This is the story of our Roxy — a pug. Not a guide for “any dog”, just what we hit preparing the flight from Switzerland to Uruguay.
The main problem: brachycephalic
Pugs are brachycephalic — short muzzle, breathing quirks. Because of that, as we were told and as it played out, almost no airline on earth takes those dogs in cargo: too much risk. Cabin is the only real option — if the airline lets animals on board at all.
- Cargo — basically closed for pugs (brachycephalic)
- Cabin — the only real option
- Check the specific airline’s rules early
Weight limit: 8 kg with the carrier
In the cabin we had a hard limit: up to 8 kg including the carrier. Roxy without the bag weighed almost 10 kg. So even the dog alone was already over, never mind the bag.
Departure in about two months. We couldn’t delay the move. We had to cut weight fast: diet, tracking, nerves. In the end Roxy got down to about 6.5 kg — and thank God, she passed the weigh-in.
Papers and the vet
In parallel with the weight — the paperwork. Vaccines, deworming: all in the international pet passport. A couple of days before departure we got a vet certificate that she is healthy and can fly.
- Vaccines — as required for the route / vet control (as they told us)
- Deworming — stamp in the passport
- International pet passport — with us
- Vet certificate a couple of days before the flight
Arrival in Uruguay
On arrival it went fine. We had the papers, but nobody really looked — we walked through calmly. That doesn’t mean it will be like that for everyone: better pack the full set as if they will check.
Early: cabin vs cargo, kg limit with the carrier, time to lose weight, passport and certificate. Don’t copy us one-to-one — check the airline and vet rules on the day you fly.