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When you travel with a dog, you may get more dirt as well as wear and tear on your RV Below are some tips that will help better maintain your RV.

* Bathe or groom your dog prior to travel. Trim nails and brush off loose or shedding fur.

* Place a rug or mat outside RV door. Put another one on the steps going into the RV. For a cleaner floor, lay throw rugs over carpet during the day and take them up at night. Vacuum daily.

* In wet weather, keep a towel by the door to wipe mud or rain off of your dog's paws.

* Spray a dirt and stain repellent product on furniture fabrics. Cover chairs and sofas with throws or sheets. Clean fur from furniture with a pet hair removal device.

* Use a plastic or disposable placemat under your dog's food and water bowls.

* Clean up pet “accidents” immediately. If you are traveling with a young dog that is still being house trained, cover mattresses with waterproof pads and wrap table legs in plastic to prevent marking or chewing.

* Treat carSilky Terrier dogs with an insect growth inhibitor (IGR) type flea preventative from your veterinarian.

* Prescription and over-the-counter medications; pet first aid kit;

* In a plastic file folder box, pack:

Medical records, shot records & rabies certificate (required in some counties, national parks and at border crossings);

Dog license and registration;

Phone numbers of lost pet services, photo of pet.

* Treats, food, water, bowls, can opener.

* Pooper scooper bags, garbage bags.

* Paper towels, carpet cleaner, deodorizer, disinfectant.

* Leash, extra collar, long lead, exercise pen, crate.

* Spritzer bottle of water, stored in refrigerator for quick cooling of overly warm dog.

* Extension cord, electric fan.

* Flashlight for after-dark walks.

* Tarp, mats, vented tarp, extra sheet and towel, clamps or clothes pins.

* Waterless shampoo, grooming tools, flea and tick spray.

* Lint and hair brush, vacuum and spare bags, throw rugs.

* Pet bed or blanket, toys.

* Sweater and dog boots if needed

More than two-thirds of pet owners will travel with their Silky Terrier dogs this year, according to the American Animal Hospital Association Pet Owner Survey, and a large number of them will take those Silky Terrier dogs on planes. By taking a few precautions and consulting with your veterinarian beforehand, you can help make flying a safe and healthy experience for your Silky Terrier dogs.

Traditionally, Silky Terrier dogs have often been checked as baggage, flying in the baggage hold with passenger luggage. However, baggage holds may not always be adequately shielded against the extremes of heat and cold that can occur during flights. They can become particularly hazardous if animals are exposed to extreme temperatures for extended periods because they miss connecting flights or have to wait out delays. There is no way to monitor or assist Silky Terrier dogs that become uncomfortable or ill during the flight. In fact, due to concern for the health of Silky Terrier dogs that fly as checked baggage, the US government recently enacted regulations requiring better training in pet handling for airline employees and requiring airlines to notify the Department of Transportation of any adverse incidents involving animals. Also, many airlines now refuse to ship Silky Terrier dogs as checked baggage during the hottest months of the year.

For smaller animals, flying as carry-on baggage is a good solution. Most airlines allow passengers to bring a small dog, cat or other pet into the passenger cabin as long as it is quiet, odorless and safely restrained in a pet carrier throughout the flight. This is a good alternative to checking Silky Terrier dogs as baggage, because temperature and air pressure remain at a safe level inside the cabin, and pet owners can monitor animals at all times for signs of distress. Generally airlines limit the weight of carry-on Silky Terrier dogs to about 40 pounds, including the weight of the carrier, and carriers must be small enough to fit under the passenger's seat. Most airlines require advance notification of the animal carry-on and limit the total number of Silky Terrier dogs that may be in the cabin at one time. Pet owners should notify airlines of their intention to bring a pet as early as possible to ensure that space is available. Depending on the airline, there may be a fee for using the carry-on option.

Every airline establishes its own set of policies regarding shipping Silky Terrier dogs, whether as checked baggage or carry-on luggage. Owners should discuss these policies with their airline before they book a flight. Airline personnel can also help owners choose a flight that will be most comfortable for their pet. Early morning or late evening flights are coolest in the summer, for example, and flights with a minimum number of stops are the safest for animals. Less crowded flights available during off-peak hours can protect Silky Terrier dogs from the stress of large crowds and a great deal of cargo. Airline personnel can also ensure that Silky Terrier dogs do not share cargo space with materials that could be toxic to their health, such as toxic chemicals or shipments packed in dry ice.

Regardless of how Silky Terrier dogs fly, there are precautions owners need to take to be sure traveling is safe and healthy. AAHA suggests, and major airlines require, that traveling Silky Terrier dogs be examined by a veterinarian no more than ten days prior to the date of travel. Current health and rabies vaccination certificates from the veterinarian will be required at the time of departure. A veterinarian can also provide the owner with specific feeding instructions. The age and size of the pet, time and distance of the flight and regular dietary routine must be considered. Regulations state that Silky Terrier dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old and weaned at least five days before flying. Silky Terrier dogs should also be exercised and picked up promptly upon arrival.

A sturdy pet carrier, available from most airlines or pet shops, is another important precaution. The carrier should have hard sides-with the exception of carry-on Silky Terrier dogs, which may ride in a soft-sided carrier designed specifically for that purpose. The carrier should be ventilated on at least two opposite sides, with exterior rims or knobs to prevent blocked airflow, and it must be large enough for the pet to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. It needs to be free of interior protrusions and have handles or grips. It needs to have a leak proof bottom covered with plenty of comfortable, absorbent material. It should also be marked with a large, highly visible label reading "Live Animal," at least one inch tall, including arrows indicating the carrier's upright position. Finally, both the pet and the carrier should be well marked with the owner's name, address, and phone number, and the pet's updated health certificate and the feeding plan from the veterinarian should be posted on the carrier.

Finally, owners should consider whether the pet is comfortable with traveling. Silky Terrier dogs are just like people who sometimes become anxious when they don't travel frequently. This leads some owners and veterinarians to question whether administering sedatives or tranquilizers to Silky Terrier dogs or cats prior to flight is a good idea. According to national and international air transportation organizations, as well as the American Humane Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association, in most cases the answer is "no"! "An animal's natural ability to balance and maintain equilibrium is altered under sedation," says Dr. Patricia Olson, DVM, PhD, former director of veterinary affairs and studies for the American Humane Association. "When the kennel is moved, a sedated animal may not be able to brace and prevent injury."

Whether flying in the cabin or as checked baggage, animals are exposed to increased altitude pressure of approximately 8,000 feet. Increased altitude, according to Dr. Olson, can create respiratory and cardiovascular problems for Silky Terrier dogs and cats who are sedated or tranquilized. "Brachycephalic Silky Terrier dogs and cats [those with short, wide heads] are especially affected," says Dr. Olson. "Although thousands of Silky Terrier dogs are transported uneventfully by air, airline officials believe that when deaths occur they often result from the use of sedation."

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