5 TIPS FOR HIKING WITH YOUR FURRY FRIEND
by Craig Lassen
Summer is a great time to be out on trail with your favorite trail dog! Here are a few simple tips to help make sure your adventure is full of wagging tails!
Carry Lots of Water. This is a hot time of the year. Many Southern CA trails are out in the open, exposed with not much shade. Dogs don't sweat and their primary way of lowering their body temperature is by panting. Small amounts of water given frequently will help them stay hydrated and cool. However, it is not a good idea to give your dog lots of water all at once while exercising. This can create a heavy stomach that can twist on itself and cause a condition known as bloat. This is a medical emergency. Small amounts provided frequently is much safer;
Take Lots of Breaks. Heat stroke is NO joke! Dogs are usually so eager to please and participate that they will continue to pound out trail miles with you until they suddenly collapse from exhaustion. Body temperature for a dog should be between 100-102.5 F. Dogs enter into a dangerous heat stroke situation when core body temp's start to rise beyond 104 F and into 106+ F; If your dog is seeking shade, stumbling, vomiting or has diarrhea you're dog may be suffering from heat stroke, You need to stop exercise and seek help immediately. We try to hit the trails early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Know You Trail. Make sure you know what your dogs mileage capabilities. Have an idea of how the trail difficulty compares to other trails you use. Is their going to be cell reception? If I have to carry my dog out, will I be able to? Are there any bailout options? These are all questions you should consider before you head out for a fun new adventure.
Carry Boots & First Aid. Its exciting to adventure with your dog and tempting to think they can perform for the same mileage and difficulty as you. Sadly, many dog owners find themselves miles from home with a dog that won't/can't walk because their paw pads have been torn away! CA trails are home to some tough trail treads. Decomposed granite, sandstone and other hard composites slowly wear away the tough outer paw pad layers and expose the sensitive, raw tissues underneath. Keeping a good set dog boots on hand is the appropriate thing to do when exercising your dog out on trail;
Use Some Trail Etiquette! Yes, we all know, your dog is amazing and wouldn't hurt a fly. However, many dogs are less predictable. Keeping your dog on a leash keeps other trail users at ease and is the right thing to do. People trail running or mountain biking could become seriously injured if your dog decided to dart out in front of them. Its also not cool for your dog to chase the wildlife and definitely not cool to leave a big steamy dog poop in the middle of the trail. Pack it out or at least clear it from the trail.
For more tips on animal care follow Craig on Instagram @thepawdlife
CRAIG LASSEN / Hospital Manager / VCA Lakeside(Big Bear, CA)
Timber on a hike with his two legged friend