Position Statements

Transport of Dogs and Cats

May 16, 2024

Background

General Considerations for Transport

1. In order to mitigate negative impacts of transport on the health and welfare of dogs and cats, several factors need to be considered when planning a journey. These factors include: pre-transport assessment of the animal’s condition and its physical and mental fitness for the intended journey; planning for potential transport-related issues; movement of the animal into and out of a conveyance; securing the animal within a conveyance; ensuring the animal has sufficient space (the animal can stand, turn and sleep comfortably), providing access to food, water and elimination breaks; ensuring appropriate ventilation and temperature; and monitoring of the animal during transport. Situations involving multiple animals; aged, debilitated or otherwise vulnerable animals; animals that are separated from familiar caretakers; and prolonged journeys, present a greater risk to animal health and welfare and require increased planning, monitoring and management to mitigate negative outcomes.
2. There are federal, provincial and municipal laws, and supportive guidelines and/or standards that apply to the transport of dogs and cats (1,2,3,4,5). Individual transport companies may also have specific requirements. Persons planning to transport animals should familiarize themselves with the laws and guidelines pertaining to animal transport and public safety requirements.
3. Veterinarians play an important role in ensuring the health and welfare of dogs and cats prior to and during transport, including assessing the health and suitability of an animal for the journey and whether additional supportive measures are required.

Anxiety, Stress and Fear

4. Dogs and cats may experience anxiety, stress and fear during transport (6,7,8). Contributing factors may include the exposure to novel stimuli (motion, vibration, sights, sounds, smells, other animals), confinement and separation from a familiar caretaker.
5. Measures that mitigate anxiety, stress and fear in the dog or cat during transport should be implemented, including:
   • Reducing exposure to novel stimuli during transport (e.g., visual and/or auditory separation from negative stimuli) and/or desensitizing the animal to these stimuli prior to transport.
   • Acclimation to confinement in a container (preferably the one to be used for the intended journey) (8), and acclimation to spending time alone prior to the journey.
   • During transport, a familiar caretaker should travel with the dog or cat when possible. For owners planning air travel with their pets, the CVMA encourages pet owners to research and familiarize themselves with the pet transportation policy of the airline carrier in question regarding allowances for pets in airline passenger cabins.
   • Consulting a veterinarian prior to transporting a dog or cat that is likely to experience anxiety, stress or fear during transport. Certain medications available through a veterinarian may help to relieve the negative effects associated with transport (e.g., anxiety, motion sickness) (9).
   • Incompatible animals must be isolated from one another during transport (1).

Fitness for Transport

6. The CVMA encourages pet owners to seek guidance from their veterinarian concerning the fitness of their dog or cat for the intended journey, particularly in situations with a higher risk to the animal’s welfare. These situations include prolonged journeys, animals being transported separately from their caretakers and any case where an animal is compromised or likely to become compromised during transport.
7. A dog or cat that exhibits any sign of illness, injury or a condition that indicates that it has a reduced capacity to cope with the intended transport should be considered compromised (1). Any person transporting animal(s) must assess the situation and risks prior to transport and supportive measures needed to mitigate the potential negative impacts of transport must be in place (1).
   • Examples of conditions that cause an animal to be predisposed to transport related risks and that may require special provisions include certain extreme conformations resulting in a reduced capacity to cope with transport related stressors; uncontrolled health issues; and not being fully healed after a surgical procedure or injury.
     • CVMA supports the designation of some brachycephalic animals as compromised due to their frequent inability to adequately oxygenate and thermoregulate, necessitating certain additional supportive measures during transport to mitigate any negative impacts to their health and welfare.
   • Potential supportive measures in addition to the standard requirements that may be provided when transporting a compromised dog or cat include transport separated from other animals that may cause additional stress, assistance moving the animal into or out of the conveyance, climate control, increased monitoring, and supportive measures including medications as indicated by the veterinarian.
8. A dog or cat that exhibits any sign of illness, injury or a condition that indicates that it cannot be transported without suffering must be considered unfit for transport (1). These animals must only be transported for the purpose of receiving veterinary care (1).
   • Examples of conditions that cause an animal to be unfit include shock; laboured breathing; a severe open wound; being in the last 10% of gestation; and having given birth in the past 48 hours (1).
   • Supportive measures as outlined in 7.b. must be in place when transporting an unfit dog or cat for veterinary care.
9. Documentation required for travel depends on the destination and mode of transportation. The pet's pertinent medical information and vaccination record should generally accompany the pet. Other documentation that may be required by transportation companies or regulatory authorities includes veterinary health certificates, import permits, documentation of rabies and/or other vaccinations/titres, electronic identification (e.g., microchip), and/or parasite prevention.

