15 Important RV Pet Safety Tips for RVing with Pets

If you’re looking for the best RV pet safety tips, then you’ve landed in the right place.

In this quick guide, I’m going to share 15 of my best tips for safely RVing with pets, covering everything from how to safely leave your pet in your RV to avoiding dangers they might face while you travel.

As full-time RVers for over 4 years with two dogs, we’ve learned quite a bit about RV travel with pets over the years, and it’s my hope that this post will help you avoid some of the mistakes that we made.

Alright, let’s jump right into the most important RV pet safety tips!

1. Secure Your Pet During Travel

First up, let’s talk about how to keep your pets safe on RV travel days.

In Towable RVs

We personally have a 5th wheel RV, which means that our dogs ride in the truck with us on travel days.

If you have a fifth wheel or a travel trailer, please never allow your dogs or cats to ride in the trailer.

Not only is this very stressful on a pet, but it’s also extremely unsafe.

It feels like an earthquake is happening when you’re in a moving travel trailer, and it can also reach insanely high temperatures.

There are a few options that you have to keep your pets secure in a tow vehicle.

You can use pet seatbelts or travel crates, but we personally just use a seat cover that loops up over the front seats to create their own area in the back.

Ultimately, you have to decide what is best and the least stressful for you and your pets.

Cap looks out the driver's side window of a black truck, as if ready to drive.

In Driveable RVs

If you have a driveable RV such as a Class A or Class C etc., then your situation will be a little bit different.

Once again, though, you have to find what works best for you and your pets.

If your dogs have a dedicated space in the RV, then sometimes keeping them there in their crate can be the best and safest option for them.

I know some RVers whose cats like to find their own “safe” place on travel days, while others choose to crate them.


2. Monitor Your RV When You’re Away From Your Pet

Let’s face it. While we like to have our pets with us at all times, it’s not always feasible.

Here are a few examples of places you might not be able to take your pets during RV travel:

While we try to find dog-friendly things to do while we’re RVing, ultimately, not everything is.

Some people just choose to opt out of activities that aren’t pet-friendly or just have one person stay behind with the pets, but that isn’t something that we want to do.

If you’re like us and do choose to leave your dogs behind at the RV from time to time, a big safety tip we’d have for you is to use an RV pet monitor while you’re away.

A few options are setting up an indoor camera to watch your pets with, pointing a camera at the thermostat so you can monitor the indoor temp, or using a temperature monitoring system with alerts like a Waggle pet monitor.

This will send you email alerts and text messages should something like a power outage occur that could affect your furry friends.

The downside is that most systems like this do have a monthly fee and might not work the best in remote areas with limited cellular network coverage to deliver the instant alerts.

This image shows a woman sitting in the back of an open SUV, smiling and petting a Golden Retriever. Next to them is a device displaying a temperature of +15.0°F and the brand name "Waggle" on its screen. The scene suggests a cozy and secure environment for pets, with the Waggle device monitoring the temperature inside the vehicle.

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The biggest concerns you will have to worry about are the temps inside the RV while you’re away and your pets getting separation anxiety and potentially harming the RV and/or themselves.

If you have a way to monitor the situation with Waggle and check in while you are gone, then you will be able to enjoy your time better with fewer worries about your pet’s safety.

Janae sits on the steps of an RV with Cap beside her.

3. Pack a Pet First Aid Kit

RVing with pets can be unpredictable at times.

You never know what hazards you might encounter and where you could be when accidents happen.

I recommend that you always keep a pet first aid kit with you at all times.

If you are boondocking and your pet injures themselves in the middle of nowhere, having some basic first aid available can be a huge help until you’re able to get back to civilization.

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4. Make Sure Your Pet is Microchipped

Unfortunately, pets sometimes get separated from their owners.

And when you’re traveling in new places all the time, that unfortunate reality can be even more scary!

One thing that you can do to eliminate some of the worries is to have your pet microchipped.

If your pet gets lost, microchipping can significantly increase the likelihood of being reunited, as shelters and vets can scan for the chip.

Unlike collars or tags, which can sometimes be lost, a microchip is permanent, which just further increases the chance of your pet being reunited with you.

Both of our dogs have microchips, so should they ever get away from us, I have just a little more peace of mind that they would find their way home.

