How To Travel With A Pet

Traveling from Chicago to San Diego

It was my first time traveling with a pet. I have a Maltese and she’s 10 years old when I brought her with me so I was a bit worried if it’s still safe for her to travel. She’s a bit anxious whenever I bring her for car rides but good thing, she doesn’t get car or motion sick. Traveled to San Diego from Chicago to meet her future sisters (my fiancé’s dogs), visited some dog beaches and parks.

So here are the steps I did to prepare my pet for travel.

Check in with your airline for the requirements needed for pet traveling domestic or international I believe you need a passport for your dog to travel international and most likely more documentation needed. But we only traveled domestic and she actually did not need anything, when I checked in with the airline they didn’t ask anything regarding my pet. Purchase your pet’s ticket as well, pricing depends on the airline. I suggest do Pet in Cabin, it’s much safer and better for your pet than cargo.
Check with the vet, over all check up and ask everything you need or want to know health wise, let them know you’re traveling with your pet and wants them to check if your pet is safe to travel, any advice they can give you before, during and after the flight. I asked about any anxiety pill or meds I can give her and my vet suggested for me not to give any unless I really need to or safely give half a pill of Benadryl 30min to an hour before departure. Get all documentations needed by the airline if any. Make sure your pet is up to date with her vaccines and rabies shot.
Buy a pet carrier from Amazon or Pet Smart or any animal/pet store. Buy the right size for the airline’s rule for the dimensions allowed under seat. Make sure your dog can at least turn inside the bag or can stand (again depending on the airline rules & policy for pet travel) depending also for your dog size. I suggest and what I did is to travel as pet in cabin if you can. Train and have your pet get used to the pet carrier, put a treat inside, let her get in and stay for a while, zip the bag so she get used to being inside with the bag closed then leave it open and have her stay inside too, put some comfortable items she usually use like her blanket. Take her with you somewhere, walk with the bag so she gets used to being inside while you’re walking and driving then give your pet treats everytime she/he follows each direction you ask while training her that way she/he knows that she gets a treat everytime she/he is in the carrier.
Prepare her stuff: clothes, wipes, pads, food and treats, meds if any, grooming kit, toys, blanket, leash, documents, dog tags, etc.
Don’t feed them close to boarding, feed them hours before at least before heading to the airport or if you know your dog, like mine she usually do #2 right after she eats then that’s fine. As long as you take your pet to potty before leaving the house, or outside the airport especially take them at the Animal Relief Area. Once you know your terminal and gate, ask and look for the Animal Relief Area. They don’t usually like being on the green faux grass I believe it’s just soak with urine and they have being on it so she usually pees outside of it, clean up after! They have doggie bags and stuff for cleaning.
When you arrive at the airport, check in at the ticketing counter, some agents or airlines check the dog, the carrier etc, mine didn’t but just come prepared.
Next we needed to go through TSA or security, I did the normal process places my stuff on the conveyor belt while I took out my dog and carried her with me. We passed through the security door (not sure what you call it) then got our stuff after.
There are airports that allow you to walk your dog inside with a leash so I did. We stopped by Animal Relief Area for her to potty, wiped and cleaned her, let her walk on the way to our gate.
Once checked in at the gate, I gave her half a pill of Benadryl 30 min before departure and put her back inside the carrier during boarding.
In flight, I cannot take her out of her carrier per my airline rules but I unzipped the side part of the bag so she can peek her head out.
Gave her lil water and treats. Checked up on her from time to time.
Check if she has some accidents on the pad inside her carrier, if so please take her plus the carrier to the lavatory, clean her or if you think she needs to go, have her potty inside the lav, place a pad on the floor. Spray some disinfectant or fragrance spray after courtesy to other passengers.
After landing, once deplaned, head on to the Animal Relief Area again or if you can still wait til you get out of the airport is fine.

TIPS:

Per my vet, some give their pets anxiety pills or dummies etc. but she only told me to give the Benadryl as needed or much better, nothing at all.
Give your pet dry or hard food in flight if you need to or for long haul flights. It’s much better to prepare and feed them and doesn’t have a stronger smell.
Give them treats or chewable toys during take off, turbulence, turns and landing to help for air pocket.
Once you know your terminal, look or ask for the Animal Relief areas so it’s easier for you to know where to stay or go for your pet because you’ll most likely want to be around that area if possible.
Also asked my vet how to know if my dog is doing alright during the flight, she said if your pet is responsive, moves, doesn’t have any vomit, diarrhea or wheezing then your pet is fine, you can also check for their gums if it’s blue or purple your pet might need oxygen and ask help from the flight attendants whatever they can do. So far, she did good throughout this travel experience.
Place a pad on top of the padding the pet carrier has for accidents or underneath a blanket, up to you. I would put a blanket on top of the pad next time so she’ll be more comfortable since my dog doesn’t really want to go on where she lays down unless she needs to throw up.

If I’m missing anything or you have more pet travel guides please comment below! Hope these help you for your next travel with your pet!

Thank you for reading and you can also watch my vlog during our travel to California!