Home » Plants & Animals » Dog Grooming » Grooming the Traveling Dog

Grooming the Traveling Dog

© Chris Chamberlin

Grooming your dog while on holiday need not be a huge inconvenience. If you prepare ahead of time the effort of keeping Fido looking and feeling great can be minimal. Providing for your dog's comfort on long holiday trips with you will make everyone's vacation more enjoyable.

Things you can do weeks before leaving home include a shopping trip to your favorite pet store for supplies. Holidays are for relaxation and recreation, so if you want a pet who isn't stressed out by a trip purchasing things for his holiday is a must. A camping trip will usually mean insect bites, possibly ticks, and sticky things from hiking trails that cling to a coat. Sometimes a stay at the lake will see your favorite four-legged friend have his day full of swimming and tons of dirt and sand and muddy paws on the camper couch.

SO lets make a list-- Make sure your dog is up to date on his flea and tick preparations, as well as heart worm medications. No doubt he will come in contact with other dogs that may be contributors to such nastiness.

Bug repellant (the same stuff you use) will go a long way to keeping him from be driven to distraction by mosquitoes, black flies and such, giving you peace and quiet from his scratching to relieve the itch.

Travel sickness tablets can aid in a dog who has motion sickness and will also act as a stress reliever. Dramamine can make some dogs drowsy and the recommended dose is by weight. On average, 10mg for every 20 pound dog is sufficient.

A mild shampoo and condition is a must if your dog loves to swim. Excessive water will strip the natural oils from his coat. Bring along a baby bathtub and suds him up, making sure to rinse well and add conditioner at least once a week. If it is not water but dirt that keeps him a mess, you can use a good dry shampoo that is sprayed on and brushed out. It does rid the coat of most soil and grime.

Bring water from home for drinking and use it blended with the water from your travels to ease any tummy upsets. A spray-on sunscreen will help prevent sunburns. Yes, dogs can get burnt too.

A beach umbrella is not a bad idea for shade for him. Dogs feel the heat much quicker than people do.

Remember to pack his brush and comb so you can avoid taking off a coat that becomes too tangled to save because you took a holiday from daily brushing. :)

The copyright of the article Grooming the Traveling Dog in Dog Grooming is owned by Jill Florio. Permission to republish Grooming the Traveling Dog in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.