I’ve also heard of people using Apple Airtags to track their pets, but we have not personally tried it.

Marvel and Cap sit on camping chairs outside an RV, with Marvel looking directly at the camera and Cap looking off to the side.

5. Keep Your Pet’s ID Tags Up to Date

That being said, having ID tags for your pets can be an even faster way of getting them back with you, should they ever be lost.

If you do have ID tags for your pet or even a microchip, make sure that you keep the contact information up to date.

If you change your phone number, don’t forget to add the new phone number to your pet’s identification information!



6. Always Have Water Available

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s still worth mentioning that you should always have plenty of water available to your pets.

When we’re camping, we always have the dog’s food and water bowls available to them, whether we’re indoors or outdoors.

When we’re traveling, we frequently stop and offer them water breaks.

When we’re hiking with our dogs, we carry a small, collapsible water bowl with us to give them a drink when we stop to rest along the trail.

We also use a very good RV water filtration system so that I don’t have to worry about them getting bad water in any of the places that we travel to.

Marvel, a fluffy black, white, and tan puppy, lies next to a metal water bowl on a wooden floor.

7. Follow Leash Rules

Most RV parks that you visit will have leash rules.

Please always follow the rules, and do not think that you and your pet are above them!

Just because your dog is well-trained and well-behaved does not mean that the other dogs in the area will be.

Having your pet on a leash allows you to be more in control if a situation starts to escalate.

Even the most dog-friendly national parks all have a 6-foot leash rule that you must follow.

Along these lines, please don’t allow your dog to approach other dogs without permission first, even if your dog is friendly. 

One of our dogs does great meeting others, and our other dog is very reactive and does not get along with other dogs, so if you approach us without asking first, it can be a huge problem.

All dogs are different, and that doesn’t make them “bad,” but it does require that we be more responsible pet owners!

That being said, when we are boondocking, and there aren’t others around, our dogs are very well-trained and absolutely love exploring off-leash.

I highly recommend training your dogs well so that you are ready for any situation you might encounter.

Good recall training can be so very important for RV dog safety in all situations!

Tucker and Cap take a break on a forest path in Glacier National Park, with Tucker holding Cap's leash and both enjoying the shade.

8. Have Your Pet’s Medical Records Readily Available

When you’re traveling, you never know when you might need your pet’s medical records.

There have been multiple times when we needed ours, but the most common instances are when we are going to short-term board our dogs, leave them at doggy daycare for an afternoon, or even when we need to get their shots updated.

There are even some RV parks that require you to give them a copy of your dog’s medical records to keep on file.

We keep both a printed physical copy as well as a digital record of our dog’s shots on our phones.

That way, we always have access to them should the need arise to have them.

Janae and Marvel peek out from a cozy pet crate, both smiling and looking content inside an RV.

9. Keep Emergency Vet Contacts Handy

One thing that I recommend doing in my ebook “The Ultimate Guide to RVing with Dogs” is to always research the areas you are heading to and keep a list of the emergency vets in the area.

Thankfully, we haven’t been in a situation yet where I would need to use an emergency vet, but it gives me peace of mind to have my options readily available, just in case.

I typically make a note of the vet’s name, location, phone number, and hours.

Two dogs, Cap and Marvel, sit on a wooden bench during a hike in a scenic rocky area with trees in the background.


10. Avoid Extreme Temperatures

This is perhaps one of the very most important RV pet safety tips I can give you.

Please do your best to avoid extreme temperatures when you’re RVing with your pets.

This is actually a mistake that we made early on when we first started RVing with our dogs.

We were camping in an area with a large asphalt pad, and I was playing fetch with them.

They seemed to be having a great time and I didn’t notice that anything was wrong until Cap started limping.

Come to find out, even though it was early in the day, the sun had heated the asphalt, and it was burning their poor little toe beans. I felt so bad!

I learned my lesson after that, though, and from then on, they had to wear their doggie boots if the temperature was hot outside.

On the flipside, though, the extreme cold can also be harsh on them, so we do our best to chase moderate climates year-round.

That being said, our dogs both absolutely love a good romp through the snow, lol!

A good rule of thumb is that if the ground is too hot or too cold for you to be comfortable barefooted, then it’s too much for your pets as well.

Cap lays happily on wet sand at the beach, on a leash held by Tucker, with sandy dunes in the background.

