For someone that’s spent as much time on the hiking trails as I have, I feel pretty lucky not to have experienced or witnessed many medical emergencies. Hiking can be a dangerous activity, but besides the odd sprained ankle, skinned knee, one dislocated shoulder (not mine) and lots of blisters, my adventures have largely remained free of injury or major drama. But when it comes to dogs, however, it’s another story.
Colorado is an extremely dog-friendly state and in my 11 years living there, rarely did I hike without a canine companion, whether it was my own husky mix or a friend’s pooch (or three). And rarely did our pups come out from a hike unscathed. Bee stings, porcupine quills in the face, torn ACLs and even a paw sliced by a ski on a ski touring adventure, I think I’ve seen it all when it comes to doggy hiking emergencies.
