For certain dog breeds, being shipped in cargo can be more than uncomfortable – it can be a death sentence.

For dogs with hereditary respiratory problems, cargo shipping can be critically dangerous – enough so that many airlines have established complicated regulations for these dogs, only allowing them to be shipped during certain months, or in certain weather conditions. Other airlines have gone so far as to ban brachycephalic breeds, also known as “Snub Nose” dogs, from cargo completely.

Brachycephalic breeds typically banned from cargo include:
• American Bulldog
• American Pit Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Boston Terrier
• Boxer
• Brussels Griffon Terrier
• Chow Chow
• English Bulldog
• English Toy Spaniel
• French Bulldog
• Japanese Spaniel (Chin)
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Lhasa Apso
• Bull Mastiff
• English Mastiff
• Neopolitan Mastiff
• Pekingese
• Pomeranian
• Pug
• Shar-Pei
• Shih Tzu
• Tibetan Spaniel

These breeds are also particularly vulnerable to overheating – one of the most common causes of injury and death in airplane cargo hold transportation. In fact, Delta Airlines has strict regulations in place to ensure that these dogs are never exposed to even moderately warm temperatures: “Delta will not accept [snub-nosed dogs] as checked baggage or as air cargo if the temperature on any part of their trip exceeds 70 degrees F.”

Why are these dogs at such risk for overheating? Dogs pant to cool down. In a brachycephalic breed, this increased breathing rate causes your dog’s airways to narrow, making breathing more difficult. This creates more anxiety for your dog, which leads to more panting.

In an unmonitored cargo hold, this dangerous cycle can lead to heat stroke, heart attack, and even death.

Until now, options for transporting these pets by air were very limited. If your dog was one of the breeds prohibited from traveling in cargo, then you had no choice but to fly with him yourself in the passenger cabin or arrange lengthy ground transportation. Fortunately, Puppy Air Care has created an alternative option for dog transportation.

Puppy Air Care offers one of the ONLY safe solutions for transporting these restricted breeds via air. A Puppy Nanny from Puppy Air Care flies with your puppy in the passenger cabin of the airplane, so your dog never spends a second alone or in cargo. For these puppies, flying in the passenger cabin is more than a luxury - it can be a life saver.

Source: Canine Inherited Disorders Database