Camping is a great way to spend time with the family. Instead of having to leave your beloved dog behind in a kennel or at a friend's house, you can take them along with you and enjoy your vacation as a family. To make sure you are all set for your upcoming trip, here are a few things you need to do to prepare when camping with your dog.
Determine which camping sites accommodate your needs.
The first thing you need to do is determine which camping sites allow dogs like yours. Once you know which ones do, you should take the time to learn all of the different rules for the location to make sure your dog meets their requirements. While some sites might allow smaller dogs under 25 pounds, others might allow large breeds. Knowing the restrictions ahead of time will prevent you from getting to the site and finding out it won't work for your dog.
Make an appointment with the vet.
After choosing the location, you need to take your dog to the vet to have them checked out. You want to make sure they are healthy and all vaccinations are current, especially the rabies vaccination. You also want to discuss whether you need to have your dog get the vaccine for Lyme disease, which spreads from ticks. Also ask about tick and flea control. Heartworm vaccines is also crucial since they are transmitted through a mosquito bite. Preparing for all of the different things that could affect your dog is crucial to keeping everyone safe and healthy.
Have the proper identification in place.
Make sure your dog has a harness or collar that has an identification tag on it. Put a cell phone number on the tag that allows people to contact you at all times. Another layer of protection is to microchip your canine. This way your dog can easily be found if they do ever wander off. Make sure to register the chip and update the information if anything has changed since you first got the chip put in.
By going through the three tips above, you can make sure your camping trip is smooth and hassle-free. It just takes a little planning and preparation to make sure nothing is left behind, especially your canine companion. Discuss any questions or concerns you have with a local vet like Basking Ridge Animal Hospital today.
