Going to the sea and regret that your pet cannot go chasing seagulls with you on the sunny coast? Take it with you! All you need is to prepare for the trip a little more seriously. This will help you with the instruction drawn up together with a veterinarian, candidate of veterinary sciences, manager for scientific projects of Royal Canin Sergey Perevozchikov.
Council number 1. Start your travel arrangements at least a month and a half in advance
Here's your to-do list: contact the consulate of the destination country, the airline, the hotel, and the veterinary office.
First and foremost, check the rules for importing animals into the country of destination, and best of all, directly at the consular department. Some states impose strict restrictions on the import of animals and birds. For example, you cannot directly import a pet from Russia to Australia. In the UK, he will have to go through a long quarantine. And in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden and some other European countries do not let fighting dogs (mastiffs, shepherds, bull terriers and others). If you are flying in transit, be sure to mention this in a conversation with a consular officer.
Next, decide on the airline. Each of them is guided by its own rules of air transportation, the nuances can be very different. Most allow cats or small dogs to be taken to the salon if the weight with the carrier does not exceed 5-8 kg. But some determine animals strictly in the luggage compartment (this is done, in particular, by British Airways and Emirates), while others generally prohibit their transportation (for example, EasyJet and Ryanair), with the exception of guide dogs. When the flight includes difficult connections and different airlines, the conditions must be checked with each of them. You will have to receive confirmation of the application from the carrier in advance (no later than 36 hours before the departure of the flight) for traveling with an animal. It is best to do this when booking your own ticket. Most likely, you will have to pay an additional 20 to 250 euros for the service - this fee is usually collected at the airport at check-in.
The next moment is the choice of the hotel. Not all of them allow guests to check in with pets. Check this point with the tour operator, and if you book a hotel or apartment yourself, look for the mark “pet friendly”. For complete confidence, exchange emails with the host - and once again make sure that you and your dog or cat are welcomed.
If everything is in order, you can start collecting the package of documents. For international transportation, you will need to provide a veterinary passport with a mark on the electronic chipping of the animal. In addition, the state veterinary service must issue you a veterinary certificate confirming the examination of the animal and the availability of the necessary vaccinations (primarily against rabies). Recall that the animal must be vaccinated annually and no later than 30 days before the visit to the doctor. The certificate is valid for five days. When traveling to some EU countries - Ireland, Great Britain, Sweden and others - you will also need a document on conducting research in an accredited laboratory for the presence of antibodies in the animal's body to the pathogen of rabies (antibody titer). When importing dogs in some countries, you will also be asked for a certificate stating that the animal does not represent breeding value. A complete list of documents must be provided to you at the consulate of the country where you are going.
Council number 2. Buy in addition everything you need: a carrier, a collar, medications
Carefully read the airline's requirements for the container in which you can carry your pet. Usually cats and dogs are allowed into the salon in a soft cloth carrier with a tight bottom. But in the luggage compartment, the animal can only travel in a plastic container with a secure lock (often double: top and bottom). The bottom of the carrier should be lined with a moisture-retaining mat and secured securely. Bring water, food and toilet supplies - you won't need them on the way, but when you arrive, you will hardly have the time and energy to search for the nearest pet store. Do not forget the muzzle and collar, collect a veterinary first aid kit.
Expert commentary.
Sergey Perevozchikov, veterinarian, candidate of veterinary sciences, manager of scientific projects at Royal Canin:
“Take measures so that the animal is not lost either during transportation, or at the airport or on vacation. The dog (and the cat, if it reacts normally to the collar) should have a soft, but securely fastened collar that the pet will not be able to remove. Place your phone tag on the collar. If the pet is traveling in the hold, attach a sticker to the container with your contact details and the pet's name. In the language of the country of transit, also write a request to check for water in a bowl or drinker, as well as a few transliterated words that will help calm your dog in an unfamiliar place. If the flight is long, with transfers, and a puppy or kitten is traveling, the airport staff can give him food, which you attach and fix on the container with a corresponding request. It is better to use wet food familiar to the animal for this."
Council number 3. Prepare your animal for the road ahead
Take a few weeks to get your pet used to a carrier or container. Do a few test rides in your car while keeping your furry friend in the container. Place the container at home and reward it with a treat when it comes in on its own. Before the flight, the cat should trim its nails. Be sure to play active games with your pet a few hours before the flight: if he gets tired, he will behave more calmly during the trip.
Expert comment:
“What can be done to relieve anxiety in an animal? I do not recommend the use of pharmacological agents: in case of pressure drops and in a stressful situation, their action is unpredictable. You should have a first aid kit close at hand, but use it only as a last resort. It is best to place your dog's favorite toy or item saturated with a familiar scent in the container. Cats, not used to noisy crowded places, tend to experience more stress on flights than dogs. But if you introduce a cat to such situations in advance (on trips to the vet, walks around the yard, trips to the store), she will know that sooner or later she will be safe with her beloved owner."
Attention! Some animals experience the effects of stress quite strongly. A special place is occupied by breeds of the brachiocephalic type: among dogs, these are pugs, Pekingese, Bulldogs, among cats - Persians, British. In them, the flight can cause breathing difficulties and lead, in extreme cases, to the death of the animal. A number of airlines, for humanitarian reasons, refuse to transport animals with a flattened skull. Check the rules with the carrier!
Tip # 4: Do not feed or water the animal on the way
Give the animal a moderate amount of food no later than 4 hours before departure. Pay attention to the food: it must be habitual, of high quality, well digestible, so as not to cause digestive disorders. Be sure to walk your dog before traveling. If you are flying with your cat, remembering the last time it went to the litter box will help you assess the stress level upon arrival. At the airport and during the flight, do not feed your dog or cat (including treats) to avoid bouts of vomiting and suffocation. An adult animal can easily endure a day without food and water. Puppies of large breeds and kittens will easily endure the journey up to 12 hours.
Tip # 5: Arrive at the airport early
At Russian airports, it is recommended that you bring your pet at least three hours before the start of the flight. It's better to really set aside some time in order not to worry about possible queues. Please note that first you will have to go through the initial screening at the entrance to the airport - you will be asked to open the cage and go with the pet through the metal detector frame. Then an employee at the veterinary control point will check the documents and put a stamp on them allowing departure. With this mark, you will go to check in for the flight and pay for the pet's carriage. Only then, if necessary, check it in your luggage. By the way, keep all documents - the veterinary certificate and the animal's passport - for the return unhindered entry into Russia. You don't need any additional papers. Bon voyage and wonderful rest for you and your animal!
