A Checklist to Camping With Your Pets

 

            I have enjoyed camping with my pets for many years in both a tent and an RV across most of my home State of New York as well as most of the Northeast. Camping at both state and private campgrounds, I have come up with a checklist of things to consider when planning a camping trip.           

 

          The first thing you want to do is find a campground that accepts pets.  While this seems obvious it is not always clear when looking online for a campground if they accept pets or not. A quick call to their campground office will confirm whether they accept pets or not. If they do accept pets they may exclude certain breeds of dogs and limit how many dogs are allowed per site. One thing that almost every campground requires is that you have with you proof of all required vaccinations.

 

            Another obvious thing to bring along is their food. But what might not be obvious is that you should put their food in not only an air tight and water tight container but also one that is pet proof. You don’t want your pet helping themselves to their food when you are not looking.

 

            If you are tent camping it is a good idea to bring a dog crate for them to sleep in and just have a familiar place to retreat to in the tent.

 

            One of the not so obvious things to bring is water from home just for your pets. Some campgrounds use well water and can have strong smells your pets don’t like, such as iron or sulfur.  Dogs don’t seem to be as picky as cats, who I have found also don’t like store bought bottled water because of the lack of smell to their water.

 

            Another thing that you shouldn’t forget is a pet friendly first aid kit with antihistamines, a tube of Neosporin with pain relief, extra gauze pads and gauze tape which sticks to itself and not to their fur.  Also have your veterinarian’s phone number logged in your cell phone in case of minor mishaps. They can also be helpful if you need to find a veterinarian nearby if you have a more serious problem and can provide the new vet with your pets’ health history.

 

            And of course don’t forget your pets’ favorite toys and treats.  They not only help keep them busy at your campsite but it also helps to entertain them during the long drive to and from the campgrounds.

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