May 5th, 2011
estoril/Flickr
Going camping and getting outdoors with your pets always sounds like great fun… until it isn’t.
Away from the routine and comforts of home can be stressful if you aren’t prepared. A little planning can make a huge difference in the fun factor.
If you are planning a trip, be sure to check out GoPetFriendly.com for pet-friendly campgrounds, hotels and restaurants. Once your trip is planned out, it’s time to get packing with these tips in mind.
Tips for Happy Canine Campers
1 ) First Aid Kit – This is probably a ‘no-brainer,’ but a first aid kit customized for your pet is even better. An extra supply of any current meds, or medications they might need, such as a vet-approved NSAID for pain from extra hiking, etc. are especially useful.
2 ) First Aid Training – A first aid kit is great, but if you don’t know how to use the items, it isn’t much use. When your dog is in pain and the situation is tense, staying calm and putting previous training to work is much more effective than guessing.
My vet colleague and I do a “wilderness first aid” class at our local REI store – check your outdoor stores for similar first aid intro classes. Check with your local Red Cross chapter or community college for more in-depth training on pet first aid.
3 ) Pet Identification – Is your pet’s collar tag and microchip registration information up to date? It is important to remember that cell phones may not work in the places you are camping. Adding a phone number of your vet or someone in town who could reach you is a good idea; either by adding a new tag or affixing the info to the current tag(s).
4 ) Food from home/regular diet – Keeping your dog’s diet as ‘normal’ as possible will help prevent diarrhea, upset stomach and pancreatitis. Fatty trimmings from campfire cookouts (and the yummy, drippy foil found on the ground!), corn cobs, and other camping feast foods can spell disaster for your dog.
5 ) Wildlife – Keep your pet in close range to avoid mishaps with wildlife – bites and unfortunate encounters with porcupines and skunks.
6 ) Extra towels and rags – A sudden downpour or swim in the lake can make for a wet dog who may get hypothermic with all of that wet hair as temps drop. Bringing a supply of towels to have on hand helps with the comfort factor too.
7 ) Flea, tick, mosquito and other bug protection - Your pet may already be on a monthly flea/tick preventative, but if not, check with your vet about the best product for your pet and where you will be traveling to. Extra caution for dog and cat households; products should never be used on a species it is not labeled for, and some dog flea/tick products are toxic to cats.
8 ) Keeping it routine – My dogs, like many, get to know and anticipate the normal routines of life very quickly. Travel and camping disrupt that routine. Most dogs go with the flow and are totally fine with this. Some aren’t. You may notice pacing, panting and even trembling if your dog is feeling out of sorts.
Throw in a thunderstorm or fireworks, and you may be up all night with a dog who is very frightened and won’t settle.
We pack the big bulky dog beds. The Greyhounds go “oh good – HOME” and settle right down. I am also a big fan of DAP spray to spritz on their beds. (I also love the DAP collars – see my review here.)
Finally, packing the Thundershirt is great to take a chill off the Greyhounds as well as provide a little comfort, if needed.
And sometimes…
Pets do better staying with family, friends or the pet hotel rather than braving the wilds of nature. 
Photo credit: Bluey estoril/Flickr
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Posted in K9 Care, K9 Expert Question, K9 Fun, K9 Health, K9 Nutrition | 2 Comments »
2 Responses to “Tips for Happy Canine Campers”
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Janet Tobiassen Crosby DVM never planned to be a writer. She wanted to be a veterinarian from the moment she learned such a job existed - sometime during the first grade, when she accompanied her mom to the vet with a sick cat. Janet "adopted" all the neighborhood cats, and at age 11 she started training her first dog, a newly adopted rescue Collie. At age 12, she joined a dog obedience 4-H club and was active through high school as a member and as a junior leader.
- DrJTC: Sorry for the delay – just now saw your comment. Good point. I am lucky to live in a relatively bug-free...
- Kathleen Winn: Great tips! We live in the country so our dog is a regular “wilderness adventurer.” Our...
- AboutVetMed: Thanks, Deb! I was relieved we ended up with something to submit.
- Deb: Loved this story. Your “HairBear” turned out really cute.
- Jenni Meyer: Dave, Millions of dogs in this country are killed every day. I applaud what you are doing and had no...
Great tips! We live in the country so our dog is a regular “wilderness adventurer.” Our backyard is her private camp ground. I was surprised that ticks, fleas and mosquitos were not mentioned in this very excellent article, all of which have the potential to spread disease. We have always used Frontline on our dog, but are finding that it doesn’t seem to be as effective as when we first started using it, years ago. Is there a particular tick and flea preventive that you recommend?
Sorry for the delay – just now saw your comment. Good point. I am lucky to live in a relatively bug-free area (high altitude, arid) and will include bug protection on the list. Depending on where you live, there may be some resistance to the usual flea/tick preventatives. I would check with your local vet for the best option for your dog. Caution for some dog products that are highly toxic to companion cats (near the dog or licking the dog’s fur).