In case of an emergency

The majority of the population of Quebec imagines itself free from disaster. Although we are in a region of the globe that Mother Nature generally spares, we should still be prepared in case of a major force. The following document is mainly concerned with cats and dogs, but several elements may be useful for other exotic pets. However, since they are less common and they may require particular care, you should think about it and plan ahead.

In the event of an emergency, you should be in a position to ensure the well-being of your pet. Good planning will make all the difference and increase your chances of saving his life.

A good preparation includes different aspects such as identifying the threats that you and your pet may be exposed to, reducing these threats, preparing an emergency plan and above all practicing the emergency steps included in your plan.

Example: Major flood, forest fire, ice storm, chemical accident, earthquake, car accident, hunting accident …

For each identified threat, evaluate the probability that such a thing should happen and try to imagine the impact that this event would have on you and your immediate entourage. This way, you will realize the importance represented by this exercise.

For each potential threat that you have identified, attempt to list some possible solutions (this may be having a means of transportation and a safe place at a distance where you are certain to be able to stay with your pet in the case of a major emergency, having a first aid kit or even a smoke detector related to a central are other good ways to reduce the impact of a dangerous situation).

Contact your veterinarian, the local SPCA and municipal administration to inform yourself about the services concerning domestic animals in case of emergency. Have a list of referral/emergency clinics in your area. They are usually open 24h/24 and 7 days/7.

There exists several means for identifying your pet. What is important is that the method used allows for the identification of the animal regardless of the conditions and ideally that it creates a connection between you and him.

Electronic microchip: It is a tiny electronic device, the size of a grain of rice that we inject underneath the skin of the animal, between the shoulder blades. This does not require an anesthesia or analgesic. With a portable scanner we can obtain a number with about 12 digits unique to your pet. We must then determine the company responsible for the microchip. It is primordial that a specific medal be present on the collar of your pet. It is important that you register your microchip and keep your contact information up to date so that if we   ̎scan   ̎ your pet we can make the connection between the animal, the company the produces the microchip and finally you.

Collar with medals: Different medals may be used. One medal may include the name of the animal and a telephone number permitting contact with a resource person. Another medal may be that of the rabies vaccine. This one is important because it reassures the humans in contact with the animal that it is up to date and therefore he is not a public health danger. On this medal is a number unique to your pet and the telephone number of the veterinary clinic where he has his file. Do not forget to keep your contact information up to date.

Well identified cage: If your pet needs to be transported, the safest way to do so is in a well ventilated, well identified sturdy cage. If you must use a means of transport, you should ensure that the cage is well attached in the vehicle. A cage will also be necessary if your pet is wounded or if you must reside in an area where he cannot roam freely.

Photo of your pet: Have a recent photo of your pet in your possession. In the case of a major disaster, your pet might escape or be rescued and brought to an animal shelter. Measures are usually taken to reunite the animal with his owner. Having a photo of your pet in your possession will make the task easier.

Since each situation is particular, you should probably have a few variants in your emergency plan. Here are the principal components of this plan:

Determine if your pet can remain in the house or not. If you leave him at home (not recommended in case of a gas leak or if electrical wires are accessible), you should determine on which floor (choose the upper floors in cases of flooding) or in which room you will leave your companion. If you have more than one animal you should also take into account how well they get along. If in doubt, it is preferable to separate them. It is imperative to not tie them up, because they won’t be able to flee if necessary. You must take care to leave them enough food and fresh water (provide a surplus in case you are unable to return to your home on the anticipated day. Also provide an area for their business. If your residence seems inadequate, you should have a plan B for lodging your companion. Depending on the type of emergency you may be facing, it is possible that your plan B be as simple as reserving a cage in your veterinary clinic, but you should also be prepared to have him outside of the city, or even the region.

Be sure to have at least 1 or 2 reliable people in your district who know your pet, would be inclined to take care of him in your absence and who possess the keys to your house or apartment. They could save his life in the eventuality that you may not be able to return home (ex: following an accident).

Be sure to have an up to date medical file for your pet. This must include his vaccination history, the list of medication he must take and all other pertinent information (ex: food or drug allergy, type and amount of food to give him, the name of a boarding where you would like him to be kept if your absence is prolonged…).

Special plans should be made for a situation that everybody would rather not think about. If you should pass away, have you planned everything for your companion? Leave clear directions concerning the person or people you would like to entrust him to, the health care he should receive or any other information you consider important (veterinary contact information, microchip number, tattoo, vaccination record, type and amount of food, list of medication, list of regular health care, information concerning any illness…).

First aid kit

Food: Keep a reserve of your pets’ food, enough for about 1 week (per animal). You can also keep some cans on hand (ideally the small format, corresponding to one meal, because it is possible that they may not have access to a refrigerator) of food. If they require a can opener, keep one in your kit. *** do a regular rotation of this food so that it is always fresh!

Water: Have a one week fresh water supply (per pet) on reserve. Don’t forget to make a rotation!

Hygiene: Keep some plastic bags to recuperate the stool of your dog or litter used by your cat. Prepare a small amount of dish soap, a sponge and some paper towels so you can clean your pets’ dishes or clean up a mess.

Leash/harness: The harness offers several advantages compared to a collar. It can be used to secure an animal in car, it is more difficult for the animal to remove in case of panic, allows you to pick him up if he must be evacuated from a closed space… Aside from having a leash at home, you can keep one in the car.

Cushion/ blanket/toy: Having a familiar and comforting object is important for the emotional balance of your pet., especially in the event of an emergency. In certain situations, you may not have the time to collect these objects that are strewn around the house, therefore be sure to keep a toy and small blanket covered with you and your pets smell on it in the emergency kit.

 

Regular medication: Each time you renew a prescription, keep the equivalent of one week of medication in his emergency kit, that way you’ll never be short. Be sure to make a rotation of medication! Each container must be identified (name, concentration and dosage of the medication).

First aid kit content

  • Bandages (3” x 5”)

  • Sterile gauze (2” x 2”)

  • Roll of absorbent gauze (3” x 1m)

  • Q-tips (15)

  • Individually wrapped antiseptic wipes, ideally chlorhexidine based (10)

  • Emollient cream (1 tube)

  • Eyebrow tweezer

  • Bandage scissors

  • Tick remover

  • Instant “ice pack”

  • Single use latex gloves ( 5 pairs of small and large formats)

  • Medical “tape”

  • A roll of Vetrap

  • Digital thermometer

  • Nail cutter

  • Antibiotic ointment for the skin

  • Antibiotic ointment for the eyes

  • Otitis medication

  • Liquid ear cleanser

  • Kaopectate (for diarrhea)

  • Antihistamine (ex:Benadryl)

  • Peptobismol ( for gastrointestinal upset)

  • Notebook in which you note each medication included in the emergency kit, the reason for administration, dose, route of administration, side-effects… It is primordial that you know how to use the contents of your emergency kit, because a lack of knowledge on your part could do more harm than good. Above all, don’t forget that it in no way replaces the expertise of a veterinarian. It is just a tool in your possession to stabilize your pet while waiting for medical care to become available.

You have identified the potential dangers around you, you have come up with different means for reducing the impact of these dangers, prepared different plans of action and prepared your emergency kit. Congratulations! You are now at the most important step… putting all that you have learned into practice. So that your knowledge serves you if an emergency arises, you should have already regularly put them into practice. Therefore, simulate an emergency situation 1 to 2 times a year and evaluate your efficiency in order to figure out how you can improve and keep your knowledge up to date. Now you are ready to react if need be!