Travelling with dog

I've had a 7 year old Bichon cross for the past 14 months.  I'm moving abroad and will take my dog overseas to stay with my parents for 6 months for quarantine reasons.  After that, I'll be able to have her to live with me again.

I have 2 questions:
1. How can I make the plane journey as confortable and stress - free as possible for her?

2. How can I help her settle in to her new home easily?  We're with each other 24 hours a day so I don't want her to have a shock when I'm not there.  I'll be with her in my parents home for around a week...

Thank you very much for any help you can offer me.

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

1.  I do not think medications are good for flights.  Sedating and anti-anxiety medications become much more potent in the air and can cause respiratory depression.  You can use something over the counter, available at health food stores and some pharmacies called Rescue Remedy.  It relieves anxiety gently and safely.  You could also put her favorite toys and a piece of your clothing in her carrier.  

2.  Make a recording of your voice that could be played for her when you are no longer there.  You could try playing it for the last couple of days before you leave to get her used to the idea.  Have your parents give her lots of love and treats when it is being played.  After you are gone it will be up to your parents to make her feel comfortable.  She may have some problems when you first leave but she will adjust eventually.   The Rescue Remedy could also help with the seperation anxiety she my feel when you are initally gone.  If she continues to have seperation anxiety after a few weeks then it may be time for medications, such as clomicalm, or other anti-anxiety medications available from your veterinarian.

[peekawho]

I can tell you only of our experience flying our dogs across the US on a nonstop flight.  I'm sure others have had different experiences.  Our dogs are 2 Dobes and a Dane.  

They all arrived in very bad shape, stress wise.  All had soiled their crates and were filthy.  There was no undue delay in the flight, they were transported to the plane from an air conditioned van and loaded shortly before the flight.  After the flight, they were taken in their crates and loaded in another air conditioned  van and taken to our house, a 2 hour drive.  All in all, the whole transport door to door took about 10 hours.
They were completely traumatized and 2 of them developed severe bloody diarrhea requiring emergency veterinary care the day after arriving.  

But, these are big dogs, and both breeds are prone to stress illnesses.
We tried to make it as stress free as possible, but obviously they didn't do well.  I will never fly these animals again.  When we move back, we'll take as long as necessary to drive them.  

We had our arrangements through a company that specializes in animal transport, and while they did an excellent job of coordinating everything, obviously it was too much for our dogs.  Be sure you have veterinary arrangements available to you when your dog arrives, just in case.

I'm sure others have not had as bad experience, but plan for  the worst and you'll be pleasantly surprised if everything goes smoothly.