Companion Animals

Pet Travel Welfare: Reducing Stress During Journeys

Traveling with companion animals causes stress that ranges from mild anxiety to severe distress. Understanding and mitigating travel stress improves welfare for millions of animals moved annually.

Key Facts

An estimated 2 million pets travel by air annually — many in cargo holds with inadequate temperature control
Brachycephalic breeds (pugs, bulldogs, French bulldogs) face higher mortality risk in air cargo
Dogs and cats show stress through panting, vocalisation, eliminations, and escape attempts
Gradual crate training from puppyhood significantly reduces travel stress
Veterinary-prescribed anxiolytics can reduce travel anxiety in severely affected animals

Welfare Considerations

An animal placed in an unfamiliar carrier and transported by air without preparation is experiencing acute fear and disorientation. Cargo hold conditions — noise, temperature fluctuation, unfamiliar smells — amplify this. Brachycephalic animals face hypoxia risk at altitude. The welfare cost of inadequate preparation is real and entirely preventable through systematic habituation before travel.

What You Can Do

Crate-train dogs and cats from an early age to create positive crate associations
Avoid air cargo transport of brachycephalic breeds whenever possible
Consult your vet about anxiolytics for animals with severe travel anxiety
Support airline passenger pet policies that allow cabin travel for small animals