Pet Disaster Preparedness
This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.
Emergency preparedness for pet owners. Evacuation kits, shelter plans, ID and microchipping, and disaster-specific guides.
Key Information
What You Need to Know
Practical Recommendations
Expert Tips
Understanding the Research
Budgeting for Pet Care
Related Guides
Explore more of our comprehensive pet care resources.
- All Pet Care Guides
- Dog Health Resources
- Cat Health Resources
- Pet Care Tools & Calculators
- Find Local Vets & Pet Services
Where can I learn more?
Ready.gov and the AVMA disaster pages list a kit: food, medications, a carrier, and records. Keep a photo of the rabies certificate and the microchip number on your phone. Know which clinics and boarding facilities take animals when you evacuate.
How often should I take my pet to the vet?
A go-bag holds records and medications, and those papers are only current if the exams happened. Before storm season, puppies and kittens should be up to date on visits every 3 to 4 weeks through about 16 weeks, and adult dogs and cats should be inside their yearly exam. Senior dogs, often from about 7 years and earlier in giant breeds, and senior cats from about 10, are commonly seen every six months, which is when the medication list in that bag gets rewritten. After a flood or fire, cuts, smoke, and dirty water are reasons to be seen as soon as a clinic can take the animal.
How can I save money on pet care?
A kit of two weeks of the food the pet already eats, stored in a bin, costs less than buying panic supplies during an evacuation. Microchip registration that is current is cheaper than a shelter hold you cannot answer. Write the date on the bin and feed the oldest pouch first.