Oxygen for small animals in flight?

[Fly Boomer]

2 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

Perhaps something like this would work?

That's pretty cool.  I would think that any pet accustomed to being in a carrier would do okay in that thing.

[Shadrach]

3 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

Perhaps something like this would work?

https://www.amazon.com/HKDQ-Nebulizer-Oxygen-Chamber-Inhalation/dp/B09V84W58C/ref=sr_1_17?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EffqpBA9ovDiITIfbqjnXGRv4QMBA9vivWCE3n5zhx6MmxM3xGQpVumuhonBFbQVpeOl69rCAEdzGHpM9nDiPd_ATrfRennRBgrqVcISqBb0CQqMkzimcRXWu7frHRPezLYTwnVAsdKH_d6zsStmd3wZKOz8TAj_J_bZYZwUhMglrGsiUu-XfE82XmsMMzh1An2O9JC6vx7qJhjt4ASGGBHI_Qwx9clctcHGl-NWaprhS90l2Z6D9dxPsIgFNrPPnj8RHENYKDg8pehkRwm6uiSQb0mWL1bem_9J5Jm9Ay0.g6o6lKWsYIJMmNDqjPprCWxQvvc_jxzsPJfj-nh0WAg&dib_tag=se&hvadid=580698354440&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9030090&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16729540683283516870&hvtargid=kwd-427954074616&hydadcr=27065_14515821&keywords=oxygen%2Bmask%2Bfor%2Bcats&qid=1715249843&sr=8-17&th=1

Brilliant solution if not a bit bulky when deployed.

[Greg Ellis]

My wife and I used to fly with our dogs all over the country.  We would notice though, as has been said previously, that the dogs would slow down and become a little lethargic at or around 8000 feet so we would stay at or below that altitude.  I always would joke that if we wanted them to settle down for some reason, just climb a little higher.  But they are good dogs and were quite calm in the airplane.

It has been said that the noise in the cabin may bother them.  I had a discussion with my vet about the need for hearing protection for the dogs.  He stated that dogs hearing is very sensitive to high pitch noises, think about the dog whistle that humans cannot hear.  The low pitch engine noises should not be a problem for them, according to our vet.  We never used Mutt muffs or any other hearing protection for them and they never acted like they were in pain or discomfort or having any issues with hearing.  But, then again, I wish they could talk to me and let me know...

[JohnB]

If you fly above 10,000 feet with your dog for long periods, you should give them oxygen. Their response to hypoxia is similar to ours, and start once you go higher than 9,000 feet. Dogs typically go to sleep when they become hypoxic to try to preserve brain function before they pass out. Best solution I've found that dogs tolerate is from Aerox, certified up to 25,000 feet!! Comfy for pups, it's like a muzzle to them. That way, when I'm on oxygen , they are too. Here's Teddy  w/scarf added for cool aviator effect

 

[affricate]

I fly 13,5 from Tucson to Ohio (maybe an hour at 15,5) with my dog, no issues whatsoever. 

[Stubby]

I don't have any advice for the OP, but I am extremely curious as to why you're transporting rats.

[dkkim73]

2 hours ago, Stubby said:

I don't have any advice for the OP, but I am extremely curious as to why you're transporting rats.

Ha. Well... it's a combination of (benign) behavioral experiments and rat-interest on my daughter's part. They're really quite interesting and personable creatures. Just happened that the reputable breeder was a full day's car travel away. Was looking to solve the problem with airpower (if I can find a cavalry hat I'll shout "air mobile!"). Unfortunately in a part of the state with high minimum altitudes... I realized quickly it would be more complicated than the more common Fido Problem. 

Interesting discussion, though. 

 

[natdm]

On 5/8/2024 at 8:36 AM, N201MKTurbo said:

I flew my cat from Denver to Phoenix once. He just curled up in the copilots foot well and slept the whole way.

Not at all concerned about cabin noise? We're trekking from AZ to MN later this year, with the cat in a carrier on the back seat. He's an anxious cat, and I'm wondering how he'll fair with the noise.

Should have got a damn dog.

[N201MKTurbo]

2 hours ago, natdm said:

Not at all concerned about cabin noise? We're trekking from AZ to MN later this year, with the cat in a carrier on the back seat. He's an anxious cat, and I'm wondering how he'll fair with the noise.

Should have got a damn dog.

It didn’t seem to bother him. I didn’t have a carrier, I just carried him to the plane, got inside, closed the door and let him go. He sat on my lap for a while then settled into the copilots footwell.

I took that cat on car rides all the time, so it wasn’t too unusual for him.

[natdm]

1 hour ago, N201MKTurbo said:

It didn’t seem to bother him. I didn’t have a carrier, I just carried him to the plane, got inside, closed the door and let him go. He sat on my lap for a while then settled into the copilots footwell.

I took that cat on car rides all the time, so it wasn’t too unusual for him.

Sounds like you have a super chill cat. 

Here’s ours, we wanted to keep him in a cage for one day when we got him. 

