Keep calm and carry treats

The ultimate guide to flying with pets

- BY LAKSHANA N PALAT Assistant Features Editor

Kirthi Ramakrishnan had carefully arranged all the documents in order to bring her pet from India to the UAE. But she overlooked one animal travel essential, and so, after the flight, she was greeted by a rather terrified dog.

Reflecting on her dog’s first flight, from Delhi to Dubai, Dubai-based Ramakrishnan recalls, “I focused solely on the paperwork, not on my dog’s psychological comfort. I feel so guilty when I think about that first episode.”

In her frazzled state, she didn’t crate-train her four-year-old dog in time for the flight. “That’s something you need to start months ahead, especially if your dog is prone to separation anxiety” says Ramakrishnan. “Dogs mirror our emotional states and the four-hour flight didn’t help. When I saw her again, she was crying, whining, and she huddled in a corner for days.”

Pets like Ramakrishnan’s can be deeply affected by long flights, especially when not properly prepared. Katrin Jahn, a Dubai-based animal behaviour specialist and veterinarian, explains, “Air travel is stressful for even the calmest pets — new sights, sounds, and separation from their caregivers add to the anxiety.”

Even the calmest pets can be stressed-out by travel, says Dubai-based vet Katrin Jahn

HOW CAN YOU MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOUR FURRY FRIEND?

Vet Katrin Jahn and UAE-based pet owners share tips on navigating this travel challenge.

Know the rules before you book