When traveling with your furry companion, it’s important to stay alert to dangers that might not be immediately obvious.
Here are some hazards that I think every RVer traveling with dogs needs to know. RVers with dogs, be forewarned!
Plastic bags
Curiosity can lead dogs into dangerous situations, especially when food is involved. If a dog finds an empty chip bag or dog treat bag, you can be sure she’s going to go looking for leftover crumbs inside.
Many plastic food bags are made from mylar because it helps keep food fresher. Fresher food is good, but these bags can be deadly to your furry friend! When a dog pokes its head into a plastic bag, it can become stuck.
Here’s how: As the dog breathes in, the bag can create a vacuum effect, tightly sealing the plastic around their nose and mouth. When this happens, usually the dog will panic, which makes their breathing even faster. The suction becomes even stronger than before. This restricts airflow and can result in suffocation in mere minutes. Unfortunately, this danger often occurs quickly and quietly, and it affects dogs of all sizes, breeds, and ages.
Protect your pet
- Use sealed storage. Transfer chips, pet treats, or other bagged items into resealable containers as soon as you open them.
- Safely discard bags. Tear or cut all plastic bags before disposal to eliminate the risk of reuse.
- Secure trash bins. Use bins with locking lids and keep them in an area your dog can’t access, such as a cupboard.
- Check outdoor areas. Look for litter around your campsite or RV site. Stray bags will also pose a hazard to your fur baby.
Electrical wires
In RVs, extension cords are often used for accessories like electric fans or heaters. These wires can be tempting for dogs to chew, risking electric shock. A shock like this can burn your pet’s tongue and/or mouth and cause difficulty swallowing.
Protect your pet
- Cover wires. Keep wires covered or tucked away using cord protectors or organizers.
- Remain vigilant. Closely monitor your pet at all times—especially if they tend to be nervous or excited when away from your brix-n-stix home.
- Offer substitutions. Provide safe chewing toys for your dog so they’ll be less likely to chew on the electrical cords.
Ingesting small objects
RVers know that campgrounds are not all the same. Some campsites are meticulously cleaned and made ready for the next incoming camper. Others? Not so much.
Items like bottle caps, buttons, toy parts, or other small items left lying around can become choking hazards for your furry friend.
Protect your pet
- Precheck. Complete a “walk around” through your entire campsite before parking your RV. Look for small items that may be problematic and discard them.
- Keep pets secure. Use a tether system or portable fencing to secure your pet. Check this area frequently for hazards that could hurt your dog or cat.
- Monitor. Keep watch over your pet, both inside and outside the RV.
- Clean up. Carefully check for stray items after unpacking. Keep the inside living area tidy. (If you RV with children, be sure to discard any broken toys immediately.) Teach children to keep small items, like Legos, away from pets. You do not want to spend your camp time at the vet’s emergency room!
Wildlife encounters
In some camping areas, predators like coyotes or birds of prey may pose a threat to small dogs. Read more about this in my previous article.
Protect your pet
- Supervise. Keep watch over your pets when they are outside your RV.
- Leash ‘em. Take precautions when hiking with your dog and always keep her leashed! Talk to the park ranger or campground manager about the possibility of predators in the area.
- Protection. Consider protective vests with spikes to deter predators.
Campfire hazards
Hot coals and embers can cause burns.
Protect your pet
- Train. Train your dog to avoid the firepit area or keep them securely leashed far away from the campfire.
Extra steps for pet safety
- Pet CPR. Learn pet CPR. This knowledge can be lifesaving in emergencies.
- Educate. Be sure that all RVing family members and travel buddies understand these dangers. Everyone needs to know and practice prevention measures and remain vigilant to keep pets safe.
Add any other potential dangers RVers with dogs should watch for using the comments below.
##RVT1190
You missed a very important safety precaution: Other dogs in the park not on leashes (running loose). I’ve been in several parks, all of which had rules on leashing dogs, only to find owners let their dogs out in the park without a leash. We had two 10 lb mixed breed rescues and in one park a 50 lb dog would run free in the park and get into fights with other dogs. I had to resort to bear spray to keep the mean, unruly dog from attacking our little guys. Needless to say the dog never returned to our area of the park while we were there.
Yes, it never fails to amaze me how many owners disregard the rule to always keep their dog leashed.
I carry a small defense spray when walking my dogs in parks. Even if you have a large dog (one of ours is a GSD) another large, loose, aggressive dog could cause harm.
Thank you, Gail! It seems that the greatest way of reducing, if not eliminating, these risks is to closely monitor ones pet. Happy new year and safe travels!
My dog is always with me–on leash. I watch for loose dogs at all times, and I do carry a big walking stick to back them off. And I report them. There’s no excuse for it, and that is the biggest danger to other dogs. Where I go, there can be cougars, bears, etc., so the loose dog’s owners apparently don’t care about their dog. When they holler, oh they are friendly, that means they are out of control. I holler back, well, I’m not friendly. Other dogs on leash may not be friendly to a dog charging. It’s amazing how many run loose. I think it’s also a good idea to watch for places where anti-freeze has run out onto the ground. Common sense is always good.