Medication of dogs and cats for air transport

Purpose:

To assist veterinary practitioners to address requests from clients for sedation of pets prior to travel.

Policy

  1.  Veterinary guidance on the needs of animals should be sought by caregivers for any proposed air travel.
  2. Dogs and cats should not be sedated for air transport.
  3. Medication of dogs and cats for air transport for anti-emetic and/or anxiolytic effects may be desired or required.

Background

Veterinarians are often asked by pet owners to provide sedative, anti-emetic, and anxiolytic medication for air transport. There is a paucity of information on the experience of animals during air transport although it is reasonable to assume some will experience stress. One study in dogs indicated that air travel can increase physiological stress responses in Beagles, mainly during take-off (Bergeron et al, 2002). Sedation with acepromazine had no effect on either physiological or behavioural stress responses and sedation is not recommended by the IATA (International Air Transport Association) Live Animal Regulations 2022. Studies on the use of modern anxiolytics for pets travelling by air have not been published, so the AVA encourages further research on this topic.

Pets have traditionally been transported in the cargo hold of aircraft, however recent changes by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority will allow in-cabin transport of pets on some domestic routes within Australia. The changes in legislation apply to approved assistance dogs with measures to accommodate them uncrated, within the cabin. Airline carriers may also move to approve transportation of small pets within an approved carrier in their cabins; this is still subject to regulatory approval at the date of publishing this document.

Animals transported in the cabin may pose potential risks or nuisance to other passengers by way of allergies, fear of dogs, undesired vocalisation, inappropriate toileting behaviour or potentially other bodily discharges.

Sedation

Sedation has the potential to pose a variety of serious side effects which are difficult to manage and mitigate on flights. An animal’s natural ability to balance and maintain equilibrium is altered under sedation, so when a crate is moved the animal may not be able to brace itself and prevent injury. Cabins and cargo holds are typically pressurised at an altitude of 8,000 feet (Aerospace Medical Association et al, 2008). Cardiovascular and respiratory problems can be caused by increased altitude, and sedation can lower blood pressure and heart and respiratory rates, leading to cardiovascular and respiratory compromise and collapse. Sedation can also reduce an animal’s ability to thermoregulate. In addition, animals may be less likely to drink and be more prone to dehydration. If animals drink while sedated there is an increased risk of aspiration of water into the lungs with severe complications.

Sedation does not reduce the anxiety experienced by animals. The effects of sedation can be unpredictable in individual animals. Once sedation wears off, some animals can become more excitable.

When in the cargo hold, animals are inaccessible during a flight, so if complications from sedation arise no treatment is available. In the cabin, small pets are typically restricted to an approved crate that fits under the seat in front of the owner. Although monitoring in the cabin may be improved, options for treatment of complications, should they arise will likely be very limited and challenging, if feasible at all.

There are additional special concerns with the transport of brachycephalic dogs. The US Department of Transport has advised that half of all dogs that died during air transport from 2005 – 2010 were brachycephalic dogs. Many airlines around the world have now banned the transportation of brachycephalic breeds in the cargo hold, which AVA strongly supports. Sedation further increases the risks for brachycephalic dogs.

Nausea

Some pets suffer nausea due to travel and these pets may benefit from the pre-administration of appropriate anti-nausea medications at recommended dose rates. Brachycephalic dogs are at increased risk of regurgitation, vomiting, and aspiration, and can benefit from the administration of an anti-emetic medication.

Anxiety

Many cats and dogs experience anxiety during the travel process. This can be in part due to airline travel being a novel experience, being separated from their caregiver if the animal is in the cargo hold, and being unfamiliar with the motion, noises, smells, and pressure changes which occur during aircraft travel.

Different animals will experience these effects differently and the level of anxiety suffered will differ from patient to patient. Their behaviour should be monitored by caregivers, and their physical and emotional needs attended to during transport, where possible. Under IATA regulations, weaned puppies and kittens younger than 8 weeks must not be transported. AVA recommends that immature animals should preferably not be transported by air before 16 weeks of age and be fully weaned.

