Many of us love to take our pets when we travel in our
RVs. Some people buy RVs so that they
can travel with their pets! It’s great
to be able to go hiking with your dog or relax in the shade with your cat by
your side! If your pet isn’t used to
traveling, take him or her on several short rides in a secured carrier,
gradually lengthening the time spent driving.
We want to make sure our beloved pets are safe and healthy when we
travel, so here are some helpful tips.
1. Be ready for
emergencies.
Ask your veterinarian to give you a brief history of your
pet’s vaccinations and major illnesses, and take it with you. Also bring your
pet’s medications and a pet first-aid kit.
Try to locate the closest 24 hour animal hospital before arriving at
your destination. Hopefully you’ll never
need it, but if you do, you won’t have to waste time finding out where to take
your pet in an emergency.
2. Vaccinate.
We should always keep our pets’ vaccinations up to date,
whether or not they are traveling. When
you are planning a trip, talk with your veterinarian about whether additional
vaccinations will be necessary. They may
be recommended depending on your destination and if your pet might be in
contact with other animals. Have this
conversation as far in advance of your trip as possible, since some vaccines
require a series of injections to be effective.
Bring proof of rabies vaccination as some states require it.
3. Implant a
microchip.
Of course, your pet should always wear a collar and ID tag
with your contact information. Your cell
phone number should be on the tag, and you can even have a tag made with your
destination information. Having a
microchip inserted under your pet’s skin greatly increases the likelihood that
you’ll find your pet should he or she become lost. The chip holds a number that is associated
with your contact information. If your
pet ends up in an animal shelter or animal hospital, the staff will scan the
pet to retrieve the pet’s number. The
number is in a national database which they can access to find your
information.
4. Use a secured
carrier or safety harness.
Your pet should be in a well-ventilated carrier or safety
harness attached to a seat belt when you are driving. There are many types of carriers available
but whatever you choose, it should be large enough for your pet to stand, sit,
lie down and turn around. Harnesses are
okay if the pet is secured by a seatbelt and in the back seat of your vehicle
or away from the driver’s compartment of a motorhome. If you have to stop suddenly, you don’t want
your pet flying through the windshield!
5. Protect from parasites.
Use broad-spectrum parasite-prevention products that control
fleas, ticks and other parasites for your dogs and cats. If you’re traveling to a warm climate, this
is especially important.
6. Don’t allow your
pet to ride with its head out the window.
He or she could be injured by anything flying off the road
or another vehicle.
7. Never leave your
pet alone in a parked vehicle.
In hot weather, even if your windows are open, the vehicle
can become like a furnace in a short time.
And in cold weather, a vehicle can hold in the cold like a
refrigerator. Either situation can be
deadly to your pet.
8. Bring familiar
food and water.
Don’t expect that your pet’s food will be available
everywhere. Bring food and treats that
he or she is used to eating to avoid stomach upset while away from home. And, bring tap water stored in plastic jugs
or bottled water. Drinking water from a
new area could also upset your pet’s stomach.
Offer water to your pet frequently.
9. Don’t feed your
pet in a moving vehicle.
Three to four hours before leaving on your trip, feed your
pet a light meal. Even if you will be
driving a long distance, don’t feed your pet until you stop.
10. Avoid toxic
plants.
Learn what plants are toxic to dogs and cats. For instance, eating a Lily can cause a cat
to die. Lilies are extremely toxic to a
cat’s kidneys and can cause irreversible damage. Dogs must not eat Azaleas, Milkweeds and
Mushrooms, which can cause vomiting or mouth irritation. If you think your pet may have eaten a toxic
plant, call an animal hospital or poison control hotline immediately.