What respiratory problems should you be aware of during air travels?
Relocate your pet to Dubai with a guided set of dos and don’ts.
This one is especially for first-time pet parents that are about to or amid relocating pets. Let us begin with the fact that we understand that you’re concerned about the well-being of your furry friends – it is perfectly normal to be apprehensive and sometimes even more-than-usually nervous about relocating your precious ones – but fret not – we’re here to address the most frequently asked questions that pet parents like yourself might have, with expert answers that pet relocators are prepared with.
Air travel can pose some risks to your pet’s breathing, especially if they have a pre-existing condition or allergy – but hold your paws and worry not – we are here to ensure you’re well-equipped and set to get on a happy journey. Here are some common respiratory problems that can affect your pet during a flight, however, there’s a solution for each. Read how.
The Brachycephalic Syndrome: Problematic for pets with short noses
Certain breeds, such as pugs, bulldogs, Persian cats, and Himalayan cats, may develop Brachycephalic syndrome, which causes narrowed airways and difficulty breathing. Air travel can exacerbate this condition because cabin pressure drops and oxygen levels decrease, leading to low oxygen in the blood, overheating, and respiratory distress. In severe cases, Brachycephalic pets can experience cardiac arrest or brain damage.
Word of advice: in such cases, discuss this condition with your pet’s vet or get an expert pet relocator with a global network to comprehensively assess your pet’s condition, safety, general temperament, and other conditions along with highly considering alternative modes of transportation that may be safer for your furry friend.
Hypoxia:
This occurs in the case of any pet type due to a reduction in oxygen supply at higher altitudes which can lead to breathing difficulties, rapid breathing, and sometimes even a collapse.
Words of advice: Of course, situations like these are not called for however to avoid this, it is essential to ensure that your pet is adequately hydrated before and during the flight. We also highly recommend giving them natural calming remedies to calm them down, such as chamomile or lavender essential oils and fragrances.
Stress-Induced Respiratory Issues:
Whether it’s their first time or not, the process of air travel can be quite stressful for pets, sometimes leading to increased respiratory rates, coughing, and wheezing.
Words of advice: We cannot stress the importance of crate training and positive association with the carrier enough. This is an absolute must-do which means, the happier associations your pet has in his/her crate, the lesser panic situations they are likely to occur during the flight. Familiarize your pet with the travel crate or carrier before the trip and give them plenty of exercise and playtime to burn off any excess energy.
Dehydration:
Sometimes, due to the low humidity levels in the cabin, pets might feel dehydrated, leading to respiratory problems. The symptoms they face include dry cough, panting, and difficulty in breathing.
Words of advice: Attach a water bowl to their crate to ensure that they are consistently hydrated for the duration of their flight. Furthermore, be sure to provide your pet with enough water prior to their flight too.
Kennel Cough:
Now this disease is a nasty one that can end up spreading due to its contagious nature. Kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection that affects dogs and sometimes cats. Air travel can increase the risk of exposure to other infected animals in the airport or on the plane.
Words of advice: Vaccinate your furry baby! Prior to your pet’s travels, make sure that your pet is up to date on their vaccinations and has received the kennel cough vaccine before travelling to dodge this disease should the undesired situation arise.
Allergic Reactions:
Some pets may be allergic to certain substances or environments they encounter on a flight, such as dust mites, pollen, mold spores, perfume, cleaning products, or insect bites. These unforeseen allergies end up rattling a pet’s immunity system due to their nature.
Words of advice: Use hypoallergenic bedding and wash your pet’s crate or carrier thoroughly before the trip. Talk to your veterinarian about an allergy medication that may be suitable for your pet should this arise and make sure you instruct your pet relocators or the airline staff about this as a precautionary measure.
Asthma:
Now, as we are all aware that asthma is a chronic condition that affects the lungs and causes difficulty breathing. For pets having this condition, air travel can aggravate any asthma symptoms they might have which could lead to inflammation and narrowing of the airways.
Words of advice: Talk to your veterinarian about asthma medication that may be suitable for your pet and consider alternative modes of transportation that may be safer for them.
Heartworm Disease:
This disease is essentially a parasite infection that can cause respiratory problems in the pet’s heart and lungs during air travel, as the worm can obstruct blood flow and reduce the oxygen supply to the lungs.
Words of advice: injections and medications. This is a hard mandate for a lot of breeds travelling to and from multiple destinations, so it is absolutely critical for you to ensure that your pet is up to date and is checked in on any underlying conditions that he/she might have along with having their heartworm medication accounted for.
Do not panic, with the right guidance and preparation, you can make air travel safe and comfortable for your furry baby.
Air travel can be a challenging experience for your furry baby, especially if they have an underlying health condition, respiratory concerns, or allergy. However, with this being said, pet parents, you need to set the panic button off and realise that all it takes is proper preparation and care, to make your move smooth, easy and comfortable.
Begin by consulting with your pet’s vet before booking any travels. Most importantly, choose reputable pet relocators that are experts in their domain, have a large global network with local partners, and will take care of everything your precious pet needs during the trip. Once you have experts on board, keep your pet (and yourself) hydrated, calm, and happy throughout the trip – a happy journey is about to begin!
We hope this article has been helpful for those parents who are relocating pets. Remember, your furball deserves the best care and attention from you, especially when travelling so don’t miss any steps out. If you need any further advice on pet relocation services in Dubai or pet relocations to Dubai, onboard an expert pet relocation partner to make your move easy. We wish you a happy adventure!