Jahn Katrin, Ley Jacqui, DePorter Theresa, Seksel Kersti
German Veterinary Clinic, Villa 112, 39th Street, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 34867, United Arab Emirates.
Melbourne Veterinary Specialists Centre, 70 Blackburn Rd, Glen Waverley, VIC 3150, Australia.
Animals (Basel). 2023 Oct 4;13(19):3093. doi: 10.3390/ani13193093.
It is estimated that 2 million domestic animals travel on commercial flights every year in the US alone and that dogs make up 58% of pets travelling worldwide. There has been little research on the welfare effects of air travel on dogs. The purpose of this owner-reported study was to understand how well dogs cope with and recover from air travel from a physical, mental, and emotional health perspective. An online survey questionnaire was distributed globally to pet owners whose dogs had travelled by air in the last 12 months, and the results were collected and analysed. Information was received about dog and owner demographics, logistics, and preparation for travel, as well as the dog's experience of air travel. Results showed that most dogs cope with and recover well from air travel but that there is a group of individuals who suffer physical, mental, and emotional ill health consequences during or after air travel, including death. Stress management products such as anxiolytic medication, supplements, and pheromones were underutilised and, in some instances, actively discouraged. More education of all stakeholders of pet air travel is needed to improve the physical, mental, and emotional health and welfare of canine air travellers.
据估计，仅在美国，每年就有200万只家畜乘坐商业航班出行，而且在全球乘坐飞机出行的宠物中，狗占58%。关于航空旅行对狗的福利影响的研究很少。这项由主人报告的研究的目的是从身体、心理和情感健康的角度了解狗如何应对航空旅行以及从航空旅行中恢复过来。一份在线调查问卷被全球范围内分发给在过去12个月里其狗乘坐过飞机的宠物主人，并收集和分析结果。收到了有关狗和主人的人口统计学信息、行程安排和旅行准备情况，以及狗的航空旅行经历。结果表明，大多数狗能应对航空旅行并恢复良好，但有一部分狗在航空旅行期间或之后会出现身体、心理和情感健康问题，包括死亡。抗焦虑药物、补充剂和信息素等压力管理产品未得到充分利用，在某些情况下，甚至被积极劝阻使用。需要对宠物航空旅行的所有利益相关者进行更多教育，以改善犬类航空旅行者的身体、心理和情感健康及福利。
