Furry Friends

Traveling with pets is one of the great things about RV’ing! And there are many things you can do to make your and your furry companion’s trip safe and enjoyable.

Before any trip, make sure your pets vaccinations are current, and that you have copies of those records with you. Make sure your animals prescriptions are filled, and that you have refills available to you depending on the length of your trip. If you have a navigation system, you can look ahead to know if there’s a vet or emergency room near (just in case…).

Do spay or neuter your pet, and have them micro-chipped. A good collar with name and phone tags are important as well. Be aware of bugs and consider flea and tick products, heart worm protection, and carry a tick remover. (I always bring my pets favorite bowl, toys and pillow!) Make sure to pay attention to leash regulations and always pick up after your pup…

When travelling, have your pet in a comfortable harness and seat belt them in, or kennel them. A flying pet in a panic situation is dangerous to you and them. Also, in an accident, pets often run away and are lost or hit while disoriented.

I can’t speak for you, but I could be bleeding out of my ears, and nobody would notice. But the dog sneezing creates panic! Make sure you have a first aid kit, possibly some splints, and a snake bite kit. These are all very cheap insurance policies and will assure you and your furry friend a good trip.

There are some great water dishes that don’t slop over when your animal drinks. (Nothing works with my big dogs!) I leave a dish towel on the floor (color coordinated) to wipe up the drool with my foot. We make concessions for the love our pets give back. Thank goodness for linoleum!

Make sure to check ahead with the campgrounds on your route. Some have animal restrictions. Also, unfortunately, there are some areas that strictly enforce breed restrictions. DO NOT enter these areas if your dog is on the list. In parts of Canada, Colorado and Florida*, they will confiscate and destroy your animal on the spot!

Also check out the Pets section under Fun Stuff for some great products Best RV Accessories has found that you may like.

The alarm section, for instance, has an option for high/low temperature warning. It can call your cell phone to let you know if your animal might be in danger. It also can detect CO and LP leaks.

A lot of people have kitty-cats and wonder where to put the litter box. Many coaches have an exterior compartment with a door that backs up to an interior wall. This can be under a dinette or a larger storage area under the rear bed. If you have a layout like this, you can install a pet door so that your can go into this area to their litter box. Place it on a door mat and they won’t track litter back into the coach. (Best to use natural litter. Clay and clumping litter dust damages cats kidneys!) To clean the litter box, you can then open the exterior compartment door to access it. Do make sure that installing a pet door doesn’t break a vapor barrier designed to keep exhaust out of your coach! If you’re not sure - don’t do it. Check with a local RV specialist.

Dog kennels go nicely in coaches prepped for a washer/dryer, but didn’t have them installed. My pups like their harnesses, seat-belted into the dinette. Must be the view of the countryside passing by.

Hope you found some of this helpful, and that you and your furry friends enjoy many miles together in your RV.

*Make sure to check the internet, or call ahead for current laws about pets!