Helpful Pet Tips

Pet Emergency Preparedness Tips

We never know when a disaster may strike, but being prepared for a disaster helps you and your react quicker to getting out of harms way. When creating your family's emergency preparedness plan, don't forget to include a plan for your pet! Here are some emergency preparedness tips for your pet.

Create a pet emergency “kit” complete with:

• At least three days of food, water, and any medications your pet may need
• Vet / vaccination records, etc.
• Collars / ID’s, harness, and leash
• Pictures of yourself and other family members with your pet(s)
• Sanitation kit: pet litter, litter box, plastic trash bags, household chlorine bleach
• Have a carrier or crate ready that your pet has been adapted to for safe transportation purposes. The carrier should be large enough to allow your pet to stand, turn around, and lie down.
• Microchip your pet(s)

First Aid Kit suggestions:
Some suggestions for items for your first aid kit include: cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape, scissors, antibiotic ointment, flea & tick preventative, latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol, saline solution.

Talk to your vet or Animal Control about the most appropriate items to include in your pet’s first aid kit.

Know what to do!
Develop and implement your family’s emergency plan. NEVER leave your pets behind!

• If you have enough notice, prepare an alternate home for your pet (family, friends, or local kennel) and get your pet there in advance – space and temporary cages may be limited. If you choose to use a kennel or shelter, make sure your pet is in a carrier. If you don’t already have one, plan ahead and buy one now.
• Pay attention to news briefs, county updates, and check the county web site for up-to-the-minute status of shelters in your area.
• Know which local hotels / motels will take pets or which animal boarding facilities take pets during emergencies.

Never Leave Your Dog or other Animal in your Car

Animals can suffer brain damage or death from heatstroke in just 15 minutes! Nobody keeps statistics on dog deaths from being left in cars, but about 30 to 40 children die in parked cars each year. Considering that dogs aren't allowed in most places where children are, and that dogs overheat more quickly than children, it's far likely that hundreds of dogs die in closed cars every year.

Although dogs sweat, they do it very differently than their human counterparts. Most of their perspiration comes through their paw pads. The quantity is minimal so it is not enough to make big changes in their body temperature. Their panting and breathing are the primary way animals cool themselves down. The dog’s tongue and the lining of their lungs are the primary locations where their body heat is transferred to the air. A dog’s tongue does not contain sweat glands as seems to be a popular belief. Dogs also dissipate some body heat by the expanding blood vessels in their face and ears. All three methods of cooling help keep your dog from overheating but are not enough by themselves. So, avoid these types of situations with your dog.

• Avoid excessive play outside on hot summer days.
• Provide lots of fresh cool water to keep your dog well hydrated.
• Do NOT leave your pet in the car.
• If your dog does become overheated, contact your vet immediately.