A handful of tips from Amy Burkert of GoPetFriendly.com for a comfortable and merry Holiday RV trip with your pets:
1. Your pet’s safety is the first priority. Start by making sure your four-legged friends are secured when traveling down the highway. “Whether you decide to use a crate or carrier that has been fastened in place, or a safety harness that connects to the seat belts in your sofa or dinette, buckling your pet up in your RV is just as important as clicking your own seatbelt,” advised Burkert.
2. The hustle and bustle of travel can be exhausting for everyone. “Be sure your pets have a peaceful place where they can go to relax and get away from it all,” said Burkert.
3. Feed and exercise your pets on their normal schedule. This alone can help reduce their anxiety. “Set an alarm to remind you of the moment your pets are expecting you to feed them,” said Burkert. “Use their daily walks as an opportunity to get a little one-on-one time.”
4. Vacation travels revolve around eating, drinking and merry making. “Spoiling our pets with food is a big temptation. A lot of the traditional fare, however, such as chocolate, raisins, macadamia nuts, onions, grapes and alcohol, can be toxic for your dog. Simply eating foods he is not used to can lead to gastrointestinal distress,” said Burkert.
5. Because you may be with people who are not used to having a pet around, it’s important to take a few precautions. “Dogs and cats can slip out an open door in a flash, so be sure that your pets’ ID tags are up-to-date with a phone number where you can be reached while you’re traveling,” said Burkert. “Also, in the event of an illness or injury, it’s helpful to have your pets’ medical records with you. Rather than lugging around a large file, take a paper copy of their current vaccination records and scan the rest of the information to an easy-to-pack USB drive.”
If you missed Holiday RV travel with pets, Part 1 — click here to read: ‘Millions of furry friends hit the road.’
Photo: Buckle up your dog with a chest pad harness that attaches to a seatbelt or tie down. Allow for enough room so that your pet can sit or lie down, but will keep them restrained in case of an accident. (Courtesy of GoPetFriendly.com ) Bottom: SkyBox Booster Seat by Kurgo
