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Hurricane preparation tips for dog owners

By Wesley Coburn

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Saga, a 10-month-old Dalmatian, poses for a photograph on the second day of Crufts Dog Show at the NEC Arena on March 10, 2017 in Birmingham, England. First held in 1891, Crufts is said to be the largest show of its kind in the world. The annual four-day event features thousands of dogs, with competitors travelling from countries across the globe to take part and vie for the coveted title of 'Best in Show'. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Saga, a 10-month-old Dalmatian, poses for a photograph on the second day of Crufts Dog Show at the NEC Arena on March 10, 2017 in Birmingham, England. First held in 1891, Crufts is said to be the largest show of its kind in the world. The annual four-day event features thousands of dogs, with competitors travelling from countries across the globe to take part and vie for the coveted title of 'Best in Show'. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) /
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If you live in the southeastern part of the country, the natural disaster you’re most likely to face will be hurricanes. Here’s some tips on how to keep your dog safe during the storm.

Hurricanes are enormous and terrifying. Here are some preparation tips for dog owners who might find themselves caught in the path of one.

It’s good to have a first-aid kit available, one specifically for humans and one specially for pets, if possible. The pet kit should include items like your dog’s paperwork (vet records, recent photo, etc), an extra leash and collar, and treats or a favorite toy to calm them down.

If your area is prone to flooding, life jackets are a good investment, if possible.

Store up plenty of fresh water to drink; if the power goes out, it could be quite some time before it’s restored, and heat exhaustion and heatstroke are nothing to sneeze at.

The increased water will likely mean tons of mosquitoes, which can give your dogs heartworms. Those can be fatal, so if possible make sure your dog has heartworm-prevention medication that he takes regularly.

Hopefully it will never be needed, but an evacuation plan is a good idea to have just in case. Which items are most necessary to daily life, and which can be left alone? If you have to leave, where will you go?

It helps if you can stay with friends or extended family out of the path of the storm, but if that’s not an option, the American Kennel Club has compiled a list of hotel chains that are typically pet-friendly.

If you can afford to microchip your dog, that could help greatly if she ever got lost, so long as your contact information is kept up-to-date.

The AKC has put together another listing of pet-friendly shelters in the Carolinas and Virginia ahead of Hurricane Florence, for those living in those states.

If your dog can be kept up-to-date on his vaccines, that might help in staying together at shelters, etc. Since vets offices are probably swamped with last-minute evacuation procedures, we have a post explaining how to give your dog shots yourself, which can be viewed below.

Next. How to give your dog a shot. dark

Be careful out there.

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