The use of
sedatives at
high altitudes
could increase
the risk of heart
and respiratory
problems and
is wholly not
advised.
among owners is that their pets will
freeze on the flight. Luckily, this is
one thing you
don’t
need to worry
about: pets are kept in a separate
compartment from your baggage, in a
pressurised area that remains between
18 and 22°C throughout the flight.
Additionally, Eric Lau, the
manager of Pet Movers Hong Kong,
which started in 1999 and now has
offices throughout Asia Pacific and
partners around the globe, says that
many owners ask if their pet can
be tranquilised for travel, fearing
the psychological impact the long
journey may have. However, this is
actually incredibly dangerous: “The
use of sedatives at high altitudes
could increase the risk of heart and
respiratory problems and is wholly
not advised.”
More important is to make the
journey as comfortable for your pet
as possible. Since your pet will be
travelling in a crate (size restrictions
vary among airlines and animals), it is
best to ensure they are familiar with
this sooner rather than later. Susan
Mertens introduced the crate to her
pet a week before flying, allowing her
dog to sleep inside and think of it as
a “safe spot”. Jamie advises you line
the crate with puppy pads to absorb
any accidents your pet has on-board
and stop it from soaking into your
pet’s fur. Pheromone sprays, such as
Feliway for cats and Adaptil or DAP
collars and sprays for dogs, can help
calm their stress levels for the flight.
She also recommends purchasing
a “good, strong, airline-approved
crate. You get what you pay for and
this is not an area where you should
be trying to spend less, as your pet’s
safety and comfort should be most
important!”
Furthermore, George Yung
suggests putting a towel or t-shirt
with your scent into the crate to make
your pet feel more at ease, whilst Eric
also recommends including your
pet’s favourite blanket to ensure the
environment isn’t totally unfamiliar.
Be wary of including chew toys,
however, which your pet could choke
on while unsupervised.
While pet relocation requires
some effort, with forward planning
and the help of an experienced travel
company, there’s no reason why your
critter can’t enjoy a new life elsewhere
with you. After all, as Susan says, “It
was totally worth it.”
May 2014
83
