Five Tips for Camping with Dogs

Camping season is here. Whether you’re an extreme adventurer hiking the Appalachian Trail or a city escapist relaxing at a campground, camping with a dog requires preparation. Furry friends love to spend the extra time with you outside of their air conditioned pad, so keep them safe and follow a few of the below tips for camping with dogs.

1. Apply flea and tick prevention. Before you leave for the campground, protect your pet with flea and tick medication. Medications like Frontline will kill fleas and ticks within 12 hours and prevent the growth of larva. As Fido pushes through the underbrush of a woodsy trail, ticks may hop on for the ride. Check your dog’s fur each day to catch ticks before they burrow. A flea bath as soon as you arrive home from your camping trip may also be a great addition to preventing any infestations on your dog.

2. Pack a leash. A leash goes against exact reason you skipped town for the great outdoors; you need to let your mind relax and your best friend needs to get in touch with his instincts again. But before you brush off this suggestion, think about how useful a leash will be in this scenario. You are back at the campsite after a long trek and your dog hears something, he (or she) bolts after it and leaves you calling after them in the pitch black. Pack a leash to keep them safe and right where you left them.

3. Bring dog tags and a whistle. It’s a pet parent’s worst fear; they let their dog off the leash to take a dip in the lake and Fido takes off after a rabbit or squirrel, or something equally less threatening. This is where preparation meets worst case scenario. A whistle may help your dog find his (or her) way back to you, whereas dog tags or a microchip will help a good neighbor bring them home.

4. Prepare a pet first aid kit. Adhesive bandages are not going to stick to your dog’s fur and Tylenol is not the best choice when they twist a paw. The length of your trip and how much adventure you have planned will demand a different intensity of first aid kit. Do your homework. Start with a pre-packaged kit and add in other essentials you might need, like a snake bite kit.

5. Find a local vet number – don’t ever leave home without it. Last on the list to be prepared is a phone number of a local veterinarian. If you are taking off for a long weekend when the doctor’s office will be closed, find the nearest 24 hour emergency pet hospital, as well.

Taking preparation to keep your pet safe will remove the worry and provide both of you with a relaxing adventure.