DogBoston

Emergency Pet Preparedness:
Caring For Dogs Before, During, and After a Crisis

by Diana Bocco

“Our lives are determined by the things we never planned —but we can control some things better if we plan for them to the best of our ability,” says Diane Levitan, VMD, a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Director of the Center for Specialized Veterinary Care in Long Island. “Just as you should have a plan for any human you love and care for, you should have a plan for the non-humans you love and care for. Do your best to make provisions for all that you possibly can, because you would never want to be forced to make sacrifices that you otherwise would not have had to make had you planned ahead.”

Know Your Risks

For the safety of all your family members (including the four-legged kind), you need to know beforehand what risks are inherent to the area where you live (natural disasters, man-made problems, evacuations?) and when are they more likely to happen (winter or summer?). This will help you prepare better and make you more alert to potential danger signs.

Assemble a Pet Disaster Supplies Kit

Being prepared can make all the difference in a time of crisis. “Make a kit and have it ready,” says Levitan. “Then all you need to do is take it with you.”
A basic kit should include:

• A heavy-duty leash and harness. For small dogs, a sturdy carrier works best. Carriers should have a secure locking mechanism and be large enough so that the animal can stand, turn around, and lie down.
• A week’s supply of dry or canned food (if canned, remember to pack a can opener)
• Bottled water
• Food and water dishes
• Extra supply of any medication you pet needs on a daily basis
• An updated copy of your pet’s medical records. Kennels and shelters will require proof of current rabies and distemper vaccinations before allowing an animal inside.
• Clear, current photos of your pet in case you become separated.
• A written report of any medical or behavior condition your dog has, plus the name and number of your veterinarian, in case you need to board your pet somewhere.
• A first aid kit. You can assemble one yourself with medicines you buy at the vet’s office (not human medicine) or buy a pre-made one.
• A dog bed only if portable; otherwise, a thick blanket than can be used both as bedding and to keep warm.
• Toys (to help reduce stress)
• Plenty of newspaper, paper towels, plastic bags, cleaner and disinfectants to properly handle pet waste (zip-lock plastic bags work well)

Before An Emergency

“It is a good idea to have a ‘disaster drill’,” says Bernadine Cruz, DVM, a veterinary consultant for several national television programs and the creator of the First Aid for Pets — Dogs & Cats course endorsed by the American Red Cross. “You can more calmly practice scooping up all your pets, evacuation kits, children and other family members and leaving your home. Time yourself. At the end of the drill, have each family member responsible to assessing their part of the drill and making suggestions on how the process can be improved and then try it again at a later date.”

Make sure that your dog wears a collar and identification tag at all times. The tag should include your name, address, and phone number. Levitan recommends also including any emergency health alerts on it.

Consider having your dog microchipped. Micro ID implants contain identifying information, vital in case a collar comes off. “Microchips are tiny (about the size of a grain of rice), can be seen on an x-ray (so we can tell they have one) and are painlessly injected at any age and last forever,” says Levitan. “The only downsides are it must be realized that the pet has one and they must find a compatible scanner to read the chip. Many breeders, pet stores and veterinarians are using these routinely today. There is actually a push to make all chips readable by a universal scanning device so that no matter what company makes the chip, the pet can be identified using any scanner.”
Place a sign or decal in your window declaring that there animals in the house. Emergency personnel need this information in order to plan a rescue. Pet stores such as Petland will provide you with a decal for free, or you can order one for a couple of dollars from the ASPCA.

Research your neighborhood. Find out in advance what local clinics are open 24hrs. and which ones handle major emergencies. Inquiry where lost animals are taken –Sometimes it’s not to the local shelter.

Contact your local emergency management office to find out if there are prearranged places where animals can be housed in the event of an emergency. These can include animal shelters, clinics, and boarding kennels.

Because of health regulations, Red Cross shelters cannot accept animals, so you’re responsible for finding alternate refuge. Make a list of pet-friendly motels/hotels in your area and a few on a neighboring district (in case of a major emergency that requires city-wide evacuation). For a list of over 25,000 hotels, motels, and B&B that accept pets, check PetsWelcome.Com or www.clemson.edu/lph (Emergency Preparedness website)
Call hotels that have a “no pet” policies and ask if they’d be willing to waive it in an emergency.

Designate a person (preferably a neighbor or a pet sitting service) that can pick up your pet from your house in case you’re away when disaster strikes. This person needs to have a key to your house and know where your animals are likely to hide when scared.
Ask friends and relatives in neighboring cities if they’d be willing to shelter your animals in an emergency.

During an Emergency

If you Have to Evacuate…

“In the event of a disaster, and you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do is evacuate your pets too,” says Billie Douglass Jones, the Interim Animal Emergency Response Coordinator of South Carolina Emergency Management Division. “This advanced planning is essential – it could save your pet’s life and make yours easier during a threatening storm emergency.”

Don’t wait for a mandatory evacuation order. If emergency officials are involved, you may be ordered to leave your animals behind.

Bring your pets inside at the first sign of danger. Animals may become agitated and run away, or hide in places where you won’t be able to find them in a hurry. If the danger is imminent, put dogs in their carriers or leash them.

