Travelling to Madeira With a Dog: What you should know

 

Please note that except for guide dogs, not all airlines allow transporting animals. Therefore, one of the first steps when planning your trip is to compare conditions between the airlines that operate flights to Madeira.

After booking your tickets, it is time to find out which documents are required in advance. As this will depend on whether you are travelling within or outside European Union, it is recommended to call the appropriate embassy to confirm the entry requirements for Madeira Islands. Dogs travelling from countries within the European Union must have a Passport issued by a qualified vet. Moreover, your dog needs to have an identification microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and to be dewormed. To know more information on vaccination, you should contact the relevant authorities in your country or ask for information from the designated Portuguese advisor.

Whether your dog is going in the cabin or the cargo will depend on the airline you are flying with. Thus, it is essential to check this in advance with the airline. Generally, small or guide dogs travel in the cabin, while medium-size or large dogs will be transported in the cargo. In this case, you will need to acquire a carrier following IATA's guidelines and keep in mind that there is an upper limit regarding both size and weight (cage). Make sure your dog gets used to it by educating it to sleep on the carrier a couple of weeks in advance. Some vets would recommend giving some calming medicine for a dog before flying, and others don't. If you choose to use a calming medication, you should get it a month earlier and test how the dog reacts to it.

 

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Because check-ins for passengers travelling with pets may take longer, it is better to arrive earlier at the airport. Before the trip, do not feed the animal too much. It should embark with only a light meal. It would help if you also walked it for a bit to relax. If the dog has to go in the cargo, it is good to place something that smells of caretakers, like a worn t-shirt, inside the carrier to make the dog less stressed and a dipper. During flights with transits, it's important to remember that travellers won't be able to "visit" the dog, and there will be no one to walk the dog in the meantime. It is possible with some airlines to have a long layover to get the dog for a walk and check him in again, but it needs to be explicitly requested during the first check-in. Dogs flying in the cabin also need a carrier, which has to fit under the seat.

Madeirans are very welcoming with dogs, especially kids. When walking around with your buddy, you will be amazed at the number of people wishing to cuddle it. Most of the restaurants with outside space are also pet-friendly. Although pets are not allowed at the sand beaches, you can walk freely with your dog on the promenades and play pebbles. When searching for accommodation in Madeira, make sure the landlord allows pets. You can use Flatio's advanced filter to find pet-friendly apartments in Madeira.