Hiking the Trails Safely with Your Dog

June 17, 2021 by Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center

A dog and his human hiking in the mountains of Colorado.

Colorado is full of majestic mountains and scenic trails that are hard to resist, especially, when sharing them with your canine hiking companion.

At Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center, we believe that enjoying fun hikes with your dog involves proper training and preparation for a variety of conditions, including, varying elevations and weather conditions, such as heat, cold, rain and snow. Here are some tips to help your dog have a great time while out on the trails with you.

Train Your Dog Ahead of Time

As with humans, hiking Colorado trails at both lower and higher elevations can cause problems for dogs, including, heat stroke, dehydration, exhaustion, and altitude sickness. You can minimize the chance of these occurring by first making sure your dog has had a recent physical check-up and is healthy enough to handle hiking in general, both at lower and higher elevations.

You should also follow these training and hiking guidelines:

First, be sure your dog is trained to walk at your side on a lead and to respond consistently to basic training commands, including, “right here” or “heel”, “come”, “stay”, “leave it”, and “no”. If your dog needs help with basic skills, consider a class or consult with our Pet Behavior Specialist.

Take the time to train your dog to be out on a trail and to hike uphill. Work up to longer excursions over a period of a few weeks. This is well worth the effort, as your dog will be much better prepared for the physical demands of mountain hiking. Gradual training will also help prevent muscle soreness and overuse injuries.

Use a lead no longer than 6 feet and avoid retractable leads altogether. Be responsible and keep your dog on its lead, under control and close to you. You never know when you’ll come upon a rattlesnake, other wild animal, another human, or a loose/aggressive dog and you need that control. Avoid letting your dog wander off the trail for the same reason.

Follow proper trail etiquette, for both your dog’s safety and the safety of others you may encounter. Be prepared to yield to uphill hikers, runners, cyclists, and people on horseback.

During the warmer months of the year, hike during the cooler parts of the day, especially, if you’re covering terrain that is in full sun. Dogs can easily overheat without the benefit of shade, especially, during the hottest times of the day. Overheating, dehydration, and other heat-related problems can affect any dog, regardless of its age, and cause serious problems.

Never coerce your dog to continue on if it is slowing down or showing signs of fatigue. Stop and rest, and if your dog doesn’t show a renewed energy, it’s time to turn around and go back. Always pay attention to your dog’s energy level and behavior.

Avoid attempting a high-altitude hike with a dog that has not been properly acclimated to elevations above 8,000 feet and higher. Many mountain trails will take you well above timberline to 11,000 – 12,000 feet, and hiking a fourteener means going up to and over 14,000 feet. Only healthy dogs that are well-trained and acclimated for these altitudes and long distances should be taken on a hike to these elevations.

Always allow your dog rest days after hiking days, especially, if the hike was long, your dog is older, or is not as well acclimated to the level of activity. Just as humans, dogs need recovery time and it will vary depending on your dog’s age, health status and fitness level. Dogs are also susceptible to overuse problems with muscles and joints, and adequate rest/recovery time, along with gradual training, will help prevent them.

Pack the Right Gear

Before you head out for the day, take stock of how long you plan to be on the trail, check the day’s weather forecast, and pack supplies for your dog accordingly. The following items are essential when hiking with a dog:

A 6 foot lead, properly fitted wonder walker harness, regular harness, or collar
Clear identification for your dog
Plenty of water ‒ more than you think your dog will need
Food and treats for the day
A collapsible dog bowl that is easy to carry
Plastic bags for pet waste
Properly fitted dog raincoat or jacket, booties
Canine first-aid kit and emergency blanket
Emergency dog carry-out harness, just in case

Carry a First-Aid Kit

Even if you are just riding around in your car, it’s always a good idea to have along a complete pet first-aid kit. This is especially important when far from home or a veterinary hospital, which applies to most hiking trails in our state. Read here for more information on how to prepare a first aid kit for your pet that is easy to take along wherever you go.

Head Out Early

In order to have enough time to get to your destination and make it back before a storm hits or it gets dark, start out early in the morning. This is especially important if you plan to go above 10,00 feet, as a beautiful sunny morning can change into a blustery storm by midday at high elevations, and lightening is always a concern when above timberline.

Earlier starts also allow for cooler temperatures as you pass through the lower elevations where temperatures can rise quickly by late morning.

Avoid Altitude Sickness

Denver sits at 5,280 feet above sea level and, although most of us are used to this altitude in our daily activities, our pets may not be, especially, if a pet is from a lower elevation or new to Colorado. The signs of altitude-related sickness include:

Shortness of breath
Excessive panting, drooling
Pale gums
Lethargy
Bleeding from the nose
Vomiting
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For additional information and guidelines on altitude sickness, read our blog on how altitude affects pets and preventing altitude sickness. Remember, nothing will ruin a hike faster than having to carry your dog out due to exhaustion, sickness or other altitude problem.

A Word On Rattlesnakes

If your dog is bitten by a rattlesnake – regardless of where the bite occurs on the body – you’ll have about an hour to get your dog to a pet emergency facility for medical care before debilitating and life-threatening symptoms take hold.

Rattlesnake venom is highly toxic and causes pain, swelling, internal bleeding, difficulty breathing, shock and death within a relatively short period of time. Treatment for rattlesnake bites typically requires the administration of Antivenin (sometimes several doses) along with intravenous fluids and 24-hour monitoring. Survival often depends on how quickly treatment is provided. These are all reasons why it is important to not let this happen to your dog while out on the trail.

Know Your Dog

For most dogs, hiking in the mountains is an enjoyable activity that is well-tolerated, provided they are properly trained and acclimated. Some dogs, however, are predisposed to having problems and require additional attention:

At elevations above 5,000 feet, brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds, such as boxers, pugs, Pekinese, bulldogs, or any pet with a breathing issue, should be monitored closely, as they are already predisposed to breathing problems that could be exacerbated by increases in altitude.

Dogs with a heart condition or heart murmur, regardless of breed, should NOT be taken on hikes above 8,000 feet, as they are at a much higher risk for having a serious, life-threatening problem at higher elevations.

Dogs that are overweight or have had a sedentary lifestyle will need to be trained gradually over a period of weeks on flat terrain. Start out on short walks out and back (30 minutes or less), and increase the distance and time as your dog adapts and is able to tolerate longer excursions. Introduce uphill terrain in the same way.

Some dogs have more difficulty than others at tolerating the heat of summer or the cold of winter. While the reasons for this vary, pay attention to how your dog is doing and adjust your hike as needed. If your dog seems overly sensitive to heat or cold when outdoors, schedule a check-up with your veterinarian to rule out a medical problem. Your veterinarian may also recommend ways to keep your dog more comfortable.