11. Regularly Check Your Pet for Ticks

Growing up in an area with a lot of ticks, it was unfortunately common for us to need to check our pets regularly for ticks.

But if that’s not something that you’re used to, you might need the reminder to check your pets.

If you’re traveling in an area with lots of ticks, then be sure to check your pets over to make sure that they aren’t carrying any with them.

This is especially important if you are hiking through a wooded area or even if your dog has been playing in thick or tall grass.

It’s up to you what you do with your pets, but we choose to use tick drops on our dogs, which drastically reduces the number of tick bites that they get every summer.

Cap sits on a rocky ledge overlooking a beautiful sunset with trees and mountains in the background.

12. Research Animal and Plant Hazards

Whenever you are going to be traveling through a new state or area, it’s a good idea to research the hazardous plants, wildlife, and other things that can be dangerous for your pets in the area.

Knowing the dangers can help you be more aware of what to keep an eye out for, as well as how to treat your dog should an incident occur where they are harmed.

Here are just a few things you might encounter:

  • Foxglove
  • Snakes
  • Hemlock
  • Coyotes
  • Bears
  • Mountain lions
  • Alligators
  • Scorpions
  • Spiders
  • Standing water (can harbor bacteria and parasites)
  • Poisonous mushrooms
  • Cactus spines
  • Jellyfish
  • Fire ants

Research the state or area where you are headed in advance so you are better prepared for the potential dangers to your pets that you might face.

Janae and Cap pose on a rocky hiking trail surrounded by trees and mountains, with Janae kneeling beside Cap.

13. Create a Safe Outdoor RV Space with a Portable Pet Fence

While we personally have not done so, a lot of RVers create an outdoor play area for their dogs using portable pet fence panels.

This can allow you to enjoy your outdoor camping setup with your dogs without them needing to be on a leash constantly.

This can also be really helpful when you’re raising a puppy in an RV to keep them contained in one area.

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Of course, you’ll need to check the rules at each individual RV park that you visit, as some do not allow you to put up fencing.



14. Train Your Pet to Follow Basic Commands

The next RV pet safety tip that I have for you is to train your dogs to follow basic commands.

It can quite literally save their life!

If they find something dangerous at the campsite and start to eat it, learning the command “drop it” can keep them from ingesting something harmful.

If they accidentally get out of the RV and away from you, learning the command “come” can get them back to you without further incident.

You get the point…having some basic commands under your belt and teaching them to obey every time right away can be a literal lifesaver.

I’ll be the first to admit that our dogs are far from perfect, but they do obey our commands, and it makes traveling with them far less stressful.

Janae wearing a white knit headband hugs Marvel, who has a happy expression, sitting outside in a camping chair by the fire.

15. Use a Screen Defender

The last tip that I’ll leave you with for now is to use a Screen Defender on your RV door(s).

This can keep your pets from destroying the screen and hurting themselves or even potentially escaping.

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RV screen doors are made of very thin mesh material that can easily be scratched up or even clawed through.

If you are the type of camper to frequently leave your door open with the screen door closed (that’s how we are!), then this gadget is even more important.

Not only is it an expensive pain to have to replace your screen door, but it’s also a potential safety issue should your dogs or cats get through the screen and escape.

When we got our new RV, adding a Screen Defender to both of the doors was one of the very first upgrades that we made.

Cap, an Australian Shepherd, sits on rocks in front of a cascading waterfall, wearing a red harness.

In Closing: 15 Important RV Pet Safety Tips

I hope that you’ve found this post helpful in keeping your pets safe on the road.

What other RV pet safety tips did I not add to this list? Drop a comment and let me know!

Looking for more helpful tips for RVing with dogs?

Safe travels, and happy camping!

Much Love, Janae xoxo
Photo of author
Janae, alongside her husband, Tucker, has turned the world into her playground. Having lived and traveled in an RV for over four years, she has trekked through 22 US national parks, ventured across 28 states, and explored the natural beauty of 12 countries. Some of her favorite travel experiences have been when she witnessed Iceland's shimmering Northern Lights, explored the rugged terrains of Southern Utah, and traveled across Ireland for almost two months. A lover of adventure and couple travel, Janae's writings have been featured in notable travel websites and magazines, and she has collected an online community of over 30,000 passionate fellow travelers.