A Guide to Taking Your Dog to the US
If you want to find out more information about taking your dog to the US then this guide should help you. Taking your dog or your cat to the US is not uncommon and several airlines are more pet friendly than others, so it is worth finding out the best ones to use.
As the UK is classed as rabies-free by the US government, it is fairly simple to take your dog to the US compared to travelling from other countries who have stricter rules applied.
Before you think about taking your dog on a flight to the US, you should consider your dog’s overall health conditions. Going on a flight for so many hours can be very stressful for some dogs, so you have to think about whether your dog will be able to cope with the journey. Some airlines will request that any pet travelling with them has a health check by a vet and a letter to say that they are fit and healthy to fly.
Whilst the US government does not require rabies vaccination for all states, it is highly recommended that you do take your dog for vaccination, especially as your dog will be around lots of other dogs. You should check the laws of the state that you are going to fly into to see whether you will need to go to the vet to get a rabies vaccination.
Tips for making your dog more comfortable
The dog carrier that you choose should be big enough for your dog to be able to turn around. Many airlines will provide a carrier for you and they may be able to send it out a few weeks before you travel so that your dog can get used to being inside it. This should help your dog to get more familiar with being in the carrier and you can put things like their favourite blanket and toys in there.
Booking an evening flight will increase the chances of your dog being able to sleep throughout the flight, which should help to make the travel go faster for them. Getting quite a lot of exercise in before the flight will also help to tire your dog out but be careful not to do too much exercise as it could dehydrate them. Some people ask their vet for sedatives for their pet but this is not recommended, as this can both dehydrate them and cause respiratory or cardiovascular problems due to the increased altitude pressure.
You should research the best airlines that are covering your journey, to check which allow you to take dogs on board. The majority of airlines will allow assistance dogs in the cabin but other dogs will need to go into the hold. You’ll need to make sure that your dog is provided with lots of food and water that will last throughout the duration of the flight. There are some specific pet travel airlines so you can check whether there is one that covers your intended journey to the US.
If you follow all of these tips you should be ready to take your dog to the US and enjoy spending time in the country together.
