Camping with Dogs: First Aid Kit

Morning, Woody! Waking up in a tent with Woody is always at the crack of dawn, with his whole body wiggling back and forth, while nudging us to pet him. Woody doesn’t respect any one’s personal space, nor does he care that he is walking on top of both of our girls, waking them up, while he is trying to alert us that it’s time for him to pee.

Woody started camping with us when he was about 10-weeks-old, and now at 8-months-old, he is a seasoned camper. In fact, Woody is an EXCELLENT camping dog. He listens to commands, stays nearby (unless our girls want to take an adventure, which he’s always up for tagging along), and he is respectful of our camping tools, as long as we bring along plenty of his toys.

We always travel with a doggie emergency kit, too. What’s inside? I’m glad you asked!

First, we prepare a laminated card that provides the following information:

1. My phone number and address. (Include your veterinarian’s phone number and address as well).
2. The phone number and address of the closest ER vet office.
3. Animal Poison Control Hotline 888-426-4435.

Second, first-aid supplies:

1. Hydrogen Peroxide 3% to induce vomiting in case your dog eats something poisonous, but only used AFTER contacting the Animal Poison Control Hotline or your veterinarian. I suggest contacting your vet ahead of time for the correct dosage for your dog, and have that information added to the laminated card.
2. Benadryl in case of an allergic reaction, for example, a bee bite. I also suggest getting the proper dosage amount from your vet ahead of time and adding the information to the laminated card.
3. Tweezers, for any splinters or ticks.
4. Nail clippers, for any broken nails.
5. Battery operated hair clippers, to clip around a wound.
6. Sterile gauze.
7. Triple antibiotic.
8. Betadine/Iodine or Chlorhexidine scrub.
9. Bottled water.
10. A muzzle. If your dog gets seriously injured and is in a lot of pain, it may become necessary to put a muzzle on your pup for a short amount of time to tend to his or her wound(s).
11. A small bottle of sterile eye flush in case something gets into your dog’s eyes.
12. Flashlight.
13. Vet Wrap (self-adherent cohesive bandaging tape)
14. Latex gloves (or non-latex if allergic).
15. Ear cleaner and cotton balls. You always want to clean your doggies’ ears after a swimming activity. My favorite: Dr. Harvey’s Herbal Ear Cleaner.
16. Thermometer, in case you suspect a heat stroke or other illness.
17. A slip lead, for easy on/off.
18. A GPS tracker (I have a Fi GPS collar).

Trust me, you want to be prepared, then you can camp in peace, or at least, have peace of mind.

Disclaimer:

Yes, I am a veterinarian, but I am not your pets’ veterinarian. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.

After contacting Dr. Harvey’s to share the physical and mental health benefits that I witnessed after switching my dogs’ diets to Paradigm, Dr. Harvey’s has since given me free products from their lines of food, supplements, treats, and grooming essentials for my honest feedback. Dr. Harvey’s products are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

All opinions expressed about the aforementioned companies, in this and any other article I post may not represent the thoughts or opinions of the affiliated companies. In no way is this post or any other post intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment.