type drugs can be problematic, ESPECIALLY when given orally. Ace can knock them on their tush and can be too much. There aren't as many good options for cats. I like using Feliway. It's a pheromone spray that stimulates the brain to calm down. Pretty cool. Google it and you'll find information on it. There is a similar product for dogs called DAP. These products don't work for all dogs and cats, but work very well in some.

Ask your veterinarian before you give your pets anything, though. Every pet is a bit different and what I may recommend for one, I might not for the next.

These recommendations also apply to travel by car. I'll even sedate a big dog in the car if necessary because you can watch them closely.

AMH