Ask your vet if s/he will pre-prescribe you general (oral) painkillers in case of injury, a tube of the white powder that stops bleeding (can't think of the name at the moment), and some no-chew vet wrap. Possibly a series of broad spectrum antibiotics depending on where you're going, what you're doing, what kind of water your dog will be drinking.

Also helpful IME -

A small GoToob filled with Nature's Miracle concentrate in case there's barf (or other form of accident) in a motel room or on someone else's rug or rental car. https://www.amazon.com/humangear-Humangear-GoToob-5-Pack/dp/B00OWB7BVO

A second small GoToob filled with ear cleaning solution

Nail clippers. I forgot those once and felt like a major fool, it's the only time I've ever paid to have a dog's nails professionally clipped.

 

Great stuff, thank you. I think I know what powder you're talking about, but also can't remember the name. Will talk to the vet.

 

Make sure you bring a folder of any info in case of emergency. I keep an envelope in my ride all the time with copies of the dogs rabies certificates and license/vet information.
I'd also look into snake bite information if you are in the desert where there may be activity. I always buy bottled water for my dogs when traveling, never have them drink from the local source(or bring my own from home if a weekend trip)

 

-Vetericyn (or Puricyn, which is also labeled for human use)
-Flea/tick/HW prevention meds
-bar of Wondercide hard shampoo in case of mud (it travels well)
-Wondercide repellent for you and the dog (bugs may still be out in the warm areas you are traveling to)
-Panacur-Canine granules (these will clear most intestinal worms AND giardia -- good multi-tasking product to have on hand if you are going into remote areas for an extended period; the granules travel easily and have a long shelf life)

I would probably want to think about traveling with some cephalexin, metro, and carprofen with my vet's blessing, just in case....but that depends on your dog, and your vet.

I assume you have an excellent first aid kit that is stocked with things that can be shared with the dog, if need be.

 

I should probably also add that you can research the Rattlesnake vaccine if you're going to be there when the little ones come out -- they can be FAR more dangerous than the big ones because of the venom concentration. The vaccine does nothing more than buy some extra time to get antivenin.

It requires multiple doses, and it takes several weeks for peak protection to develop. That was enough to cause me to decide it wasn't worth it -- we wouldn't have been well protected until it was about time to go home. However, if I were doing back-country hiking in areas where a vet with antivenin is far away, I think I'd probably plan ahead to get the last booster done before we left home, so that we'd time the protection to be in effect during our trip. I also call ahead to find out which vets have antivenin when I'm planning a to hiking with dogs in areas known for having lots of rattlesnakes -- it may be a few towns away, so I don't want to have to waste time hunting for it during an emergency.

 

This site has a decent list of things for a DYI dog first aid kit.

DIY Make your own Canine First Aid Kit | Modern Dog magazine

And a more comprehensive list:

https://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4440087_First_Aid_Kit_for_Pets.pdf

 

Just a heads up... I took a seasonal job out in New Mexico (Gila) and traveled to Arizona on my days off. My dog ended up getting a fungal infection called "Valley Fever" and it ended up eventually killing him. Had I known about the risks, I would never have taken him on those trips to Arizona or let him do so much sniffing about in the dust.

It's worth doing a bit of research on. I had an especially hard time getting my dog treated and diagnosed because I did not live in Arizona, or anywhere close by, and most vets local to me had never seen it.

 

JMy dog ended up getting a fungal infection called "Valley Fever" and it ended up eventually killing him.

This is so sad -- my heart goes out to you. That area is a hotbed for weird, deadly illnesses.

Hantavirus is also a real risk in remote areas there. Dogs can't get hanta, but there's some worry that they might facilitate transmission to humans (e.g., by sniffing rodent feces on the ground and then licking their person).

Plague (yes, plague) is also in circulation in that region, through fleas on wildlife. There are always a handful of human plague cases every year in NM, and no one knows how many animal cases. Dogs can get it but apparently have better resistance to it that we do. It's a good reason to put repellent on you and the dog in back country though.

Rodents (dead or alive) are not to be investigated. Don't let your dog sniff rodent dens or investigate dead rodents--including squirrels. If you see rodent droppings around, get the heck out of there, and go bathe you and the dog (esp. its feet so it doesn't lick them). I'd even spray my shoes with Lysol if we walked through an area with a lot of droppings because Hanta is such bad stuff (up to 50% mortality in humans).

 

A crate for in the vehicle and for inside hotel rooms or wherever I'm staying overnight. I always make a copy of all paperwork to keep one with me and the extra one stays in the car. Emergency names and numbers should there be an accident with specific directions pertaining to my dog. Any grooming tools I regularly use. An extra collar and lead. Towels specifically for the dog. I also always carry a tube of nutrical.

 

When will you be around Death Valley? That's only about 7-8 hours from me.