Securing Animals in Conveyances

10. The CVMA opposes the transport of unsecured and unprotected (uncontained) pets in open conveyances such as motorcycles, the open box of pick-ups or beds of flatbed trucks, as there is a high risk of illness, injury or death. These include harm to the animal in the event of an accident or exposure to wind, weather or projectiles; the potential for carbon monoxide exposure from exhaust, distraction of the driver or escape of the pet; and the risk of causing an accident involving other motorists and/or pedestrians (10-13).
    
    Some jurisdictions have enacted legislation prohibiting the transport of dogs outside the passenger compartment of a motorized vehicle unless the animal(s) is secured in a kennel or other prescribed animal restraint device (14).
11. The use of safe, secure, and rigid travel containers with adequate floor space, headroom, good ventilation and that have been secured within the conveyance are strongly encouraged.
    • In the case of motor vehicles, where a rigid container is not available or the use of one is not possible in the space available, properly fitted restraint devices such as crash-tested seatbelts and body harnesses (15) are strongly recommended to prevent animal injury (including ejection of the animal from the conveyance), driver distraction, and risk to other occupants of the conveyance in the event of an accident. Restrained animals must be monitored in order to prevent accidental entanglement, entrapment, or strangulation.
    • Additionally, pets restrained with seatbelts or harnesses or pets travelling in a container within the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle should be secured in the rear area to avoid injury or death from an airbag inflated in the case of impact.

Thermal Stress

12. Adequate climate regulation and ventilation are required for the safe transport of animals in all forms of conveyance (e.g., car, truck, van, trailer, plane, boat, etc). These include, but are not limited to, regulation of temperature, humidity, ventilation, and air pressure (specific to air transport). Weather conditions for the duration of travel should be monitored. Dogs and cats must not be left unattended in conveyances without controlled thermal conditions during hot or cold weather, as interior vehicle temperatures can change drastically in short periods of time (16).
    
    Some brachycephalic animals are at an increased risk of vehicular-induced heat-related illness due to their inability to effectively cool through panting (17). Extreme care must be taken when transporting these animals in even mildly warm weather, and this risk increases with high relative humidity. It has been shown that the inability to effectively cool through panting can result in brachycephalic dogs overheating at ambient temperatures as low as 21–22°C (17).
13. Equipment that restricts jaw movement (i.e., non-basket muzzles) must not be used when an animal is in transport, as they may limit the ability for a dog or cat to thermoregulate by way of open mouth panting. A properly fitted basket muzzle may be used when required.
14. The CVMA strongly opposes leaving dogs and cats unattended in enclosed conveyances for extended periods and for any amount of time when there is a risk of hyper/hypothermia; but in exceptional situations where animals are routinely left unattended in a vehicle (e.g., military, police, dog walking companies), alarm devices and newer technologies that monitor and control vehicle temperature, battery voltage, and engine stall are necessary. Handlers must be in close proximity to the vehicle to respond immediately to the notification.

