{"id":1945,"date":"2013-10-14T10:49:51","date_gmt":"2013-10-14T14:49:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~travelwriting\/?page_id=1945"},"modified":"2013-10-14T10:56:08","modified_gmt":"2013-10-14T14:56:08","slug":"travel-for-pets-can-be-stressful-particularly-for-snub-nosed-breeds-of-dogs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/?page_id=1945","title":{"rendered":"Travel for pets can be stressful, particularly for snub-nosed dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted October 12, 2013<\/em><\/p>\n

By KARLA DURANGO<\/p>\n

When Maria Fernanda Villamarin went on vacation and traveled from Bogot\u00e1 to Cartagena just last year, she sent her 8-year-old English bulldog, Otto, in a custom-made kennel in the cargo hold of the airplane. Looking to have a relaxing getaway in the Colombian coast with her canine companion, the trip suddenly took an unexpected and fatal turn.<\/p>\n

\"Otto<\/a>

Otto is seen here with his owner Maria Fernanda Villamarin. He would go to work with her everyday (Photo Courtesy of Maria Fernanda Villamarin).<\/p><\/div>\n

When Otto arrived in Cartagena, after flying for just over an hour, he was covered in vomit and saliva, according to Villamarin. He could hardly breathe or open his eyes, was unresponsive and seemingly unconscious, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was devastated because when he arrived, he was barely breathing and in such poor condition that one moment later he was gone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

From May 2005 to July 2013, 247 animals were reported to have died on commercial flights and of those, 199 were dogs.<\/p>\n

The situation gets more unfortunate, however, as The New York Times<\/i> reported back in 2011 that more than half of those canine fatalities were among brachycephalic breeds, otherwise known as our cute, flat-faced pooches.<\/p>\n

Precisely, dogs like Otto.<\/p>\n

These reports surfaced after the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2005, began to require all U.S. airlines that run scheduled passenger flights to formulate monthly reports whenever pet fatalities, injuries or losses occur during transit and the reports illustrated a tough reality to face.<\/p>\n

These days therefore, the growing tendency among commercial airliners is towards a definitive ban on snub-nosed breeds; Delta and American Airlines have outright banned brachycephalic breeds from been sent as checked baggage on commercial flights and others carriers like United and Continental have enacted restrictions on when certain breeds can fly. Usually, the trend is towards an absolute prohibition during the summer months when temperatures run too high.<\/p>\n

Snub-nosed breeds, which include French and English bulldogs, boxers, pugs, l\u2019hasa apsos and shih tzus for example, suffer from abnormal breathing patterns because of their short snouts, said Dr. Kate Marmesh, a local veterinarian at the Coconut Grove Animal Clinic in Coral Gables that she has long operated with her father.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen these animals are stressed or even when they get too excited, often you can observe them having short attacks, something we call the reverse sneeze,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you\u2019re present, you can help calm them down, but while in the cargo holds of planes, the problem is that you aren\u2019t there to check on them or help them take full breaths again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Brachycephalic<\/a>

Brachycephalic breeds are missing the latest biological ingredient required to be able to travel on a plane: a snout (Photo by Karla Durango).<\/p><\/div>\n

The growing \u201cno-fly\u201d lists however, have also led many to question whether dogs should fly at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll dogs are at risk,\u201d Marmesh pointed out. \u201cWhen I am performing the physical exams required for traveling, one thing I always make sure people keep in mind is if the trip is absolutely worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

While most animals under 20 pounds are still allowed to fly in the passenger cabins of most aircrafts, there are only a few airliners today, such as Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, that allow snub-nosed breeds to fly in the cargo holds of their planes.<\/p>\n

Large dogs and those not pertaining to the brachycephalic category, enjoy lesser travel restrictions and are still allowed to be checked or sent as cargo.<\/p>\n

Considering the not-so-positive facts previously presented, however, you may not even want to toy with that last option, regardless of the breed.<\/p>\n

As Villamarin learned from her tragic experience with Otto, traveling with your pet may paint out to be a rewarding experience, but it is important to weigh the potential risks and consequences the trip may have on your pet; while most of the time everything goes smoothly and everyone arrives safely, from time to time, your animal may not be so fortunate.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, I would rather drive for five days then take on the risk of sending my dog on a plane,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

So what are pet owners to do if they absolutely must travel with their dogs?<\/p>\n

The fact of the matter is that there is no simple alternative to flying, but driving and doggy airlines for national and international travel are among alternatives that exist.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem is that many people don\u2019t have the time or the option to drive, depending on their destination, and others don\u2019t have the financial capacity to invest in sending their pet on a private pet airline, which is also something very new and still widely unexplored,\u201d said Villamarin.<\/p>\n

For larger and non-brachycephalic breeds still allowed on commercial flights as checked baggage, the common practice among veterinarians is to also warn people to take precaution and follow any instructions given to the tee.<\/p>\n

\u201cPreparing your pet for a long flight is much like preparing your pet for surgery,\u201d emphasized Marmesh. \u201cIt is that important,\u201d she emphasized.<\/p>\n

Luckily, airlines like American, Delta and Continental have also set out to improve their pet programs over the last few years, after the shocking reports by the U.S. Department of Transportation implored them to do so. Subsequently, they now provide greater safety tips and ensure higher-quality service and staff to make your pet\u2019s journey as safe as possible.<\/p>\n

Fortunately for most bulldogs and their flat-faced brothers and sisters however, they no longer need to go through the trouble or the risk of flying, as they are definitively no longer welcome on most airlines today.<\/p>\n

If You and Your Dog Go
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