November 2015 Airline Pet Travel Report

The November, 2015 Airline Pet Travel Report contains pet incidents for the month of September, 2015.

Delta Airlines
On September 18th, 2015 a Coton de Tulear puppy on a flight from Kansas City, MO to Boise, ID arrived for transfer in Minneapolis, MN and was found to listless and lethargic. The puppy was transferred to a local veterinary clinic where it passed. At the time of the report a necropsy was not available.

An American Bulldog ate its food bowl on a flight from Washington, DC to Detroit, MI and sustained internal injuries. The dog was taken to a local veterinarian for treatment and was expected to fully recover.

On September 28th, 2015 an American Bulldog arrived in Atlanta, GA from Savannah, GA and was unresponsive. The dog was taken to veterinary services for evaluation. According to the necropsy there are a variety of factors that could have resulted in or contributed to death. The dog had several conformational features consistent With brachycephalic airway syndrome which, in combination with excited breathing from the stress of flight may, have led to respiratory distress and pulmonary edema. The report also found the dog had chronic changes in the heart which considering the breed probably represent arrhythmic right ventricle cardiomyopathy. Such changes can be associated with sudden death.

After unloading in Minneapolis, MN a Labrador Retriever named Kipper was injured when the kennel rolled inside of the baggage cart. Kipper was take to the vet where he was diagnosed with a hairline fracture and soft tissue swelling. Delta made an offer to pay for the vet bills, but at the time of the report they had not been received. No comments were made as to the cause of the kennel rolling inside of the baggage cart.

United Airlines
A four year-old Golden Retriever arrived in Austin, TX from Lihue, HI and was bleeding from the mouth. The injury was self-inflicted and caused by trying to escape the kennel.

A four year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier also injured itself from while trying to escape its kennel on a flight from Newark, NJ to San Diego, CA.

A seven year-old Golden Retriever injured itself on a flight from Los Angeles, CA to Baltimore, MD while chewing at the kennel door.

A two and a half year-old American Bulldog was found deceased on a long series of flights from Detroit, MI to Manila, Philippines. The incident report stated that the necropsy results were inconclusive as to the cause of death.

A three year-old American Staffordshire Terrier named T-Rex arrived in Newark, NJ from San Juan, Puerto Rico and was discovered to be deceased. The necropsy results suggested a cardiac arrhythmia as cause of death.

Pet Travel Incidents by Airline during September, 2015.
Airline Losses Injuries Deaths
Delta 0 2 2
United Airlines 0 3 2
Total 0 5 4

See all incidents included in the November, 2015 report.

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Source: November 2015 Air Travel Consumer Report.