References

1. Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Health of Animals Regulations: Part XII: Transport of Animals. Available from: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._296/page-10.html#h-548075 Last accessed June 6, 2023.
2. Canadian Transport Agency. Accessible Transportation - Service dogs: A Guide. Available from: https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/publication/service-dogs-a-guide. Last accessed June 6, 2023.
3. International Air Transport Association. Live Animals Regulations (LAR). Available from: https://www.iata.org/en/publications/store/live-animals-regulations/ Last accessed June 6, 2023.
4. Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. A Code of Practice for Canadian Cattery Operations. Available from: https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/media/4kucgetu/a-code-of-practice-for-canadian-cattery-operations.pdf Last accessed June 6, 2023.
5. Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. A Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations. Third Edition. 2018 Available from: https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/media/xgel3jhp/cvma-2018-kennel-code-eng-rev-january-2023.pdf Last accessed June 6, 2023.
6. Bergeron R, Scott S, Émond J-P, Mercier F, Cook N., Schaefer A. Physiology and behaviour of dogs during air transport. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research. 2002 Jul; 66(3): 211–216. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC227007/ Last accessed June 6, 2023.
7. Herbel J, Aurich J, Gautier C, Melchert M, Aurich C. Stress Response of Beagle Dogs to Repeated Short-Distance Road Transport. Animals. 2020, 10(11), 2114. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2114 Last accessed June 6, 2023.
8. Pratsch L, Mohr N, Palme R, Rost J, Troxler J, Arhant C. Carrier training cats reduces stress on transport to a veterinary practice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. Volume 206, September 2018, Pages 64-74 Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159118302703 Last accessed June 6, 2023.
9. Landsberg G. Medicating Fear of Travel and Veterinary Visits. World Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress Proceedings, 2019. Available from: https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?id=9382776&pid=24437& Last accessed June 6, 2023.
10. Houston DM, Fries CL, Alcorn MJ, Thomas SS. Injuries suffered by dogs from riding in the back of open pickup trucks: A retrospective review of 70 cases. Can Vet J 1995;36:510-511.
11. Agran P, Winn D, Anderson C. Injuries to occupants in cargo areas of pickup trucks. West J Med 1994;161:479-482.
12. Anderson CL, Agran PF, Winn DG, Greenland S. Fatalities to occupants of cargo areas of pickup trucks. Accid Anal Prev 2000;32:533-540.
13. Hampson N, Norkool D. Carbon monoxide poisoning in children riding in the back of pickup trucks. J Am Med Ass 1992;267:538-540.
14. Motor Vehicle Act (BC). Available from: https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_01 Last accessed June 6, 2023.
15. Center for Pet Safety 2013 Harness Crashworthiness Study Summary Report. Available from: http://centerforpetsafety.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2013_cps_harness_study_summary_final.pdf Last accessed June 6, 2023.
16. McLaren C, Null J, Quinn J. Heat stress from enclosed vehicles: Moderate ambient temperatures cause significant temperature rise in enclosed vehicles. Pediatrics 2005;116: e109-e112. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15995010/ Last accessed June 6, 2023.
17. Carter A, Hall E, Connolly S, Russell Z, Mitchell K. Drugs, dogs, and driving: the potential for year-round thermal stress in UK vehicles. Open Veterinary Journal, (2020), Vol. 10(2): 216–225 Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7419075/ Last accessed June 6, 2023.

Additional Resources

1. American Veterinary Medical Association. Travelling with your dog or cat. Available from: https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/CVI/Pages/Traveling-Dog-Cat.aspx Last accessed June 6, 2023.
2. International Pet and Animal Transportation Association. Available from: http://www.ipata.org/ Last accessed June 6, 2023.
3. Animal Transportation Association. Available from: http://www.animaltransportationassociation.org/ Last accessed June 6, 2023.
4. The Humane Society of the United States. Travel Safely with Your Pet. Available from: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/travel-safely-your-pet-car-airplane-ship-or-train Last accessed June 6, 2023.
5. Air Canada. Travelling with your pet. Available from: http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/pets.html Last accessed June 6, 2023.
6. Via Rail. Travelling with pets. Available from: http://www.viarail.ca/en/travel-info/baggage/travelling-with-pets Last accessed June 6, 2023.
7. Center for Pet Safety. Available from: http://www.centerforpetsafety.org/ Last accessed June 6, 2023.
8. The Sled Dog Code of Practice. Available from: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/agriculture-and-seafood/animal-and-crops/animal-welfare/sled_dog_code_of_practice.pdf