Bring camping supplies for dog, too

THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published May 22

Who can resist those sad eyes?

The dog doesn't care where you're camping, it just wants to go along.

And for those softies who can't resist taking the family dog camping, here are a few pointers from a couple of local veterinarians:

-Fresh water: Don't let them drink from ponds or puddles. Dogs can get diarrhea and giardia from drinking tainted water.

-Leash: Always bring a leash.

"Respect other people and other dogs," said Marlin Geist, a veterinarian with the Deschutes Animal Clinic. Other campers might not want a dog in their camp, and many people are uncomfortable with dogs.

-Shade: If you leave the dog tied up, be sure it has shade and water to prevent heat stroke during hot weather, said Michael Doherty, veterinarian with the Lacey Animal Clinic.

-Identification: In unfamiliar territory a lost dog may not be able to find its way back to camp. Identification tags help, but collars come off. A microchip, inserted under the skin and registered, provides positive identification for the life of the dog.

-First aid: Include items in your first-aid kit to treat the dog -- sticky Band-Aids don't work. Include tape or a roll of gauze bandage to wrap a leg, a sore paw or cuts from barbed wire or sharp sticks.

-Heat: Consider the nighttime temperature when camping at high altitudes.

-Food: Don't let dogs eat dead salmon, steelhead or trout. The fish can carry diseases to which dogs are sensitive, Doherty said.

If traveling out of the area:

Make sure the dog is current on vaccinations, especially rabies and Lyme disease. Doherty also recommends having dogs tested for heartworm. He also recommends flea and tick treatment -- Frontline Top Spot doesn't wash off and kills both fleas and ticks, he said.

Consider the climate at your destination and how to contact vets there.

And if hiking is included in your plans, let the dog carry its own provisions in a dog backpack, Geist said. But make sure the dog is in shape.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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