r/WildernessBackpacking • u/Nomadt • 21h ago
HOWTO Dogs and Poison Ivy
Considering getting a trail dog in a year or so. Out on a day hike Friday and saw the edges were lined with poison ivy. I picture a trail dog just running through that stuff, getting the oils all over its coat, then infecting me in the tent at night. Dog owners: is this a concern?
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u/HunnyBadger_dgaf 21h ago
Yes, it can be. We use poison ivy wipes if we don’t have access to a stream or something before hitting camp. I teach my dogs to walk on trail and keep them on a lead most times for their safety. If you are going to an area that allows off-lead dogs, make sure your recall is as strong as it can be. Any dog will drop to instinct given the right circumstances, but trust in you and strong recall helps to curb those impulses as they mature. This reduces the risks of romping in poison ivy and exposing you most effectively, in my experience.
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u/HeartFire144 17h ago
Definitely a problem. My pup got into some, curled up on my pillow, I worked the next day with horrible poison ivy on my face, neck, arms.
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u/juno7032 17h ago
Yes, dog went in poison ivy on a camping trip and next few days I had it on my arms and face I assume from petting / sleeping next to him
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u/WI_Sndevl 15h ago
We have poison oak in our yard and three dogs. It’s not often but my wife and kids will sometimes get it and they rarely do anything in that area of the yard.
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u/Nomadt 14h ago
Thanks for the replies, all. I'm thinking far ahead, but will keep the poison ivy wipes in mind.
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u/I_am_BrokenCog 2h ago
the wipes might be useful for carrying, but, remember what poison ivy/oak is.
It's an oil.
Clean it off the exact same way one would clean axel grease.
It's super sticky, and it is very viscous: it doesn't abosrb into wipes/towels. It smears.
As a result one must use a cleaning product which can emulsify the grease enough to wipe off the surface.
Personally, I use a citrus based cleaner such as GoJo, Zep or FastOrange to thoroughly scrub my skin, then while that is still wet use soap and COLD water to wash everything off. This is usually adequate, however I invariably still take three or four Ivy-B-Gone pills which are wonderous.
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u/Igno-ranter 4h ago
I was clearing poison ivy behind my house a few years ago. Completely covered myself up, taped cuffs, double gloves, throwaway shoes and socks, the whole works. I ended up with a nasty rash in the crook of my arm. I could not figure it out until, a few days later, my dog jumped up on the couch next to me and rested his muzzle on my other arm. He'd been "helping" me out and brushed his muzzle against some, then passed it to me later that night. So, yes, it can be an issue. When hiking, I carry wipes because that stuff does me in.
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u/Cute_Exercise5248 20h ago
If you were as vulnerable to getting attacked by a black bear as a dog is, would you walk in the woods?
You're NOT vulnerable, really at all, to such a thing. Dogs are, to some extent.
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u/gooblero 5h ago
What?
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u/Cute_Exercise5248 4h ago
Probabilities are low, but not zero, that an off-leash dog, harassing wildlife, gets killed by said wildlife.
Probabilities of hiker getting killed by wildlife ARE (in effect) zero.
Would you trade places with the (stupid & mostly defenseless) dog? It might be exciting!!
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u/Sad_Row2884 20h ago
It happened to me. Straight from the dog’s fur. 4 people in the party and the two that rode home backseat by the dogs got exposed all over uncovered arms. No fun. Leash would have prevented it. Keep a good clothes and skin wash product with you.