May 14th is Natural Disaster Pet Preparation Day. Many disasters, such as hurricanes, tornados, and floods, are more common in summer. It’s definitely a good idea to take a few steps to get your furry friend ready, just in case something were to happen here. A Fort Bragg, NC veterinarian offers some tips on this below.

ID

Make sure your animal companion is microchipped and wearing ID tags. You’ll also need to keep your records up-to-date in the chipmaker’s database. A GPS tag isn’t a bad idea, either.

Veterinary Care 

Keep up with your furry buddy’s veterinary care! Make sure that Fido and Fluffy are up to date on their vaccinations and parasite control. It’s also best to keep up with non-core vaccines, such as bordetella. Many shelters and hotels that allow pets will require proof of that paperwork. Keep copies of those records with you. You can keep it in the kit, or put hard copies in your glove box. We’d also recommend uploading some to the cloud, so you can access them from anywhere. 

Supplies

It’s a good idea to pick up some extra supplies as hurricane season approaches. Keep at least a week or two’s worth of your animal friend’s food and medicine on hand. You’ll also want to stock up on water, blankets, and other necessities.

Travel Bag 

Get a travel bag ready for your furry best friend. Include basic necessities like food, water, treats, dishes, towels, bedding, a spare leash and collar, and medicine, as well as a pet first-aid kit and some comfort items. This is also handy to grab for travel, camping trips, and hiking, or even for quick outings to a beach or swimming hole. 

Training 

Training is another factor here. Make sure that Fido will obey basic commands like Sit, Stay, and Come, even in crazy weather. If your canine pal can’t swim, we also would recommend teaching him, unless of course your vet objects. Making sure your fuzzy pal is used to their travel crate is also important.

Planning 

Your family and/or household should have standing plans in case of an emergency. This may entail making a list of pet-friendly hotels and shelters, mapping out secondary evacuation routes, or arranging to stay with friends or family. 

Do you have questions about your pet’s health or care? Contact us, your Fort Bragg, NC animal clinic, anytime!