Did you know that May 9 is National Animal Preparedness Day in the United States? The day was designated as a way to increase awareness about the importance of being prepared for emergencies particularly when dealing with natural and manmade disasters. But pet owners can go beyond disaster preparedness into being prepared to deal with injuries and illnesses particularly in terms of basic emergency procedures.
Basic Disaster Preparedness
The best thing that your family can do in case of emergencies brought on by man-made and natural disasters is to be prepared – and it includes having an emergency plan that includes your pets, too. You can be disaster-ready, so to speak, by taking a few simple steps that can mitigate the impact of the disaster on your family including your pets.
First, build a pet emergency go-kit that contains your pets’ basic needs. You will be able to cut down on time spent on preparing the contents of the kit amidst the chaos of an emergency, thus, you can focus on getting to safer grounds as quickly as possible. You will also experience reduced stress during an emergency since you already know that a kit is ready for the taking.
A pet emergency go-kit should ideally include the following items related to your dog:
- Basic first aid supplies
- 3-day supply of canned food and bottled water in a waterproof container
- Summary of its feeding routine, behavioral issues, and medications including medical records
- Medications for at least 3 days
- Contact numbers and addresses of veterinarians and pet care organizations
- Safety harness and leash
- Waste clean-up supplies
- Basic grooming supplies (Ask your professional pet groomer at PetSmart about this matter. Additional items, such as flea and tick items may be suggested)
- Comfort items, such as toys, to keep your pet comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings
Second, ensure that your dog’s identification is updated. You can ask your vet for a suitable microchip or a collar identification tag containing your complete contact information (i.e., name, address and phone numbers). People will have an easier time returning your dog in case it gets lost during the disaster.
Third, place a pet rescue decal in a prominent place in your home’s exterior, such as on your front door or window. First responders will see the decal and take appropriate action regarding a pet rescue during a disaster. Check that the decal includes the name and contact information of your veterinarian.
Fourth, learn your pet’s hiding place when it becomes scared for any reason. You will have an easier time finding it in case an emergency evacuation is necessary. You should consider a pet carrier for transport, too, since time is of the essence in an evacuation and it will not do to be burdened with a pet in your arms.
Fifth, identify a pet-friendly place where you can take up temporary residence. Many disaster shelters will not accept pets in their premises so you have to find alternative accommodations for your dog.
Sixth, know the resources in your community regarding pet care during a disaster. Your knowledge about these available resources before these are needed is of significant importance when you already need them.
In California, disaster preparedness is a must considering that storms and wildfires are all too common occurrences. Pet owners should pay close attention to disaster preparedness especially since pets are just as much a part of the family as the humans.
Basic Emergency Procedures
Illnesses and injuries require a similar attitude of preparedness yet a different set of approaches in preparedness for emergencies than disasters. Your first step is to place the name, address and contact information of your pet’s veterinarian and local veterinary organizations on a prominent place, such as the bulletin board in the kitchen, and on speed dial on your phone. The faster you can contact the animal experts, the faster you can get information about the appropriate steps to do in an illness- or accident-related emergency.
Each veterinary emergency at home requires a different approach before you can get your pet to the clinic. If your dog is bleeding, flush the wound with warm saltwater, apply a clean cloth or dressing on the cleaned wound, and apply firm pressure on the affected area during transport.
In case of a seizure, make the room as quiet and dark as possible by turning off the lights and appliances, pulling the curtains, and keeping the children and pets away. You must ensure that the affected dog is out of harm’s way while it is in the midst of a seizure; just clear the area of any objects that it can bump into but avoid touching it since it may well bite you, too. You should call your vet when your dog’s seizures continue for over 2 minutes.
When in doubt about what to do, it is often best to just call the animal experts since your uninformed action may result in more injuries than necessary. Keep calm, too, as it will not be to your dog’s interest when you are a blabbering mess, too.
