Safety Tips For RVing with Pets
02-21-2018
Author: in Henley's Happy Trails
RVing with pets is like RVing with children in a lot of ways. They get bored in an RV, don’t particularly like long drives, and they can be noisy in an RV park. That being said, you don’t have to take a toddler to the “kid run” to do their business. However, being that this lifestyle can be difficult with pets, here are a few safety tips for RVing with pets.
If we are going to stay in one location for more than a week, we will usually write down the closest vet clinic and the closest emergency vet clinic as well. Knowing these things ahead of time can alleviate stress in an already stressful situation.
When temps have not been favorable one way or the other, we have placed a thermometer in the view of the camera so that we can monitor the inside temp of our rig as well. Up until this point, we have not opened the app to find an emergency. We have found that the idea of being able to see our pets at any time while we are exploring outside the rig gives us great peace of mind.
Instead of controlling their dogs on a leash, pet owners will let their dogs go wherever they please off leash or improperly use a leash that extends out to 10 feet or more. Often the dog will end up running up to every random stranger outside to say hello. This behavior can potentially put your dog or that person in a dangerous position. I personally have never had a problem with this and will greet any dog that comes my way. Not everyone feels the way I do about the matter; some are downright frightened of dogs.
That isn’t to say that your dog should never meet people. Dogs, in general, are social and most people seem to want to greet other dogs as much as the dogs want to greet them. It is good practice, however, to ask the person if they mind that your dog says hello.
The same holds true for other pets. Our dog is not interested in playing with other dogs. When approached she will start by attempting to ignore other dogs, and if they insist on following her, she may nip at them. It is for that reason we like to wait until a dog run is empty before taking our dog there. If you see a lone dog in the dog run with their owner, it's a good idea to ask if their dog is friendly with other dogs before bringing yours in. In our case, if we see someone heading for the dog run, we will remove ours to avoid any potential problems.
Keep in mind, in most states, dogs that bite are quarantined for a given amount of days in order to check for rabies. Avoiding situations where bites can occur can prevent you from having to stay at a place for several days when you only planned on staying the night.
Know Where the Emergency Vets Are Located
As you travel down the road, you are not always going to know where the nearest veterinary hospital is located. If you know where you are heading for the night, it doesn’t hurt to do a quick map search and note the name and number of the closest emergency vet clinic.If we are going to stay in one location for more than a week, we will usually write down the closest vet clinic and the closest emergency vet clinic as well. Knowing these things ahead of time can alleviate stress in an already stressful situation.
Related Read: Finding a Vet Near Me on the Road
Use a Pet Cam
We purchased an inexpensive Belkin NetCam in order to check in on our pets when we're away. It is very easy to use. We turn on our Verizon Jetpack hotspot and connect the camera to it. Using our phone app, we can check in on our rig whenever we are away.When temps have not been favorable one way or the other, we have placed a thermometer in the view of the camera so that we can monitor the inside temp of our rig as well. Up until this point, we have not opened the app to find an emergency. We have found that the idea of being able to see our pets at any time while we are exploring outside the rig gives us great peace of mind.
Avoid Dangerous Situations In Parks
Most RV parks allow pets. Some even have fenced in dog runs just for them. That doesn’t mean that everyone in the park has, wants, or likes pets themselves. We have been to many RV parks that include owners of pets who forget this fact.Instead of controlling their dogs on a leash, pet owners will let their dogs go wherever they please off leash or improperly use a leash that extends out to 10 feet or more. Often the dog will end up running up to every random stranger outside to say hello. This behavior can potentially put your dog or that person in a dangerous position. I personally have never had a problem with this and will greet any dog that comes my way. Not everyone feels the way I do about the matter; some are downright frightened of dogs.
That isn’t to say that your dog should never meet people. Dogs, in general, are social and most people seem to want to greet other dogs as much as the dogs want to greet them. It is good practice, however, to ask the person if they mind that your dog says hello.
Related Read: Bring Along Your BFF-Best Furry Friend
The same holds true for other pets. Our dog is not interested in playing with other dogs. When approached she will start by attempting to ignore other dogs, and if they insist on following her, she may nip at them. It is for that reason we like to wait until a dog run is empty before taking our dog there. If you see a lone dog in the dog run with their owner, it's a good idea to ask if their dog is friendly with other dogs before bringing yours in. In our case, if we see someone heading for the dog run, we will remove ours to avoid any potential problems.
Keep in mind, in most states, dogs that bite are quarantined for a given amount of days in order to check for rabies. Avoiding situations where bites can occur can prevent you from having to stay at a place for several days when you only planned on staying the night.
Conclusion
Overall, by locating vets in your area, keeping an eye on your pets when you are away, and maintaining control while following good leash etiquette, you can avoid potential problems. Did I miss any safety tips? Share yours in the comments below.Comment
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Author: Levi and Natalie Henley
