First-aid equipment, tips for hiking the backcountry with dogs

First-aid equipment, tips for hiking the backcountry with dogs

(Michael Radice, KSL TV)


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Editor's note: This article previously said it was safe for dogs to receive aspirin and ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory help. However, one should consult their local veterinarian before administering these drugs to your dog. THE GREAT OUTDOORS — Few things are as satisfying as a long day hike in the mountains or an overnight camping trip with your friends. Being miles from civilization can be refreshing. No cell service means no bothers. But when your friend or pet gets injured, everything changes so you need to make sure you are prepared for an emergency.

If you enjoy hiking with your dog, it's important to understand that carrying the essential first-aid gear can help you stay on the trail longer. It’s second nature to pack some Band-Aids and mole skin for our blisters and scrapes. It's another thing entirely if your 100-pound dog has severely cut one of his pads or wrestled with a porcupine and lost, or worse, broken its leg.

Carry basic first-aid equipment for your dog

Dr. Kay Brown, a local veterinarian and avid trail hiker, said there are some simple items everyone should bring and know how to use when hiking with pets. Basic stuff found in most compact travel first kits is fine, but dogs will often tempt fate in many other ways.

“I would pack Benadryl because you can use that for dogs for any kind of insect sting like a bee," Brown said. "I would also pack an antibiotic and some self-adhesive gauze bandages like a sports wrap.”

Photo credit: Mike Radice, KSL TV
Photo credit: Mike Radice, KSL TV

For open wounds, there are antibiotic powders and pads available that quickly help to stop bleeding. Most are found at pet stores or local drug stores.

“If your dog cuts an ear or breaks a toe nail, the powder works great for superficial bleeding,” Brown said. "The things you are going to most likely face in the backcountry are cut foot pads or cuts on their body. Don’t overlook butterfly bandages for cuts too. You might get more hair around the wound, but it will at least keep it closed until you can get back for proper care.”

However, these topical powders and pads are not designed to stop deep bleeding. That’s considered a medical emergency.

Our dogs are incredibly resilient. Their bodies endure a lot crashing through scrub oak, aspens, pine trees and all types of ground cover. And while the chances of administering first aid to your eager companion are slight, it's important to know how to treat minor injuries.

On a recent hike, my wife and I had lost sight of one of our dogs deep in the backcountry for most of the day. He is an English pointer and anything that moved caught his attention. If it flew, he was gone. He's a good English pointer, but he had no interest in keeping track of us and he was moving much quicker than we were.

Photo credit: Mike Radice, KSL TV
Photo credit: Mike Radice, KSL TV

When we finally found him on a ridgeline at dusk, he was exhausted and so were we. He was also limping badly on one back leg. To expedite our descent, we used my wife’s backpack as a stretcher to help bring him down. It was a simple solution to what could have been a prohibitive problem for our 55-pound dog.

Dealing with porcupine quills

One other challenge I never expected to encounter while hiking with my dogs occurred between my 13-year-old lady pointer and an over-protective porcupine. As a result of the encounter, there were nearly 50 sharp quills buried in my dog's snout, inside her mouth and in her nose.

Porcupine quills are very dangerous if left alone and not removed. Brown strongly urges immediate extraction with pliers or whatever tools you have in your first aid kit. She said that if the quills are left in the animal, the sharp points allow them to migrate deeper into the soft tissue causing even more damage and possible deep infection.

Photo credit: Mike Radice, KSL TV
Photo credit: Mike Radice, KSL TV

Handling debilitating medical injuries

Two debilitating injuries you may encounter on a backcountry hike are fractures and rattlesnake bites. Brown said if your dog breaks a leg, don’t use a rigid split. Instead, use heavy bandages to immobilize the fracture. It’s important to carry out your four-legged companion to help reduce the risk of any further tissue damage or infection.

There are a variety of splinting and stretcher products available for pets. This type of injury is definitely a medical emergency so get your pet off the mountain as soon as possible and to a veterinarian for further care.

Rattlesnake encounters

Rattlesnakes are out now that the temperatures are hot. Desert terrain and lower mountain trails along the Wasatch front are home to many possible snake encounters. Several years before the porcupine incident, my same dog, the adventure queen, also found out what it was like to tussle with a young rattlesnake. I heard the rattle and hiss, but that was her cue to jump in and explore. I pulled back on her leash as quickly and as hard as I could, but I was too late. The snake bit her above and below her right eye. She stopped walking instantly. I could see she was in pain and I picked her up and headed for the pet emergency room.

The best way to avoid a bad situation with rattlesnakes is to be prepared.

“Make sure your dogs are up to date on their vaccinations. Invest in the rattlesnake vaccine and boosters too,” Brown advised.

Utah is a desert state so unless you plan to hike above 7,000 feet in elevation, it's a good idea to make sure you dog has a rattlesnake vaccination before you go out hiking and camping.

Additional preparedness items to carry in your backpack

Bear bell

Wear one so your dogs can find you after they have scoured the forest in search of mysteries. With all of the ruckus they make along the trail, a chance encounter with a bear is minimal.

Spare leash

Keep a leash clipped to your pack for easy retrieval. It can be a very scary moment when a 300-pound black bear or 1500-pound bull moose decides to challenge you so you want to be able to quickly rein in your dog.

Light sticks

If you end up hiking back after dark, carry fluorescent light sticks. They easily attach to your gear and dog collars so you can better see your dogs.

Collapsible water bowl

Most trails offer enough water to keep you and your pets hydrated, but a spare bowl works great for drinks away from the stream or if there is limited water on the trail during a long, hot hike.

Water purifying system

Empty water bottles are much lighter to carry. It's a good idea to invest in a portable water purification system.

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Michael Radice

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