Jun 15, 2022 | By, For Pet's Sake
Emergency kit essentials for your pets
June is National Pet Preparedness Month, which makes now a great time to ask yourself if you’re ready for an emergency that requires you to evacuate immediately. Nobody likes thinking about disasters, but they sometimes happen. Your pets can’t make decisions like their owners, so it’s up to you to gather their essential belongings before you leave for safety.
Many of these items are the same ones you would take on a vacation or even a walk in the park. Some are a little less obvious and might be scattered around the house. The key is having everything ready in one place in case you need to evacuate in a hurry.
Water
Have some spare water bottles on hand for your pet and for yourself. You never know when you’ll be able to find a good spot to fill up so it’s best to have a decent supply to start your journey.
Extra food supply
Bring one to two weeks of food with you. If you have the room, more is better because you may not be able to get to a pet store for a while, especially not one that carries your pet’s specific brand of food. Don’t forget high-value treats! These will help coax your pet to follow and listen to you, even in uncertain times.
Travel bowls
These are convenient for you to feed your pet on the go, and they also will give your pet some semblance of home so that they eat and drink on a regular schedule.
Important documents
Luckily, most documents are digital now so you should have copies of your pet’s vaccinations, medical records, and licensing records online or in your email. If you do have paper-only copies of something, take pictures of those documents or make some calls to inquire about getting electronic ones.
Crate
Hopefully your pet is crate-trained, but if not, this is one good reason why they should be. Crates are meant to be safe spaces where pets feel comfortable when they want to sleep, be alone, or feel protected. Bring some blankets too so that they feel extra cozy in a hotel, shelter, or anywhere else you need to go.
Tags/collar/leash/harness
Emergencies are not the time to allow your pet off leash. Make sure your pet is wearing their collar with their identification and emergency contact tags, and always have their harness and leash handy in case you are walking or running to your next destination. Bringing a bright piece of clothing or a vest for them to wear is smart so that they are always visible to others who are in a rush.
Medications
Bring any prescription medications and anything that helps your pet take those medications easily (peanut butter, pill pouch treats, etc.). Keep a dose of flea medication in your emergency kit too, in case you’re going somewhere where fleas are prevalent and to make sure your pet stays current on their dosing routine. Check this part of the go-bag regularly to verify none of the medications are expired.
Life jacket and paw protectors
The climate and terrain are unpredictable in emergencies. The life jacket will help your pet swim, even if they aren’t good at it, and the paw protectors will help them walk on ground that is hot or riddled with dangerous debris.
First aid kit
This should include bandages and cleaning wipes for cuts, tweezers for things like splinters, hydrogen peroxide for cleaning as well as inducing vomiting to clear out something toxic they ate, and scissors and tape to help with bandaging.
Planning ahead now will save you so much time and stress if you need to leave in an emergency. With your go-bag already packed, you won’t even have to think when you grab it and put it with all of your other belongings. Now, fingers crossed that you never need to use this advice at all!
Have a question about pet health? Want to become the best possible pet parent? Find helpful tips, reminders, and insight to giving your furry friend the best possible care with For Pet’s Sake! Learn more at drdevonsmith.com.
