Bringing your pet along for camping trips is a fun and adventurous way to enjoy nature and get some exercise together. About half of all RVtravel.com readers report that they travel with a pet, mostly dogs.
The American Kennel Club shares the following safety tips for dog owners to consider before packing up.
— Visit the vet. Before taking your dog camping with the family, visit your veterinarian to make sure he is healthy and all of his vaccinations are up to date. Take a copy of the records with you in case of an emergency on the campgrounds.
— Be prepared. Always be equipped for an emergency. Pack a pet first aid kit to take with you. Be sure to include tweezers to remove ticks in case your dog encounters any, styptic powder to stop bleeding, hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds, and bandages. Familiarize yourself with any poisonous plants and make sure your dog steers clear of them.
— Bug off. Be prepared to battle the bugs. All sorts of insects, including fleas and ticks, are especially prevalent in woodsy areas where campsites are located. Make sure to give your dog all necessary flea and tick prevention treatments before your trip.
— Day and night. Take a flashlight with you for night walks, and a water bottle and portable bowl so your dog can stay hydrated when you both are out during the day. Also, don’t forget bags to pick up after your dog’s bathroom breaks.
— ID information. Identification is extremely important in any case, but it is especially important when you are on unfamiliar grounds. In addition to checking the tag on his collar to make sure the information is current, make sure your dog has a microchip, and check with the recovery service provider to ensure your contact information is up to date. You may even want to consider getting a temporary tag to add to your dog’s collar that has information like the name of the campsite where you’ll be, your assigned location and the phone number of the nearest ranger station in case of bad reception at the campsite.
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It’s also good to take an approved airline kennel, if you have space, in case if an emergency and your pet would need to be isolated and/or flown back to your sticks n bricks residence. Folding cage-style are great but wouldn’t help if emergent transport by aircraft was needed.