A Florida woman allegedly drowned a two-week-old Doberman in a US airport toilet because she wasn't allowed to board a flight with the puppy, media reports say.

Cynthia Anderson, 56, was arrested on Friday on animal abuse charges, The Grand Island Independent newspaper said.

Anderson tried to board a flight at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport, but was denied access to the plane because the dog was so young and not properly contained.

Grand Island Police Sergeant Stan Steele told the newspaper on Monday that it appeared the woman then took the little dog to an airport bathroom, where she allegedly drowned it in a toilet bowl.

"The cause of death was determined to be drowning," Steele told the newspaper.