Pet owners may want to be wary of stashing Fido in an airplane cargo hold.

While traveling by air may seem like an easy way to transport your pet, it may not be as safe as you think; in fact, flying your pet as airline baggage can be a risky proposition.

All airlines in the United States are required to submit reports when there is a loss, injury or death of an animal; between May 2005 and November 2006, there were 46 deaths, 27 injuries and 12 missing pets among the roughly two million transported each year.

Keep in mind that airlines can’t be held responsible for the health of pets, unless there is proven negligence on their part.

For your pet’s sake, try to avoid flying if he is aging or has any pre-existing medical conditions–or if at all possible, try to carry him on (check with your airline).

While cargo compartments are temperature controlled, extreme weather can affect animals during the loading process, so if your pet must travel in the hold, opt for direct flights to minimize risk.

For more information on traveling with your pet, check out Flying the Not-So-Pet-Friendly Skies and the Pet Travel section.