With the weather getting heater, outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, beckoning have become very popular, and people love to embark on such journeys. No matter how popular your group is, your dog can be your ultimate companion in exploring new spots as well as enjoying new adventures.
Though the wide-open area is the best environment for your dog, there are different safety and health tips that you must consider before going into the wilds with your furry friend.
This post offers some useful safety advice that you must consider before camping with your dog and canine partner.
1. Buy a Doggie Camping Bag and Get all the Items Inside in the Checklist
You can consider a robust canvas carrier to use as a dog camping bag. It would help if you also created a checklist of the items you must carry and then get them inside the bag. All these are important camping needs that you will need while going camping. The camping list must include items like:
- Warm dog clothing and bootless
- Dog bedding and blankets
- Adequate amount of freshwater and pet food
- Pet medications
- Food and water bowls
- Pet first aid kit
- Different leashes and collars
- Pet insect repellent
You must carry all these in the doggie bag to enjoy the hiking experience like never before.
2. Visit the Vet Before Setting Out for Camping
Consulting with the nearby veterinarian before embarking on the journey is indeed a very good idea. This is because you will want to ensure that the dog has all the vaccinations, especially if the campground needs a vaccinations report to get entry.
Vaccinations will ensure that the dog is not dealing with or suffering from any potential health issues. You can also ask the vet to trim the nails off to prevent getting caught on something while being outdoors.
3. Don’t Let Your Pet Drink Standing Water
As we need a fresh and running water source for drinking purposes, it is also applicable for pets. Never allow your pet to drink water from the puddles or slow-moving creeks or rivers as they might contain harmful bacteria.
Ingestion of such bacteria can cause severe gastrointestinal issues like Guardia. Ensure your pet has access to fresh drinking water and avoids drinking water from any standing water source.
4. Know the Nearby Area Before Camping There
No matter how hard you try and make efforts, there’s always a risk of your dog getting lost. And it is lost in such an environment; the chances are high that you will have a tough time finding your pet. Thus, you need to make arrangements so that you have complete access to your dog.
You can install an ID tag along with a phone number and integrate a microchip to ensure that the dog has a safe return. You can also install a portable electric fence for dogs along with a camp area to ensure that the dog remains within the boundary and do not get lost because of unknown roots. The invisible fences for dogs are very useful, especially in the woods where the chances of getting lost are very high.
5. Keep Your Dog Warm During Night
According to nature, dogs tend to release temperature from their noses. Thus, dogs tend to sleep in nose tail position to hold the heat in their bodies. Along with the dog’s preferred bed or sleeping bag, make sure to provide your dog with coverlets to tunnel under.
If you have smaller pets with short furs, then you may need an additional coating or layer for the dog, like a sweater or pullovers. You can get access to such different clothing available online from different vendors.
6. Deal With the Bugs
In case your dog is not on monthly flea and tick preventive measures, you may book an appointment with your vet before embarking for the camping. Having an unwanted traveler latching your pet is the last thing that you would want.
You must also carry first aid kits that must have tweezers, including a tick removal tool like Tick Twister so that you can eliminate ticks from your dog. You must also get some information on how to inspect for the ticks and the symptoms if your dog gets hit with tick-borne illness.
Following these tips will help you to have a memorable trip with your pet, and the experience will be worth sharing with others. You can share the same with us below in the comment section after you complete your hiking or camping experience with the pet in the wild.
Please let us know what else you want to know or share your suggestions from past experiences of going hiking with your pet. This will help others to prepare in a better way.