Pet Emergency First Aid Kit and Care Package
In the case of an emergency, the first part of planning is to think about where your pet would go in the case of an evacuation. If your neighborhood is required to evacuate, there are always several shelter options in each city for you to stay at safely. Unfortunately, pets are not always allowed. Therefore, you must plan accordingly. Obviously, it is ideal that you find a place to go that will accept your pet, like a friend or relative’s house, but that may not always be an option. Figure out a back up plan ahead of time and manage your options for putting your pet somewhere safe should you have to be separated for a few days. Some ideas area a kennel, an animal boarding house or shelter, a hospital, or as a last resort, a hotel or motel that allows pets. Write down your various options with through contact information on a piece of paper to keep in a safe spot that you will always remember to grab from at the last minute in the case of an emergency.
Another measure of precaution you should take when you get a chance is to put together a pet emergency first aid kit and care package for your animal(s). Aside from a few basic fundamentals, the pet emergency first aid kit and care package can have as little or many extra items in it as you are willing to or have time to prepare. It’s just a matter of personal choice. But when making this decision, it usually helps to think of the pet’s needs as you would for you and your family’s needs. Think about how many days your pet will be away form home and if it is unknown, you should plan for about three days.
Here is a brief list of some essential items to prepare in the pet emergency first aid kit and care package.
Food
Pack three days worth of food in an air tight package. Ideally, if your animal applies, you should be able to just throw in a couple cans of food in the box. Remember that where you and/or your pet go, there may not be refrigeration. To help food stay fresh, you might want to use a vacuum sealer if you have access to one. Most wholesale stores sell a vacuum sealer for fairly cheap. My particularly favorite one is called the Food Saver. If you go to the Food Saver website, there are many models to choose from, depending on your needs, but note that the Food Saver Essential Series V475 Kit just dropped to $79.99. This is on the manufacturer’s site, also, so if you look around a bit you might be able to find a better price through another internet store.
Water
Bring your pet some plastic water bottles, and while you’re at it, you might as well gather some extra for you and your family as well. Be sure to bring enough for everyone to drink for three days and also some extra just in case you should need it for emergency first aid reasons like to clean a cut. Consider other reasons for water like to wash your pet off if he or she should get into some sort of mess, to wash hands, and to lightly bathe. You never know where you will end up in an emergency and water is an important essential. It is better to have too much than too little.
Collar with ID Tag and paperwork
Your pet should already have a collar on all the time, but in case you should misplace it in the time of an emergency, have an extra one with the proper ID tags in the pet emergency first aid and care box ready. It is also a good idea to bring other sorts of identification materials in case you and your animal are separated and cannot find each other, it will help identify you and your family as the owner. Throw in a plastic, air tight bag some pictures of your pet with the family in the same photograph, the animal’s birth certificate and adoption papers and any notes you may have about the pet’s breed or distinguishing marks.
Medical information
Also in the plastic bag should be any important medical information, along with a little bit of medicine for your pet. Consider that you may or may not be able to be with them and administer the medicine on your own, so be sure to put very detailed instructions along with it so whoever is caring for your pet in an emergency will know what to do.
Standard First Aid Kit
Just as we have first aid kits for humans, animals should have one available to them as well. This would even be good to have just to have, not just for dire emergencies where you have to leave the house. Stock it with things you anticipate you might one day need to care for your pet if a problem should arise, such as cotton balls, bandages with tape and scissors, alcohol and saline solution, etc. Also throw some latex gloves in the pet emergency first aid kit.
Litter Material
If your animal needs a litter box, or if you anticipate being somewhere that he or she cannot easily get outdoors, you must make sure to bring some appropriate materials so that they may relieve themselves comfortably. Bring a small little box that they can stand in and also some litter or newspaper shavings. And don’t forget to bring a scoop; you want to make it easy on yourself or someone else to provide the best care for your pet as possible. They will likely be as stressed out as you are with all of the change, so it is your job to ensure they are as happy as possible.
Playtime Materials
Pack your emergency pet first aid kit and care package with some toys and other playtime materials that are familiar to your pet. This too will help ease their stress.
Put all of these items in a separate, sealable plastic bin and your pet in a comfortable yet portable pet carrier. According to the ASPCA, American Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a proper carrier should be large enough for your animal to turn around, sit down, stand, and lie down comfortably.
Now you are all set. You can breathe easily knowing that your pet is in good shape when it comes to an emergency.
The information above coincides with the precautionary guidelines as suggested by the American Kennel Club, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Humane Society of the U.S.