I don’t want to NOT cage him.. “don’t create your own in-flight emergencies”.

[N201MKTurbo]

11 minutes ago, natdm said:

Sounds like you have a super chill cat. 

Here’s ours, we wanted to keep him in a cage for one day when we got him. 

I don’t want to NOT cage him.. “don’t create your own in-flight emergencies”.

The flight I made with that cat was in the late 80s. Cats go crazy when they are in situations they are not accustomed to. So, taking them on car rides and local airplane flights will go a long way to getting the cat accustomed to riding in the plane.

I always let my cats come and go as they please. They have a cat door and are free to go outside any time they want. I think they are much happier that way. They usually just hang out in the backyard, but sometimes they go on walkabout. Our neighbors say they come and visit sometimes. They still like to walk on my keyboard.

[natdm]

5 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

The flight I made with that cat was in the late 80s. Cats go crazy when they are in situations they are not accustomed to. So, taking them on car rides and local airplane flights will go a long way to getting the cat accustomed to riding in the plane.

I always let my cats come and go as they please. They have a cat door and are free to go outside any time they want. I think they are much happier that way. They usually just hang out in the backyard, but sometimes they go on walkabout. Our neighbors say they come and visit sometimes. They still like to walk on my keyboard.

We've started putting him in the car for some rides. We also got a travel case for him and put it on the floor. He actually spends most of the day in there and loves it. We're hoping he treats it as a 'safe spot' in the plane.

But really.. no issue with that sound? Wow. 

[EricJ]

55 minutes ago, natdm said:

But really.. no issue with that sound? Wow. 

You can get hearing protection (e.g., Mutt Muffs) for cats.    As with anything, you have to experiment with it first.   For the most part, though, cats are good at tuning out audio stimulus or environments that they're not interested in, so it may not be an issue.

[natdm]

Just now, EricJ said:

You can get hearing protection (e.g., Mutt Muffs) for cats.    As with anything, you have to experiment with it first.   For the most part, though, cats are good at tuning out audio stimulus or environments that they're not interested in, so it may not be an issue.

My cats don't listen to me either.

[natdm]

So if I got a constant flow system and this box to route a cannula to..

https://a.co/d/2fe2W5R

Is it animal cruelty to make it up to the levels?..

[N201MKTurbo]

52 minutes ago, natdm said:

So if I got a constant flow system and this box to route a cannula to..

https://a.co/d/2fe2W5R

Is it animal cruelty to make it up to the levels?..

The only question is the flow rate. It depends on the leak rate. If only they made cheap pulse ox for the cat.

[natdm]

14 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

The only question is the flow rate. It depends on the leak rate. If only they made cheap pulse ox for the cat.

Yeah I can’t really find any options. Especially any that won’t make him go absolutely apes***.

[N201MKTurbo]

2 minutes ago, natdm said:

Yeah I can’t really find any options. Especially any that won’t make him go absolutely apes***.

I think that box would work, if you sewed a cover over the exhaust cat hole. I would shoot for about a 1/2 inch exhaust or smaller.

[dkkim73]

1 hour ago, natdm said:

So if I got a constant flow system and this box to route a cannula to..

https://a.co/d/2fe2W5R

Is it animal cruelty to make it up to the levels?..

With a cover, it becomes a Schrödinger box. 

[natdm]

15 minutes ago, dkkim73 said:

With a cover, it becomes a Schrödinger box. 

That’s so messed up. And creative. Cats both hypoxic and hyperoxic at the same time! 
 

Or dead. 

[dkkim73]

10 hours ago, natdm said:

That’s so messed up. And creative. Cats both hypoxic and hyperoxic at the same time! 
 

Or dead. 

Yeah, it's a pretty underwhelming use of a scientific education, but the spirit of mischief struck. 

That said, I think that is the solution I would have used. I think, at any flow rate where it is maintaining inflation (slight positive pressure against the shape), it would be steady state in and out. So the questions would be - is mixing an issue or will diffusion take care of that in a box-like space - required consumption rate for Fluffy(ies). Probably could find that somewhere in the vet literature. 

[natdm]

PIREP for flying with a cat:

We definitely went high, 11500. He was totally fine and loved to be pet. He was also slightly drugged. 
 

When we hit some turbulence and heat down below, he did what I’ve nearly done a few times and let it go out of both ends.

The day after, he was totally fine for the next flight.

 

[dkkim73]

55 minutes ago, natdm said:

PIREP for flying with a cat:

We definitely went high, 11500. He was totally fine and loved to be pet. He was also slightly drugged. 
 

When we hit some turbulence and heat down below, he did what I’ve nearly done a few times and let it go out of both ends.

The day after, he was totally fine for the next flight.

 

I'll bet he wasn't bored! Think of how fine a cat's balance is, probably easier to get motion stick esp without a visual reference. 

If I didn't fly acro type maneuvers for a few months, there was always a chance I'd see breakfast again on the first flight. But like Fluffy, after that it was all roses.