Q:I'll be traveling by air with my oldest pug, Igor, this summer and I recently read that sedatives are not a good idea. But I'm worried that the flight will be too stressful for him. I've also heard that pugs do very poorly in airplanes, even when they're inside the cabin. Do you have an opinion on whether Igor should get sedatives? Or stay home?

A: As long as Igor has no major health concerns he should be able to fly with you -- as long as he travels in the cabin. I strongly advise against allowing any severely brachycephalic (short-nosed) breed of dog to fly in cargo -- though many veterinarians disagree with me on this.

Many short-nosed breeds (bulldogs, Boston terriers, Pekingese, etc.) have tremendously compromised respiratory systems. Their nostrils may be too small, their tracheas too slender and their soft palates (way back in the roof of their mouths) may be too long, thereby partially occluding their airways. Any of these problems may be enough to render a dog like Igor un-flyable under any circumstances. Be sure to ask your pet if Igor's respiratory traits render him safe to fly.

There's also a concern that high altitudes -- even in the cabin -- can be problematic for these dogs. Although this pressurized environment shouldn't pose any major risk, the stress of being in an unusual location inside a duffel under the seat may well prove physiologically trying. For highly anxiety-prone dogs, any respiratory difficulties may be exacerbated.

That's why so many owners sedate their pets during flights. While some pets do very well with very mild sedatives such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), others may require stronger sedatives to relax sufficiently.

Problem is, sufficiently relaxing may mean relaxing the respiratory system too. For short-nosed breeds, that may mean asphyxiation. That's also why sedation is generally a big no-no for cargo travelers. The last thing we want is to alleviate anxiety at the risk of having your pet succumb to complications that may result from an inability to pant in a hot environment or from other adverse reactions to sedatives.

My conclusion: Flying with pets is a decision best made on an individual basis. If Igor is such a stress case that he absolutely requires sedatives -- or if his respiratory symptoms are severe -- I wouldn't risk it.

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