"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message
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Anything else I should do to protect the pup?

IMHO, it's a bad idea to just toss a puppy into the plane and go. It has no
idea what's going on, and not only is it possible that the unfamiliar
noises, smells, and movements could severely stress the dog (potentially
creating long-term health or behavioral problems), it may well wind up
hurting itself trying to escape its box.

If you don't have time to acclimate the dog to the airplane environment,
it's my opinion that you ought to just sedate the dog outright. Make *sure*
it will be asleep for the entire trip; waking up groggy right at the end
could be the worst experience of all. Sedation has its own risks, of
course, but I feel they are the lesser of the evils compared to not exposing
a dog to the airplane gradually.

Of course, depending on the exact age of the puppy, and its own personality,
you may find the puppy to be a reasonably willing participant, or it could
experience even more terror than usual. A dog's "childhood" has several
"fear periods" during which they are especially affected by new experiences.

Also, I hope that "airhole" is just a typo for "airholes". There needs to
be ample ventilation, not just a single hole somewhere.

Do make sure the dog has water available in the carrier somehow. Water
dispenser, bowl of ice cubes (or just partially filled with water and
frozen), or even just a deep bowl with water in it.

Beyond all that, you've probably made the appropriate preparations. As long
as the dog is properly restrained (belted or in a carrier secured to the
airframe), and it is comfortable, it should be fine. Frankly, I don't
believe the volume of the noise to be of a particular concern, not for a
single flight.

Pete