Suggestions from outdoorsy people please!

[styric]

In August, we are going camping in the Whiteshell in the Canadian Shield in another province. We will be doing tons of hiking and now that Orion is over a year and a half old we are taking her with us. She is VERY used to getting up and staying somewhere strange for a few days to a week at a time so should adjust fine. We do it at least once a month.

I already have the list of required documents for the Provincial Park we are staying in, have alerted my vet who is putting together the list of vaccines and worming/tick/flea prevention that would be needed in the area we are going to. It is forest, so I am considering picking up a flea/tick collar as well but from what I've been seeing they're not very nice to the dog. Any ideas there?

I am starting to pick up the supplies needed now for the hiking with a dog. I picked up a double sized hydropack for me and a normal sized one for my bf (basically a balanced pack that holds a couple litres of water and has a tube you bite on to drink) and a collapsible fabric bowl that can be rolled up and put in a pocket. I am concerned about heatstroke, any suggestions about what else to bring that can be brought to a powerless campsite that help prevent it (electrolytes etc) and ideas of what I can use if god forbid it happens?

My list so far:

- sealed container for dog food that fits in a cooler
- her normal nylon leash
- spare chain leash
- spare collar
- new ID tag that has her name, my phone number, vet's phone number, address and province on it, and a second one that will have the campsite and lot # on it. She is microchipped so it's just in case
- kennel
- pad to put on the ground in the tent for her to sleep on
- long aircraft cable tieout with a hook thing on the end that I can attatch to anything, including the truck tire if necessary
- booties in case of pad tears as it is rocky there
- extra towel
- added extra swabs, triple antiobiotic, butterfly bandages etc to the first aid kit
- the clotting stuff you use on a nail quick
- vet wrap (have tons for the horses)
- baby aspirin
- muzzle

Any other suggestions? I probably missed something important knowing me, but that's why I'm planning now so I can pick things up here and there without breaking the bank.

[FilosFolks]

Looks like a great list. Benadryl came to mind and I'd ditch the chain leash for something lighter in weight.

Ailee

[jlaack]

I'd have to agree I think the list is pretty comprehensive. If she's never been in a tent you might want to introduce it to her ahead of time.

[gmo1379]

Your list looks pretty complete imo.

Here is some info on heat stroke in dogs:

SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE
Signs of heat stroke are intense, rapid panting, wide eyes, salivating, staggering and weakness. Advanced heat stroke victims will collapse and become unconscious. The gums will appear pale and dry. If heat stroke is suspected and you can take the animal's temperature rectally, any temperature above 106 degrees is dangerous. The longer the temperature remains at or above 106 degrees the more serious the situation. If you return to your car or the area in which the animal was confined and find your pet seems to be highly agitated, wide-eyed and panting uncontrollably... start for the nearest animal hospital right away with the air conditioning at full blast. Otherwise get the dog to a cool area and begin the treatment for heat stroke.

TREATMENT FOR HEAT STROKE
Take the pet's temperature rectally if possible. A body temperature of about 105 degrees or higher is probable evidence for heat stroke. Place your pet in a tub of cool running water or spray with a hose being sure the cool water contacts the skin and doesn't simply run off the coat. Thoroughly wet the belly and inside the legs. Run the cool water over the tongue and mouth. Take a rectal temperature if possible to know when to stop cooling. A safe temperature is about 103 degrees. A small dog will cool down much faster than a large dog. Once the temperature gets to 103 or 104 degrees do not cool the pet any further because the cooling effects will continue to bring the temperature down even further. Seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.

[Marley55]

I would skip the flea tick collar if your dog is already on a preventative. Instead add a flea comb and a tweezers and rubbing alcohol to the list.

At the end of each day I would flea comb and then check for ticks looking in the ear flaps, between toes, neck folds etc etc for them.

Since ticks can transmit disease to humans as well, use the tweezers to remove any ticks you find and then drop them into the alcohol to kill them.

Sounds like your set to have a great time !

[QuietDaze]

I loved camping/hiking with my dog. Will she wear a little backpack so she can carry her own gear? You still have plenty of time to get her accustomed to it if she hasn't worn one before.

Just curious, why the kennel? I'm asking because we weren't allowed to leave the dogs at the campsite so I didn't have a need for a kennel.

[webangel2b]

I agree about the kennel but only to a certain degree.

If you're dog sleeps in a kennel by all means take it. Rotts can (and will) make quick work of tent screening if they want out bad enough.

It is true here in FL that you may not leave the dog for more then 30 minutes. I do/can because we have a motor home. It's as if we're leaving her home with the ac running like any weekday :)

[styric]

It's for her. Her kennel is her safe zone, so if something scares her she has the ability to zoom into it and feel safe again.

She probably wont use it, but it's there if she needs it.

[hokisteph5]

Instead of a flea/tick collar, why not get a Preventic collar? If you do a search of the forums, this collar is used by some members who use it instead of a flea/tick topical like Frontline Plus. Not me, though, because mine get Frontline Plus.

[JoJo]

Possibly a small spray bottle with water in it for cooling down the dog while hiking. Down here in the major pet supply stores they sell bandannas that you can freeze and then tie around the dog's neck to help keep them cool. You could also freeze a few towels if you can't find a freezing mate (there is a name for them but I don't have a clue what they are called) and keep them in your cooler at the campsite. If your dog gets heated on the hike, she could lay down on it in her crate.

Sounds like fun. Where's the nearest Holiday Inn?

[tla0126]

There was a post here about a month ago with suggestions for first aid kits for our dogs, here is the post...

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/vet...t-aid-kit.html

It has a ton of great suggestions!

Sounds like yall are going to have a great time! Orion is one lucky pup!

[BahCan]

I always take a cowbell and attach it to my dogs collar when we go hiking, just to let bears know we are in the area. I'm not sure if there are bears in the area you are heading to, but out west here in Alberta there are a lot of them, the cowbell lets the bear know something is in the area and they generally leave before you approach.