How To Create A Preparedness Plan For Your Pet!

• Posted on 28 September 2022
• By Dr. Jill Tack, Board Certified Naturopathic Doctor
• Posted in cats, Dog & Cat Safety Tips, Dog & Cat Wellness, dogs
• 0

September is National Preparedness Month. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so planning what to do in an emergency can help you be better prepared to correctly and safely handle the unexpected with your pet.

September is National Preparedness Month. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so planning ahead on what to do in case of an emergency can help you be better prepared to correctly and safely handle the unexpected with your pet.

We never know when we may actually need to evacuate our home and we never want to leave our pets behind. There is no better time than now to think about being prepared for you and your pet in case you find yourself in a situation where you need to have food stocked, a to-go bag on the ready, and a preparedness plan in place that is easy for the entire family to follow!

With Pets Plan Ahead

In the event of an emergency, we often react quickly and need to make quick decisions. If you have a plan already in place on what you'll do in case you need to leave your home quickly or evacuate an area on short notice, you'll be ready to act fast. Consider what your exit route will be in case of a fire and where to meet up if you get separated in a crowded location. Make sure all family members know the plan and you'll be ready in case the need arises.

Putting Together Items For Your Cats & Dogs In An Emergency:

Below are quick guidelines on what you should have in your emergency preparedness pet bag.

• Food - Of course, nutrition is going to keep us alive. However, maybe you need to pack a different type of food for your emergency bag than what you feed on a daily basis. If you feed raw food, it would be best to pack freeze-dried or dehydrated type foods. Dry kibble can also become very heavy when you need to move quickly. I would consider forgoing the kibble and packing freeze-dried or dehydrated food for times like this. Many of our 10 lb bags of freeze-dried or dehydrated foods make up to 40 lbs of food! If you have food set aside in an emergency bag of food, it is best to rotate every 24 months to make sure the food is fresh and not past the expiration date. You could easily add the food you have into your pet’s diet so it doesn’t go to waste before restocking your emergency kit.

• Water - Clean, healthy, filtered water is needed for everyone. This could possibly be more important than food. You can easily fast and skip a meal but your body needs water to stay hydrated and functioning. The general rule of thumb is one gallon of water per person, per day. The number of animals you have and their size will determine the amount of water you will need per day. How much water would you need for 7 days? For my family - with two people, six cats, and one small breed dog -  I would need to prepare to have 20+ gallons of water. You could take this a step further and purchase a water filtration system for your to-go bag if hauling a large amount of water seems overwhelming.
• Photos and records for each pet - Current, clear photos of your pet from several angles with at least one good clear photo of their face is always very helpful. I recommend these are stored on a USB drive for quick and easy travel. If you have printed information for each pet, that is also helpful but it could get damaged, lost, or destroyed in your hurry to leave. Either paper copies or USB images should be updated on a yearly basis with your newest photos and include the most recent veterinary paperwork. In case you get separated from your pet, you could also have a “Lost” poster saved onto your USB drive and ready for print. I know it’s hard to imagine you would need a “Lost” poster but, again, this is part of being prepared. 
• Medications/Supplements - If your pet is currently on any medications or supplements that are necessary and life dependent, these should be packed with you and easy to grab as you exit your home. Instructions for each medication should be included. You could add the instructions onto your USB drive to have them with you at all times. When medications are added or changed, these should be updated on your drive as well.
• Collars, Leashes, Carriers, and ID Tags - Make sure these have the most up-to-date current information listed. Most often our dogs wear their collars all the time. In cases of an emergency, we recommend putting a collar and ID tags on your cats as well. Pack an extra leash, extra collar, and extra ID tag. This may seem overboard but, in an emergency, the more prepared, the better. Also, make sure that if your pet is microchipped that your address and contact info are up to date. If you have an animal that doesn’t walk well on a leash then it’s best to put them in a carrier where they are safe. Carriers are often used for small dogs and cats. Don’t forget to put your name, phone number, and any other contact information on the outside of the pet carrier for identification purposes.
  
• Remedies - Natural remedies can be very helpful during this stressful time. The following remedies are great to have and can be used for both humans and pets to help with emotional overloads such as fear, anxiety, stress, and panic.

1. • Silver Shield - This colloidal silver formula is great for all types of needs. It can help with bacterial infections, viral infections, fungal infections, wound healing, and much more. It can be used internally and topically. 
   • Activated Charcoal - This charcoal will bind to any toxins in the body and help remove them through the intestinal tract through stool. If you have a naughty pet that may get into things this is great to have on hand to help with any mishaps. Thinking beyond naughty pets, it can be useful for stopping diarrhea as well as used topically as a poultice to help with bites and stings.

• • Lavender Essential Oil - Lavender is known as the “universal oil”. It can help in many different situations. You might use lavender to help with calming or you might use lavender for a minor skin abrasion. This essential oil is safe to use for both cats and dogs!
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  • Homeopathics - Two of my favorites to have on hand are Aconite and Phosphorus. Aconite is often used in situations of emotional shock, extreme fear, anxiety, and impending doom. Those are all emotions that are easily associated with quick evacuations. Phosphorus is often used for physical wounds and hemorrhaging but can be used for those who are fearful of loud noises from an emotional standpoint.

• Practice! - This might sound silly, but a few trial runs to figure out how everyone is going to fit in one car or if you need to take two cars is a good idea. Where are the emergency bags going to fit? And your water? This is a good activity to play around with the routine. Can you get it down to five minutes? Does everyone cooperate? Maybe you need to take some time getting your cats used to their carriers? As we all know, practice makes for a seamless routine if an evacuation ever takes place.

Emergency Items For Humans Too: 

Advanced items that you may want to consider for the humans.

• Flashlights or lanterns
• Battery or hand-crank radio
• Water filtration system
• Emergency thermal blankets
• Survival gear
• Camp stove
• Emergency food supply 
• Homeopathic kits - The Honest Kitchen - Perfect Form, Nature's Sunshine - Distress Remedy, Activated Charcoal & Silver Shield. 

Maintain Your Kit

Once you have a kit put together, it needs some yearly maintenance. Whether you restock it every 6 or 12 months, the food should be rotated, and you should review the items you put together. Updating each pet's paperwork with age, medication and medical history, current photos, and updated ID tags can make your preparations valid when the need arises. 

Being prepared makes the unexpected less daunting. Stop by our retail location in Madison Heights, Michigan, just north of Detroit, which is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am - 8:00 pm, and Sundays from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm and take a minute to catch up with one of our Pet Nutrition Specialist on ideas on how best to have what you need on hand to provide care for your pet if an emergency arises. Also, visit our 24/7 natural pet food, treats, toys, and supplies store online or message us on Facebook for any inquiries!