At the Animal Hospital of Sullivan County in Ferndale, NY, our goal is to keep your pets happy and healthy. This includes taking proper precautions when doing outdoor athletic activities with your pet. Here are some tips on how to hike safely with your dog.

Hiking Dangers

Some pet injuries that can happen during a hike are:

• heatstroke or heat exhaustion
• hypothermia
• cuts and scrapes
• Lyme disease
• bee stings
• animal attacks

Preventative Care

Pay attention to the developing weather before the hike occurs. Plan for rapidly changing conditions, especially at higher elevations. Here are some other helpful precautions:

• Avoid strenuous parts of the trail during the hottest parts of the day.
• Avoid getting your dog wet during colder temperatures.
• If it begins to rain, take shelter until it stops.
• Apply a wax and lotion mixture made for paws before the hike to help avoid cuts and scrapes.
• Check your dog over every time you stop for a break. Inspect in between the toes for thorns, rocks, debris, or blood.
• Treat your dog with flea and tick medication regularly and check for ticks throughout the hike.
• Don't allow your dog to snoop in the bushes unsupervised. There could be a hornet's nest or hidden poisonous creatures.
• Avoid allowing your dog to hike near the edge of drop-offs to prevent falls.
• Take more water than you need. Your dog won't drink all that you pour into the container, and you'll end up throwing some out each time you offer it.

Additionally, bring a first aid kit for your dog. This should include gauze, bandages, cotton balls, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic spray, a medicine pill box, tweezers, a leash and collar, and travel bowls.

Contact Animal Hospital of Sullivan County Today

Hiking is a fun activity to do with your dog, but it is important to be safe. At the Animal Hospital of Sullivan County, serving Ferndale, Monticello, and Liberty, we can treat your pet in case of an accident. Call us today to schedule an appointment.