Know the common hiding places inside your house, so you can look for your pets in a hurry.

Drive to the nearest safe location that will allow you to check in with your pets. The last thing you want is to get stuck in the highway when a storm is approaching.

“The most important thing a person can do during an emergency is to have embraced the Scout’s motto before the disaster ever happens….Be Prepared,” says Cruz. “During the crisis…Breath! Take a moment to try to relax and think clearly. You can’t be of any assistance to your pet or yourself if you are running around frantically. Pets can easily sense when their owners are stressed and this can cause them to become nervous and more difficult to work with.”

If You Don’t Evacuate

If you have to wait out a storm at home, start by identifying the safest room in your home and retreat there at the first indication of danger. Make sure your disaster kit is stored in that room.

“Keep them on as normal routine as possible (feeding time, play time, exercise time),” says Jones. “Try to keep emotions as level as possible. Even the most trustworthy pets may panic, hide, and try to escape, bite or scratch when alarmed. This applies to family members as well as strangers. Be extremely cautious and gentle.”

Put small animals such as hamsters, lizards, or birds in carriers rather than keeping them in glass tanks, especially if there’s a risk of falling debris (as in the case of earthquakes) or broken windows (tornadoes).

Try to stay calm. Animals will pick up on your anxiety and become even more agitated.

“NEVER leave animals of different species together,” says Jones. “Put dogs and cats in separate quarters.” Even if they normally get along fine, they may react differently under severe stress.

After the Emergency
Keep your pets indoors. Animals are likely to become disoriented because of unusual smells or displaced familiar objects and can easily get lost or run away.
Make sure there are no broken windows or holes the animals can use to escape.
When you take your dog for a walk, use a short leash. There may be downed power lines or other dangers you are not aware of.

Be patient. “Pets like consistency and routines,” says Cruz. “Disasters disrupt their lives and, similar to young children, a pet may not know how to react to the turmoil. It is not uncommon for a pet to have a diminished appetite. Change in water, food, and stress can all lead to upset bowels. A typically outgoing pet may become reclusive, anxious, or argumentative. The length of time that it takes a person to recover from the traumatic shock can be extremely variable. The same can be true for your pet. If a pet is loosing condition, is not interacting with the family in a manner that is deemed normal, seeking the assistance of a veterinarian is strongly recommended. This is especially true for very young and elderly pets.”

First Aid Kit

A basic first aid kit for pets should contain the following items:
• Bandages: sterile roller gauze, porous non-allergenic adhesive tape, cotton batting, self-adhering athletic bandage, non-adherent sterile pads.
• Stainless steel tweezers (to remove splinters, thorns, ticks, etc.). Magnifying tweezers are available at drugstores and pet stores.
• Rectal Thermometer
• White petroleum jelly or other water based sterile lubricant.
• Plastic Dropper or syringe (for administering medicines)
• Syrup of Ipecac (to induce vomiting in case of poison ingestion)
• Chlorhexidine solution or 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (to clean wounds)
• Emergency muzzle. “In the chaos that often accompanies an emergency situation, a frightened or injured pet might inadvertently lash out and bite,” says Cruz.
• Styptic powder or pencil (to stop bleeding from minor cuts)
• First aid or triple antibiotic ointment (such as Betadine)
• Sterile eye lubricant and eye wash. Sterile saline can be used both for eyes and wounds.
• Instant ice pack
• Emergency blanket
• Small scissors
• Medical grade vinyl gloves
• An up-to-date pet first-aid guidebook that covers emergency care (including CPR, trauma, chocking, etc.) and non-emergency procedures. Better yet, contact the Red Cross to take their First Aid for Pets — Dogs & Cats course.

Some Basic First Aid Tips

Bleeding stops with the help of direct pressure on the site. If there is bleeding from a vein, it will likely stop with constant pressure. Arterial bleeding is more difficult to control and more dangerous, but again, pressure directly on the site is key.

The key to wound care is to keep all wounds clean, dry and protected from germs. Cover open wounds with antibiotic ointment and a clean dressing until proper medical attention can be given.

Body temperature control is very important: keep the animals temperature as close to normal (101-102 F). If they are very over heated, they should be gently and gradually cooled to normal by using cool water on their body and or alcohol to the extremities. Fans are also helpful. Be careful not to over cool.

If they are cold, heat them using hot water bottles or a heating pad. Never place the pet directly on the heating pad, use a towel or blanket in between and NEVER leave it on the High setting, as pets can get severe burns.

Adult dogs do not generally get colds- if your pet is coughing and or sneezing excessively, seek medical attention.

When in doubt, have it checked out.

In Conclusion

“Pets have truly become a part of the family,” says Cruz. “It is the responsibility of each pet owner to insure the safety and well being of their furry, feather, or finned friends, because when a person brings a pet into their lives, it is for life…the life of that pet. In times of disasters, large or small, we each need to be self sufficient. As has been seen in the wake of Katrina, emergency services can be over taxed and may not be able to respond to our individual needs in a timely fashion. By anticipating the needs of your entire family, formulating an emergency plan tailored to them, you can increase the chances of surviving the calamity and make your life easier during an emergency.”
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