 

I'll probably be leaving Vancouver on March 5th, hauling butt down the I5 until Oregon, and then either crossing over to Astoria to head south on 101, or making my way inland and heading south that way. Haven't decided yet. I do want to spend a decent amount of time in/around Moab in addition to DV. I suspect I'll do Moab first, and DV after, but it could be done the other way around, too. Mostly depends on the weather, I guess. I'd guesstimate it'll take 3-4 easy days to get down to either location. I've gotten to Moab in 2 days by motorcycle before, but I don't want to do 12 hour driving days with the dog in the truck. If you're interested in coming out to DV for some camping or what not, you're welcome to join me (shoot me a PM) - my timeline is very flexible (need to be back in Vancouver by April 1st).

 

I took my pup on an almost 3 week long trip to western Colorado last year and she did great. Wasn't sure how good she'd be in the car for thousands of miles so the vet gave us some sedatives but she never needed them. I'd get some of these in case your dog gets a little nuts sitting in the car.
#1 thing is an orange safety vest or harness. Hunting season is over in most areas but there is often an open season for coyotes. GSDs look ALOT like coyotes from a distance. Most K9 supply stores sell them.
Also bring lots of extra blankets/towels that you won't mind getting dirty. if it rains or is dusty at all your dog will turn into a mop and get it all over your car and bed at the hotel.
Keep an extra gallon or two of water in your car for drinking or cleaning your dog off if things get that bad.
Bring tooth brush and dog toothpaste incase your dog eats something really nasty and you aren't near running water (I found this one out the hard way)
I'd keep a first aid kit with a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide incase the dog eats something that needs to be thrown up.
One thing I really liked that you might want to consider is a GPS collar, they're expensive but it's easier to enjoy walking around in the wilderness with your dog knowing if they run off you could find them again.
I did not know about all these strange diseases out west, are they mainly found in desert areas?

 

Onxy'girl makes a good point about taking along records for your dog. I'm not sure about current regulations, but at one time vaccination records were required to cross the border into Canada from the US. I don't know what the current regulations are, but it is something you should definitely check out for each country you are entering.

 

Skunk-off or something like it and disposable gloves. Booties for that really hot/prickly terrain you're hiking. We used Pawz disposable booties for our girls when it was bitterly cold last year, and they had no problems wearing them (compared to the expensive type we tried some years ago). You do need a third hand to put them on though, although I found that there is an "aftermarket" product called Paws Jawz that looks interesting.

 

About diseases in the desert- it's something I didn't know about until my dog came down with the fungal infection then I ended up doing research and many people's dogs die or get seriously ill from this fungal infection in places like Tucson and Phoenix. Death Valley is also a hotbed for it. Like Mag mentioned, Hanta is another concern. If I took my dogs to the US west, we'd stick to Colorado, Utah, and places like Montana and avoid Arizona completely.

Also, everything in the desert is spined- there are seeds that stick between dog's paws, and can even work their way into the skin and cause infection or worse. When I took my dog out for a run in Arizona, I'd spend at least an hour picking spiny things out of his fur and paws. Not a real friendly environment- of course it depends where you are in Arizona. So I'd recommend bringing some hemostat type tweezers and needle nose pliers.

Rattlesnakes are another concern. I know my dogs are attracted to the rattle, so it's worth doing avoidance training so the dog doesn't get bitten. Research snakes so you know what to do and look for and investigate an avoidance course.

Almost every place in the US is open season on coyotes year round and people out West sure like to shoot. Great advice to outfit the dog in a vest. My dog was white with black, so he didn't look anything like a coyote and I wasn't so worried.

Another thing I encountered was cattle free-ranging all over the place. I mean everywhere. Make sure your dog is trained so he won't go chasing cattle. That could be a death sentence.

I've done a lot of camping and travelling with dogs, and there are usually very nice National Forests or state parks near National Parks, where dogs are permitted. Lots of trails and open spaces.

It's beautiful, but if you really get out there, there are risks and I learned that the hard way. So do some research and take care out there!

 

Talk to your vet as I'm sure you have done regarding the Mexico part of the trip and if there are any other vaccinations or medication that could help prevent health problems . I'm sure your looking for vet resources in the areas you are staying in. Knowing where to go is helpful. I think the crate idea is helpful. We rented a cabin out of state that required us to have crate in case they needed to access the cabin for repairs. The first aid kit is really important. I used to keep a craftsman small tool bag with stuff for doggy emergencies in the car. Still have it. This thread reminds me I need to update it.

 

Thanks, all. Lots of great thoughts, just as in my trip-related food thread.

The snakes bit does have me a bit worried. I've spoken with a fella that's been taking his own GSD to the same areas (including Baja) for 10+ years, and he's never had a single problem, so that put me at ease. Luck of the draw, perhaps. Definitely worth doing some more research and preparing for the worst, though.

The crate idea would be good if we were going to be staying in motels/hotels, but we'll be camping 100% of the time. I've got a very nice setup (in terms of equipment), including pressurized hot water (feeding from any water container within reach) for showers or dishes, so the camping will have creature comforts to make it enjoyable day in, day out.

 

We have the hantavirus here, I'd suspect our neighbors in BC would have it too. Styptic powder is the name of the stuff to help stop bleeding. Some here on the forum recommended activated charcoal for first aid kits, but I can remember what the application was, perhaps poisons/toxins?