Paws and Relax: Tips for Comfortable Camping With Your Pet

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Camping with pets is an incredible way to bond and explore nature together. However, ensuring both your and their comfort is essential, especially on those longer trips. Having lived in a van with a pet for many years, I’m more than prepared to share some helpful tips that go beyond the basics.

Setting up Camp

Shaded areas in camp

If your campsite doesn’t have trees, try creating a shaded spot for your pet to relax. Portable canopies, pop-up tents, and tarps are great options. If none of those fit your camping lifestyle, try repositioning your car, van or RV to use the shade from the vehicle during the hot part of the day.

Space to roam

A portable outdoor corral can keep your pet contained while still giving them freedom from the leash. However, these aren’t great for all pets, especially larger dogs or cats who can easily hop over the fence. Know your pet: if they want to get out, they will find a way. A retractable leash and harness combo could be a good alternative that will give them the freedom to move around without getting tangled up.

Hydration

Pet hydration is crucial year-round, especially during outdoor adventures. Collapsible bowls are a great choice if you’re short on space but want a separate bowl exclusively for outdoor use. They pack small and are easy to set out when you get to camp. On hot days, dogs especially are prone to knocking over the water dish to lay in the puddle, leaving them without anything to drink. So we also recommend investing non-tipping bowls for camp and in your vehicle.

Comfort and cleanliness

Portable pet beds/blankets

If you’re like my family, the dog is usually snugged up in bed next to you at night. But during the day, your pup deserved their own spot to lounge. A light and portable pet bed gives them a designated space without creating too much extra bulk. Beyond being a cozy spot to nap, having their bed from home along for the trip can help comfort pets that tend to get anxious. A more versatile alternative could be a camping blanket and ground mat (like those by Rumpl), which are designed for rugged use and are easy to clean.

Keep clean

Keeping your RV, van or tent clean with a pet is a never-ending job. Pets pop in and out all day and shed in perpetuity, so hair and dirt are just part of the game. However, with a few tricks, you can keep things a bit tidier. Bring a good grooming brush and make it part of your daily routine. If you have electricity, a small vacuum can help keep the dirt and hair at bay, but a broom will also suffice. And for extra dirty days, portable showers and pet wipes make quick work of muddy paws.

Calming tools

If you’ve got an anxious pet who needs a little extra tlc, that doesn’t mean they can’t participate in your outdoor adventures. Bring along familiar items from home, like blankets or toys to keep them at ease. If your dog gets nervous during storms, we recommend investing in a Thunder Shirt which can do wonders for some anxious dogs. Keep in mind, regular anxieties can be more amplified when a pet is somewhere new.

Toys

Sure you’re in the great outdoors with squirrels to chase and birds to watch, but that doesn’t mean your furry friend can’t still get bored! Bring along some familiar and favorite toys to keep your pet busy when you’re not hitting the trails. You know what they like, so pack a couple of options and get them out as soon as you set up camp.

Safety

Heat safety

Pet safety 101 is don’t leave your pet in a hot car. But sometimes when traveling you can’t avoid leaving your pet in the vehicle. If you are plugged in and can run an A/C, that’s the best. However, the key is to keep the air moving in the vehicle when that’s not an option. Of course, you can keep the windows all open and fans blowing. Another method is to run a fan venting out and cracking a window while keeping everything else closed up. It may seem counter-intuitive, but the vent fan will pull air out of the vehicle and simultaneously pull in a steady stream of fresh, cool air through the cracked window. Make sure to park in the shade or cover windows to keep the sun out, and install a temperature monitor that you can check remotely.

Backup ID

Most folks keep a collar with a tag on their pet so they can be returned should they wander off and get lost. However, should they slip the loop or lose the tag, you’ll want another option to be reunited. GPS collars and AirTags are becoming popular with outdoor enthusiasts (remember, AirTags will only work where there is service or other iPhones). Of course, microchipping is the best way to ensure pets can be quickly returned if they wander off in unfamiliar surroundings.

Nighttime safety

At night, it’s easy to lose track of your pet. Reflective collars or vests can make spotting them easier. Consider an LED collar or blinking light for added nighttime visibility. They come in handy for night time walks around cities as well.

Health and Emergencies

Bug protection

When sharing close quarters, you might want to consider what else besides dirt and hair your pet brings in after a long day playing outside. Nobody wants to wake up to flees or ticks in their space or on their body! Ensure your pet has the appropriate medical protection from pests, including heartworm medication. You never know what they might be getting into out in the wild.

Pet first-aid kit

Though injuries are rare, it’s good to be prepared so you can help your pet if needed. My typical pet kit includes: tweezers for pulling cactus spines, non-stick gauze and tender tape for wrapping sore or injured paws, antiseptic, Benydryl for the occasional bee sting, and pet nail clippers and file to clean up split nails. If you’re a big hiker consider investing in an emergency pet carrying harness. If something happens a few miles into the backcountry you want to be confident you can carry your dog out!

Emergency contacts and local vet info

Finally, before you head out (and potentially lose cell service), it’s wise to look up a few pet hospitals or veterinary clinics nearby. Consider keeping a list of emergency contacts pinned up and easy to find, so someone can take care of your pet if something should happen to you. At the end of the day you’ll always be happy to be prepared!

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