Take a look back at Part 1 of our Traveling with Pets series where we discussed some general insight on how to minimize stress when taking your furry friends on the road.  Continue reading with Part 2 as we discuss some important considerations.

Bathing Your Pet On The Road

You should be prepared to bathe your pet while traveling, as they could get dirty or require a flea bath. You don’t need special flea or pet shampoo, as human shampoo works just fine. Just make sure to leave the shampoo on for a few minutes to suffocate the fleas. Do not use pet shampoo that contains pesticides, as your pet can ingest the toxic contents. Baby shampoo is also effective, especially if you have concerns about getting shampoo in your pet’s eyes. We have always found that regular bathing is a more effective flea prevention than a collar or drops. Some RV parks do have pet washing stations, but you can also use your inside or outside shower to do the deed. Be sure to tie your pet up while bathing them, as there are many temptations.

Age & Disposition of the Animal

If you have a senior or very young pet, it may not be in their best interest (or yours), to have them with you. An older animal may have aches and pains that render them more irritable than normal. A young animal will likely be overly energetic and may lay waste to your rig. I’m not suggesting these are show-stoppers, but consider your pet’s personality as part of the decision. If your dog is not very social with humans or other dogs, this could be a problem as well.

“Vocal Technique”

A howling cat or barking dog is not conducive to good RV etiquette. Remember that most RV parks have rules prohibiting animals being left in RVs unattended. This is mostly to do with nuisance barking. If your dog is well behaved and keeps quiet while you are away, this is rarely an issue. We leave our dog and cat in our RV if we are doing something where pets are not welcome. We never get a complaint from the park or neighbors because Pandora does not make a sound. The exception to this would be if somebody tried to break into the coach; the best burglar alarm system going. If you have a loud dog or cat, leaving them in your rig would be problematic, and you would likely be asked to leave the park. We have stayed in many RV parks where all you could hear during the day was a barking dog left in an RV unattended.

RV Type

If you travel with a towable, your pets will be riding in the towing vehicle during the drive, which may not be conducive to their comfort or yours. Do not leave them in the trailer while you are driving, as this is unsafe. Smaller RVs may also limit the comfort and enjoyment of both human and animal.

Climate

If you are traveling in warm weather, remember to open some windows, turn on a fan, run the roof Air Conditioner and/or find a cool area of the coach to put their food, water, and bed so they may hang out there. This is also true when you stop for a break from driving. Do not leave your vehicle without ensuring your pet will be comfortable while you are out. If you have a towable, remove your pet from the towing vehicle and put them in the trailer. NEVER leave your pet in a hot vehicle for any length of time!

Border crossing

If you are crossing the border between USA, Canada, or Mexico, ensure your pets are fully vaccinated and you have the documentation from your veterinarian to prove it.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, and it is important to remember that each situation and pet is different. However, the most important decision is what is best for the animal. Sometimes it is best to leave them behind. If you will be spending a majority of your time out of the RV, your pet may be happier staying behind at a boarding facility, or with a friend or family member. They will enjoy being with other dogs or human friends and will anxiously await your return.

About the Author: 

Steve Froese, an avid RV owner, traveler, and Coach-Net member since 2013, is the principal of “A Word to the Wise Technical Communications”, a published RV author, certified RV technician, and licensed Professional Engineer. He frequently collaborates with the “RV Doctor”, Gary Bunzer, and has worked with the RVIA/RVDA as a technical and training writer and consultant. Professionally, he works as a quality engineer and musician. Watch for more of Steve’s work in upcoming Coach-Net publications.

Bob B. ~ “Consistent with our past experience, the dispatcher was friendly, concerned, and efficient; she returned calls as promised to let us know who the provider would be and when to expect arrival, as well as to confirm arrival. The service provider, Ratholland Automotive Service, and its driver, J.T. called immediately to estimate arrival time, and arrived within 5 minutes of the estimate. J.T. was prompt, friendly, and efficient. He had the proper equipment and took care of changing our tire and getting us on the road quickly and professionally. We’ve had Coach-Net for about 14 years, and you’ve always come through when needed. I’m now the Director of the Forest River Owners’ Group, and we provide Coach-Net coverage to all new Forest River RV purchasers. I’m happy to be able to promote that affiliation.”

Leaving family pet(s) behind when we venture out on RV trips can be emotionally difficult. However, it is possible, under the right conditions, to take your furry friends with you. This two-part article will provide some insight into traveling with pets and will hopefully offer some ideas how to minimize the stress on both the two- and four-legged members of the family.

There are several issues to consider at the outset prior to deciding whether to take your pets out on the road, and the type of pet you have is obviously also a consideration. We will focus exclusively on cats & dogs, as well as part-time travels. Full-time RVers have generally necessarily dealt with this important issue.

We adopted our latest dog Pandora about a year-and-a-half ago. Prior to that, it had been many years since we last owned a dog, so we had become accustomed to travelling without one. We have also always had cats, which we have always left at home to be tended to by whoever was watching our house for us.

We realized very quickly that Pandora would be an awesome “RV Dog”. She loves riding in the rig and generally sleeps while we are driving. She will not complain if we leave her in the RV, but jumps up on the dashboard to watch us walk, ride, or drive away. We are true adventurers when we travel, so we take Pandora out with us exploring and walking or biking, unless we are visiting a location that does not allow pets. Sometimes you may find yourself leaving your pet in the RV for long periods of time. You must understand your pet well enough to know how long they can be left alone before they have to relieve themselves. Pandora is good for about 16 hrs. You can also pad train your dog. When Pandora was a puppy, we kept a pad in the shower for her to use. Cats of course will use their litter box, which we also keep in the bathroom.

Our 15-year old daughter is very attached to Pepper the cat, so she decided it would be a good idea for him to experience the family travel adventure. Since we have a large RV with plenty of room, we decided to give it a try and took Pepper with us on an RV trip. We were rather unprepared for the outcome. The cat howled and meowed the entire time, and was both vomiting and had diarrhea. It was a bit of a disaster, and it is a very fortunate thing that we have a washer/dryer in our coach. It was clear to us that the cat suffers from motion sickness, and since our daughter is non-deterred in her desire to have her cat along, we now give Pepper Gravol® at a dose of 12.5mg every four hours. We do this by cutting a 50mg tablet into four pieces. We first dose Pepper about one hour before we drive. By doing so, Pepper is a reasonably good traveler. One benefit of cats is that they are generally not a problem to leave alone in the RV, as they will generally find a place to sleep. If you are considering taking your cat on the road, and they experience motion sickness, you can try the above procedure. Some cats will crawl under the bed or couch and stay there the entire trip. This may or may not work for you. Fortunately, Pepper does not do this, but does like to curl up on a dinette chair.  Overall, it is a joy to have our pets along, and we feel more complete as a family.

Part 2 will present some important considerations regarding taking your pets on your RV adventures.

About the Author: 

Steve Froese, an avid RV owner, traveler, and Coach-Net member since 2013, is the principal of “A Word to the Wise Technical Communications”, a published RV author, certified RV technician, and licensed Professional Engineer. He frequently collaborates with the “RV Doctor”, Gary Bunzer, and has worked with the RVIA/RVDA as a technical and training writer and consultant. Professionally, he works as a quality engineer and musician. Watch for more of Steve’s work in upcoming Coach-Net publications.