There are a number of safe and appropriate anxiolytic medications that do not cause sedation; the AVA recommends that clients consult their veterinarians on suitable methods for alleviating anxiety in their pets prior to travel.

Behavioural Management

Adequate obedience training, socialisation and crate training should all be undertaken to a satisfactory level to minimise stress experienced by the pet during travel. Veterinary behaviourists should be engaged in the behavioural management training prior to travel with enough time to allow the pet to adapt to the upcoming experience.

Guidelines

  1. Brachycephalic breeds should only be transported by air with caution. Transport in either the cabin or cargo hold poses health risks. Travel in the cabin may permit observation of health issues but may not allow appropriate intervention if respiratory distress does occur. Anti-emetic medication for these breeds is recommended and anxiolytic medication may be helpful. Gastroprotectants may also be helpful. Sedation is not recommended. Minimal scientific evidence supporting specific recommendations for animals travelling by air is available. Recommendations should always be given on a case-by-case basis.
  2. Animal caregivers should seek veterinary advice as early as possible when they know their animal will be travelling by air.
  3. Veterinarians can assist their clients in planning and preparing to safeguard their animal’s welfare during travel, including suggestions around timing of travel to minimise the risk of heat stress or hypothermia.
  4. Animals with a physical health problem should be treated, so that the issue has resolved or is well managed prior to air travel.
  5. Where possible, consideration needs to be given to the individual animal’s stage of development, its previous experiences and learning, its resilience to new and potentially stressful situations, and to any specific situations known to cause the individual increased anxiety.
  6. The use of anxiolytic or anti-emetic drugs without sedative effects may be appropriate and warranted in some circumstances (Piotti et al, 2019). Animals recognised as vulnerable to anxiety during air transport should be prescribed appropriate medications prior to air travel, in order for these medications to be deemed effective. Most medications being used only at the time of air travel should be trialled prior to travelling under veterinary advice.
  7. Management advice should be given to caregivers on how to help animals feel comfortable and safe in crates for air transport (Gruen et al, 2013; Ghandour, 2017).  Crates should comply with any requirements of the airline (Ghandour, 2017), and should be of a size which allows the animal to turn around naturally while standing, to be able to stand and sit erect, and be able to lie in a natural position. Dogs and cats should be familiarised with the crate prior to air travel, and travel with their own bedding and familiar scents to minimise the anxiety produced by unfamiliar surroundings.
  8. Pheromone products for dogs and cats may help reduce anxiety (Pageat and Gaultier, 2003) (CEVA, 2021 a&b). 

 

Other relevant policies or positions statements
Resources
References

Aerospace Medical Association, Aviation Safety Committee, & Civil Aviation Subcommittee. (2008). Cabin cruising altitudes for regular transport aircraft. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 79(4), 433-439. https://doi.org/10.3357/asem.2272.2008

Bergeron, R., Scott, S. L., Emond, J. P., Mercier, F., Cook, N. J., & Schaefer, A. L. (2002). Physiology and behaviour of dogs during air transport. The Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, 66, 211-216.

CEVA. (2021a). Feliway Spray. https://www.ceva.com.au/Products/Products-list/FELIWAY-R-Spray

CEVA. (2021b). Adaptil Spray. https://www.ceva.com.au/Products/Products-list/ADAPTIL-R-Spray

Ghandour, I. (2017). Transporting small animals by air: Welfare aspects. Companion Animal, 22(5), 284-288.

Gruen, M., Thomson, A., Clary, G., et al. (2013). Conditioning laboratory cats to handling and transport. Laboratory Animals, 42, 385–389. https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.361

Pageat, P., & Gaultier, E. (2003). Current research in canine and feline pheromones. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 33(2), 187-199.

Piotti, P., Uccheddu, S., Alliani, M., Mariti, C., Nuti, V., Ogi, A., Pierantoni, L., & Gazzano, A. (2019). Management of specific fears and anxiety in the behavioural medicine of companion animals: Punctual use of psychoactive medications. Database of Veterinary Science, 5(2), 23-30. https://doi.org/10.4454/db.v5i2.109