Summer Adventure with the Dogs !!! - Page 1

Hi Everyone,

We are going on an extended RV road trip this summer with our dogs....yee haw!!

This is the first extended trip, across multiple states, we have taken with the dogs. I'm trying to plan for potential mishaps. Do any of you have any vet recommendations (In case of Emergency)?

Here are some of our stops, traveling from Albuquerque to Brice and Zion Utah, Las Vegas, Yosemite, over to Santa Barbra and up the coast highway 101 to San Francisco (Wine Country). On the way home we will go through Reno then back down to Las Vegas and across 40 to Albuquerque. Some of the places we are going are wilderness and National Park areas so suggestions for additional items to pack would be great.

I think I've planned for everything but any suggestions are greatly appreciated :)

Here's a to do and pack list:

Prepare the dogs for pests before departure.

Get health certs and pack vaccination records. Take fax and phone numbers of vet(s).

Pack toys, treats, training gear, beds, food & bowls, brushes, extra towels.

Prepare and pack first Aid kit; Tramadol, GasX, Hydro Peroxide, Benadryl, vet wrap, cotton roll, duct tape, telfa pads, Tweezers, Qtips, Feminine pads, Thermometer, Betadine, Iodine, Irrigating Syringe......anything else? Eye wash ? Wound cream/spray?

I know it might be wise to take something for skunk spray but I have no idea what to use.

Thanks Everyone!!

You must be exhausted, Cheri. :p

LOL...Jenni :)

We don't leave for another 2 weeks......planning and packing for a trip like this is exhausting!!

Yeah.....I'm a little OCD. But with Cisco I always try to be prepared.....Cuz I swear that dog has the worst luck!

PS...This a sort of a pre-retirement experiment.....Can we live in a fifth wheel with two WL (busy) German Shepherds for extended periods of time and maintain our sanity trip.

Ehm.... Ehm... So as far north as Reno huh? LOL

Enjoy your trip, it sounds like a lot of fun. My next puppy will be raft trained so he can go for our extended rafting trips with us. I see a lot of dogs doing great on rafts so we are gonna do it.

Next time.. make it little more up north please... thank you.

Have lots of fun and I am sure you will get plenty ready for the trip. Enjoy your summer, I know it has been busy year for you. I am nearly done myself...till I go back to do the rest in biomedical research...eventually, haha..

Take me with you? :D

I have never had to de-skunk a dog, thank goodness, but a family friend swears by the following recipe; he has had multiple occasions on which to test it and supposedly it works wonders:

1 quart of hydrogen peroxide

1/4 cup of baking soda

1 squirt of liquid soap

Follow with clear rinse.

Have fun on your road trip!

Depending on where/if you will be hiking you might want to consider dog boots (also can be used for a paw injury).  A fold up bowl is also a handy item to have.

I always bring the dogs on vacation  -- ATVing, tent camping, hiking, canoeing.  I think they make it more fun and they love it.

Doggie boots;  Veterisyn and Muzzles for both dogs.

Martina.....The route is not set in stone ...would love to come up your way for a visit. If we head that way I'll let you know :) I think Ava would make a great raft dog. She loves the water!!

Dawulf.....Unfortunately our fifth wheel will not accommodate more than 2 GSD's comfortably :( I'm thinking about creating a blog with daily pictures and comments. If I can figure out how to do that I'll post a link in a thread dedicated to the trip.

Northern Maiden.....Thank you for the skunk wash recipe. I've never had a dog sprayed....knock on wood...but better safe/prepared than not :)

ZweiGSD....Boots are a good idea...I'll add them to the list. I have a collapsible bowl that goes everywhere the dogs go :) We always take the dogs with us when we go camping (Tent or Fifth Wheel) I can't image them not being with us on an outdoor adventure :)

Nans....I forgot to put the muzzle s on the list...thanks for reminding me :) 

Thanks Ladies :)

Here's a link to the AKC 20 piece first aid kit:
http://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/your-dogs-health/caring-for-your-dog/first-aid-kit.html

I would also include needle nosed pliers to remove a few porcupine quills (if it’s a face full of quills then I’d take the dog to the vet) and 3% hydrogen peroxide/liquid dish detergent/baking soda to remove skunk spray (Paul Krebaum's well-known recipe). We drive from Alberta to SW Ontario every year and I'm always glad that I packed lots of old towels for muddy dogs. :)

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