Stuck On A Carrier Decision For Flying

[My Sophia]

on the nutrical, as far as I could ever find they only sell it in bigger tubes, over the 3oz carry on limit. What i did was get a medicine syringe from the vet, sucked a few ml's of nutrical in it and then, since the syringe didn't have a cap on the tip and I had to leave the plunger in and fully extended, I dropped the syringe into an empty baby bottle and put the cap on. The syringe fit perfectly into the bottle which kept the syringe from squirting and the baby bottle fit (barely) into the quart sized ziplock bag that security allows. i just couldn't fit much else into that ziplock bag so i had to check my toiletries but that was ok. I preferred to have the security of knowing I had the nutrical handy just in case.

[AllDogBoots]

I wish you the best of luck and definitely agree that a smaller carrier is the way to go. I took Southwest and was so thrilled with the experience flying that airline.

Wow, LuvMySissy - I don't know how you do it!!

[Furbaby Friend]

Anything else the pup might need (besides Nutrical) that needs to go in the liquid/ziplock baggie?

I want the pup to have her stuff first. My mum shouldn't need too much. She plans on taking a (huge) purse with her for her things (magazines, money, etc.) and the puppy carrier and that's it.

My Sophia: You're full of great tips! I like picking your brain <3 lol. I guess it comes with experience of so many flights?

My family doesn't really fly even without a pet (we generally take the train/drive), so we're not very good at the plane thing to begin with. I've only been on a plane for 2 trips (so 4 flights, there and back) one was when I was 5 or 6 so I don't remember it :P and one was 2 years ago. >_<

[My Sophia]

LOL thanks. It's not so much experience but I did what you are doing now, research ahead of time and learning from others, namely Jodie (luvmysissy) who is AWESOME!!! Plus since my trip was very recent the memories are fresh so I can remember what worked and what didn't.

[Furbaby Friend]

Originally Posted by My Sophia

...Jodie (luvmysissy) who is AWESOME!!!

I completely agree! She is totally awesome and very very helpful. I will be taking all her advice and, of course, the rest of the fantastic advice here as well!

I realize it has to be hard to describe what to do on flights when you do it naturally. Sometimes it is hard to remember all the simple things and details you do and tell them to someone else. I know that when I'm teaching recitations that I forget what I've told some classes and not others because I've taught so many now. It have trouble recalling all the simple little things that could make a difference to someone else, but don't mean much to me anymore! ^_^

That being said, I really appreciate you guys weighing in because that allows me to gather more of those simple details. Also, you guys might jog someone's memory so that they can give tips too!

So a BIG THANK YOU to everyone here! <3

[LuvMySissy]

With the Nutrical, I always take it in a syringe as security will not let a tube go through as it is too large. Your vet should be able to give you a syringe with a cap on it (at no charge since they get these by the truck-load) if you can't find one from your pharmacy. I put mine with the cap on in a little ziplock baggie and then in the pocket of my carrier. I don't take this out and run it through the xray machine separately and have never had a problem. I also take an empty syringe to force water if necessary.

Another thing to think about - if your puppy should happen to get sick while traveling, a little ginger ale helps not only with hydration, it gets a little sugar into their system to avoid hypoglycemia and it helps settle the tummy!!!!

When you get on the flight and choose your seat, window seats will have the coldest floor space, but aisle seats have the least under the seat room. It's been a long time since I've flown Southwest, but from here they use smaller planes with only two seats at each side. If you have a choice for a middle seat, you will have the most space under the seat in front of you (not height, but width).

[Furbaby Friend]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

With the Nutrical, I always take it in a syringe as security will not let a tube go through as it is too large. Your vet should be able to give you a syringe with a cap on it (at no charge since they get these by the truck-load) if you can't find one from your pharmacy. I put mine with the cap on in a little ziplock baggie and then in the pocket of my carrier. I don't take this out and run it through the xray machine separately and have never had a problem. I also take an empty syringe to force water if necessary.

Thanks for the tip! I will ask my vet for 2 when I take Suki in for her checkup sometime this month or next. ^_^

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

Another thing to think about - if your puppy should happen to get sick while traveling, a little ginger ale helps not only with hydration, it gets a little sugar into their system to avoid hypoglycemia and it helps settle the tummy!!!!

Oh! It isn't just for humans then. Good to know! I never would have tried that. I really hope she doesn't get sick though I feel bad for the poor babies that do!

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

When you get on the flight and choose your seat, window seats will have the coldest floor space, but aisle seats have the least under the seat room. It's been a long time since I've flown Southwest, but from here they use smaller planes with only two seats at each side. If you have a choice for a middle seat, you will have the most space under the seat in front of you (not height, but width).

I will be sure to keep this in mind. Do you know if airlines would accept a request for an aisle seat because of a pup?

LuvMySissy, thank you so much again for your advice! <3