One mile up Mount Washington’s Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail on July 11, a 45-pound dog could no longer move because of paw damage. A New Hampshire Paw Rescue member brought a rescue harness to the party, and the dog’s owner carried the animal the rest of the way out.
That carryout was one of five incidents involving struggling or injured hiking dogs in New Hampshire during June and July. Together, they make a practical point: selecting a canine hiking route requires more than estimating mileage. Owners must account for footing, conditioning and whether they can evacuate their dog when walking is no longer possible
New Hampshire Paw Rescue, a volunteer group that assists with dog rescues in the state, repeatedly encountered the same broad problems: paw damage, exhaustion and the challenge of moving a substantial animal over rough ground. The dogs in three June incidents weighed approximately 80, 60 and 75 pounds. Two were found about two miles or just under two miles from a trailhead, distances that become consequential when every step involves carrying an injured dog.
The roughly 80-pound dog found on Mount Washington’s Boott Spur Trail on June 12 had stopped moving because of paw damage and exhaustion. Its owners descended without a carryout, and responders treated the paws and helped transport the dog to the owners’ vehicle. After a veterinary visit, the dog reportedly could not bear weight for two days but eventually recovered fully.
On June 25, the owner of a roughly 60-pound dog used a rescue sling after the animal developed trouble between Mount Guyot and Zealand Mountain. The dog recovered enough to walk out after Paw Rescue members met the party just under two miles from the Zealand Trailhead. It was later reported to have rhabdomyolysis. Three days later, a roughly 75-pound dog with paw damage and exhaustion was reported on the North Twin Trail; that dog and its owner exited independently.
A fifth incident on July 27 demonstrated the value of equipment already positioned in the backcountry. A party used dog-rescue supplies stored at Greenleaf Hut to carry an injured dog out without direct assistance from Paw Rescue.
Plan for paws, exertion and a carryout
Paw pads provide traction, absorb shock and protect the structures of the foot, but rough terrain can still tear or puncture them. Licking the feet or limping can indicate an injury, according to VCA Animal Hospitals’ paw-injury guidance. Continuing to walk on a damaged pad can reopen a wound and delay healing.
New Hampshire Paw Rescue recommends frequent pad checks because a dog may not display obvious distress until the damage is severe. Its suggested trail equipment includes bandaging material, vet wrap, paw booties and either a canine rescue harness or soft litter. Equipment alone is insufficient: owners should practice using it and confirm that they can carry their dog over uneven terrain before committing to a rugged route.
Conditioning should be similarly deliberate. Veterinarian Gina Roberts, writing in Green Mountain Club guidance on hiking with dogs, recommends beginning with short outings, gradually increasing distance and intensity, and training on geography comparable to the intended route. That progression gives the dog experience with elevation and rocky footing rather than making a strenuous trail the first test.
Rhabdomyolysis adds a less visible exertional risk. University of Illinois veterinary guidance says affected animals may appear dehydrated, painful, weak, disoriented or nauseated after extreme or unfamiliar exercise. The Merck Veterinary Manual identifies muscle swelling and tissue damage as key signs of acute exertional myopathy and notes that severe cases can involve acute kidney failure. Weakness, marked pain, disorientation or other serious changes after exertion warrant prompt veterinary attention; owners should not attempt to diagnose the condition on the trail.
The appropriate route is therefore the one that fits both members of the team. Before entering sharp, rocky country such as the Presidential Range or Franconia Ridge, owners should consider whether the dog has relevant conditioning, whether its paws can be monitored and protected, and whether the human can execute a carryout. If those questions cannot be answered confidently, New Hampshire Paw Rescue advises choosing a more conservative route or leaving the dog home. What’s your dog’s job, official or self-appointed? Tell us in the comments.
By Tom Whitaker — Outdoor magazine editor who has reported on search-and-rescue, herding, field dogs, and working-dog handlers.
