Flying with Your Pet

 

If you are considering flying with your pet, we want to help. Unfortunately, this process can sometimes be very difficult. The airline does not always give you all the information you need ahead of time and then they might surprise you with unexpected requirements once you arrive and are ready to leave, and then it is too late to prepare.  If you would like to avoid unnecessary delays and frustrations on the day of travel, we are here to assist you. Please note that, while this web page lists all airlines that fly into and out of Sea-Tac airport and these are good suggestions for wherever you are flying, international travel and travel to Hawaii have further requirements. At Broadway Veterinary Hospital, we only issue international health certificates to our current clients.


Travel to Another State


When traveling with your pet, it is important to remember that you are actually importing your pet to another state. The most important thing is that you must meet the requirements of the state you are flying in to. Only a United States Federally Accredited Veterinarian may sign a health certificate.  For example, if you are traveling to Texas, your pet must have a Rabies vaccination within the past 12 months, even though in Washington State the very same vaccination may be licensed for 3 years for dogs.

 

The Airline

 

You are responsible to contact the airline and comply with any regulations they may have regarding pet travel. The only people that can give you correct timely information on flying with your pet are the employees of actual airline carrier you will be using. See below for links to airlines' web pages where you can find their contact information.  Do not depend on the information that you find on the internet, nor on information from your friends or coworkers.

It is best to speak to an actual person and make notes of their name, time and day of the phone call and exactly what they tell you in case there is a problem later. Ask all the questions you have written down. Comply with everything they tell you and bring everything they recommend with you to the airport. If you meet someone who comes up with something new and unexpected and will not let you on the plane, tell them you need to speak with their supervisor. Let them know who you talked with and their ID number and push your point. Know the rules and follow them.  Here is a perfect example of a woman who was able to get her pet on the plane only because she had a list of each person she had talked to and the information she was given, and because she remained adamant that her pet needed to be allowed on the plane. 

 

Question to Ask:

 

  1. Do they need a Certificate of Acclimation? If so, what exactly do they need it to say? Find out the exact time and temperature they need.
  2. Do they have weight limits for the pet and/or the carrier?
  3. What are their carrier size requirements?
  4. Do they require special stickers? Containers for food/water? Anything else?
  5. Do you need to bring food for your pet?
  6. Is this everything I need to know about flying with my pet?
     

Health Certificate Appointment at Broadway Veterinary Hospital

Please call to schedule an appointment for a health certificate. This will prompt our receptionists to help prepare you for what you will need to bring to this appointment. The Health Certificate is a legal State of Washington document and as such there are strict guidelines which your veterinarian must follow. The veterinarians do not have the authority to make exceptions to these rules. This is for your safety and the safety of those around you while traveling with your pet.

Please bring with you the exact address which you are leaving from and the exact address you are traveling to. They must be complete with street number, city and state. The doctor will not sign any health certificate with an incomplete address in either place on the certificate. You will need to provide proof that your pet is current on their Rabies vaccination. This means that you will need to provide the date the vaccine was given, the manufacturer name, serial number of the vaccine, type of vaccine (killed, modified live, etc.) and tag number if issued. This information is typically provided on the rabies certificate issued when the vaccine was given. If your pet is not current on their rabies vaccine or you cannot provide the required information, your pet will need be vaccinated against rabies in order to issue the health certificate. You will be charged the vaccine fee, along with the exam and health certificate fees. Remember that if you do not have everything required for travel the airline may refuse to allow your pet on the flight.


More Information

 

  • Short-nosed cats and dogs (Pit Bull Terrier, Pug, Shih Tzu, Bulldog, Boxer, etc.) are at greater risk when flying. Here is some advice from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) about flying with short-nosed dogs.

  • We do not recommend sedating your pet. The following is from the AVMA web site:

    It is recommended that you DO NOT give tranquilizers to your pet when traveling by air because it can increase the risk of heart and respiratory problems. Short-nosed dogs and cats sometimes have even more difficulty with travel.

    Airlines may require a signed statement that your pet has not been tranquilized prior to flying.

    According to Dr. Patricia Olsen with the American Humane Association, "An animal's natural ability to balance and maintain equilibrium is altered under sedation and when the kennel is moved, a sedated animal may not be able to brace and prevent injury."

  • The AVMA has good advice for traveling with pets that we highly recommend.

  • The Humane Society of the United States also provides Traveling Tips for Pets on Planes, Trains and Ships

  • What is the best airline for your pet? Petfinder.com has a list of the most Pet Friendly airlines, and Pet Flight tracks deaths/injuries.

 

Contact Information for the Airlines: