Extra sleeping bag? Check. Food and water? Double check. Leash, collar, and ID tag? Check, check, check! As you prepare to go camping with your dog this summer, it’s important to bring enough pet items so your furry friend can enjoy the trip just as much as you. In addition to the aforementioned items, Caring Pathways in Parker, CO recommends the following items as three of the most important items to bring along when camping and hiking with your dog.
- First Aid Kit
When you’re out in the woods, accidents and injuries can and often do happen to both pets and people, so it’s important to be prepared with a first aid kit. Make sure your kit has all of the basic first aid pet supplies, such as gauze, adhesive tape, tweezers, and hydrogen peroxide. You can purchase a pet first aid kit at online retailers or your local pet department store, or you can build your own kit. It’s also a great idea to have the phone number of your family veterinarian and/or the nearest emergency veterinarian to your destination handy, just in case.
- Dog Brush
This is an item that many campers forget to bring, but after a long day of hiking, it becomes one of the most important ones. Your dog’s coat can become easily matted or tangled after a through tall grass and being exposed to humidity—especially long-haired dogs—not to mention the stickers and other things that can stuck in their coat. Brushing your dog’s coat with a dog brush or dog comb throughout your camping/hiking trip helps to keep their coat under control.
- Collapsible Food Bowls
You may be surprised at the number of campers who remember to bring plenty of dog food and water, but forget to bring a bowl. Collapsible pet food bowls are great for camping and hiking because they don’t take up a lot of space in your backpack. They’re also very easy to clean. Collapsible food and water bowls are available at pet stores as well as many online retailers for your canine companion.
So the next time you ask yourself “What do I need to take my dog camping,” we hope you’ll remember these items!