Now Is A Good Time To Review Your Emergency Plans Regarding Your Pet

You're supposed to have plans in place for what to do in case of an emergency, and if you have a pet, you are supposed to include them, such as bringing along a supply of their food and treats. It's still early in the year, but already parts of the country have had devastating floods and blizzards. Now would be a really good time to review your emergency plans for your pet, as well as contact its veterinarian to arrange for any vaccines or other treatments that it needs. 

Microchipping, Registering, and Tagging

Make sure you've gotten your pet microchipped, if possible. Dogs and cats should definitely be chipped; this is obviously a little harder to do regarding smaller pets or non-furry pets (you're not microchipping geckos). Chips should be registered and have current contact information for you, so double-check that everything is correct there. If your pet can wear a collar, it would be a good idea to have them do so even inside because the tags can help people find you to return the pet. Even cats can wear collars, at least as adult cats. Kittens may be too rebellious and try to pry the collar off at all costs.

Review Your Go-Bag Snacks

You should have a go-bag that you can grab if you need to leave in a hurry. That go-bag should also have items for the pet, including copies of vital medical records, some food, and some snacks. You'll want to be sure the pet's food and snacks have not passed their best-by date, and you'll also want to check your snacks for ingredients that your pet can't eat. It's possible that your pet could tear open one of your snacks, and you do not want to deal with a sick pet during an emergency that's made you leave your home. If you're not sure which ingredients to look for, your veterinarian can point them out.

Locate Pet-Friendly Hotels and Shelters

If you have to leave your home, where will you go with a pet, especially one that isn't a cat or dog? Make a list of hotels and local shelters that are friendly to animals like yours. Be sure you understand the requirements, like weight limits and crate/carrier requirements. Also, look for some places a little farther away from town in case you have to travel outside city limits.

Finally, make an appointment with the vet to get your pet up to date on vaccines and procedures. With that complete and your emergency plans freshened up, you'll be able to relax a little more and spend time with your pet.

Contact a local veterinarian to learn more.