How to pack an emergency go-bag for your dog

A dog's emergency go-bag holds what you'd need if you had to leave home in a hurry: food and water, any medicines, a leash and a collar with ID, a carrier or crate, copies of vet records, a recent photo, and cleanup supplies. Keep it near an exit, swap out the food and water every 2 months, and check that any medicines haven't expired. The bag covers what you carry out the door. A short plan covers the rest: where you'd go, who would get your dog if you couldn't get home, and what you'd do if your dog went missing.

What goes in a dog's emergency go-bag?

The CDC's pet disaster kit list and the ASPCA's disaster preparedness page cover much the same ground. For a dog, it comes to this:

• Food and water. Store the food in a waterproof container. The CDC also lists bowls that don't spill and a manual can opener.
• Medicines, if your dog takes any, with written instructions. The CDC also lists a 1-month supply of flea, tick, and heartworm preventative.
• Feeding instructions, so someone else could take over if needed.
• A leash, a collar with ID, and a harness. The ASPCA suggests packing an extra collar or harness and an extra leash too.
• A crate or sturdy carrier with bedding, a blanket, or a towel. The ASPCA suggests writing your dog's name, your name, and your contact information on it.
• Copies of vet records in a waterproof container: the rabies certificate, vaccinations, a medical summary, and prescriptions. FEMA's pet preparedness fact sheet suggests also keeping copies available electronically.
• Microchip information: the chip number and the name and phone number of the microchip company.
• Recent photos and a short description (breed, sex, color, weight). FEMA suggests including a picture of you and your dog together, because it helps you document ownership if you're separated.
• Your contact list: phone numbers and addresses for family or friends you might stay with.
• Cleanup supplies, such as paper towels, plastic bags, and disinfectant.
• A favorite toy, treats, or bedding. FEMA notes that familiar items can help reduce stress for your pet.
• A pet first aid kit (more on that below).

A zip bag or folder works well for the papers, so they stay dry and together.

How much food and water should you pack?

Sources give different amounts. FEMA says several days' supply of food and water. The ASPCA suggests 7 to 10 days' worth of food and at least 7 days' worth of bottled water for each person and pet. The CDC lists a 2-week supply of food, water, and any medicines.

There's a practical way to handle the difference. FEMA suggests two kits: a larger one in case you shelter in place, and a lightweight one in case you need to evacuate. The go-bag is the lightweight one, so pack what you can actually carry, and keep the rest at home. If you're unsure how much medicine to keep on hand, ask your vet.

What should go in the first aid kit?

Both the CDC and the ASPCA list a pet first aid kit, and the ASPCA suggests you ask your vet what to include. The CDC goes further and suggests asking your veterinarian for help putting the whole kit together. Your dog's next checkup is a good time to bring it up. Your vet knows your dog's health and can tell you what makes sense to carry.

Where should you keep the go-bag?

The ASPCA advises storing the emergency kit and leashes as close to an exit as possible, and making sure everyone in the family knows where it is. The bag should be clearly labeled and easy to carry. A hall closet by the front door or a hook near the back door both work. The CDC's pet safety in emergencies page also suggests keeping a leash or carrier near the exit.

How often should you check it?

Food, water, and medicines are the parts that expire. The ASPCA suggests rotating the food every 2 months and replacing stored water every 2 months, because food and medicines can go bad or become useless if they sit too long. FEMA advises reviewing your kit regularly, especially the food and medicines.

A recurring reminder on your phone makes this easy. When you check the bag, also look at the papers. A new medicine, a new phone number, or an outdated photo is worth fixing then.

Can the go-bag help on a sudden trip to the emergency vet?

Yes. Not every emergency is a disaster, and the same papers help on an urgent vet visit. Iowa State University's Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center asks owners to call before bringing a pet in, so the team knows when to expect you and has some information about your pet. It also asks owners to bring any medical records and any medications the pet is on (other than preventatives).

If the record copies, prescriptions, and medication instructions are already in the bag, you can grab them on the way out. Save the number and address of your nearest 24-hour emergency vet in your phone and on your contact list.

Where would you and your dog go?

This is the part a bag can't solve. FEMA puts it plainly: if local officials ask you to evacuate, your pet should evacuate too. Yet the CDC notes that many disaster evacuation centers don't accept pets. So it helps to decide ahead of time where you'd take your dog.

Options the CDC and ASPCA mention:

• Pet-friendly hotels, particularly along evacuation routes.
• Friends or relatives outside your immediate area who'd be willing to take your dog.
• Your local animal shelter. The ASPCA suggests asking whether they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets.
• Boarding kennels. The ASPCA suggests asking your vet for a list.

FEMA suggests listing the address and phone number of every place you could take your pet in an emergency. The CDC also suggests finding a vet or animal hospital near where you might stay.

FEMA also suggests practicing evacuating in the car with your dog, so they're more comfortable if you need to leave, and getting your dog used to their carrier before severe weather arrives.

Who would take your dog if you can't get home?

You might be at work or away when something happens. The CDC suggests a buddy system: a trusted neighbor who can check on your animals and evacuate them if needed.

For a temporary caregiver, the ASPCA suggests someone who lives close by and is usually home during the day, or who can easily get into your home. Give them a set of keys. Neighbors who have pets of their own can be a good fit, and you can cover for each other.

The ASPCA also suggests choosing a permanent caregiver, someone who would care for your dog if something happened to you. Look for someone who has met your dog and has cared for animals before, and talk through your expectations with them at length. Write both caregivers' names and numbers on the contact list in the go-bag, and tell them where the bag is.

What helps if your dog goes missing?

Most of it happens before anything goes wrong. The CDC advises making sure your dog wears a collar and tags with up-to-date contact information, and registering your dog's microchip with the manufacturer. A chip only helps if the details behind it are current. The AVMA's Check the Chip Day reminder explains that when a chip is scanned, it is used to retrieve the owner's contact information, and a reunion depends on that information being current. Your vet can help you find your dog's registry, or you can use AAHA's Universal Pet Microchip Lookup tool.

If your dog does go missing, the CDC suggests calling the microchip company to let them know. The recent photos in your go-bag help here too: the ASPCA suggests keeping them in case you need to make "Lost" posters. After a disaster, the CDC notes that many shelters and organizations house pets that were lost.

If you'd like the planning side on paper, the Dog Emergency Preparedness Kit is our 14-page set with 12 printable pages: a go-bag checklist, a first aid kit checklist to put together with your vet's advice, an evacuation plan, an emergency caregiver plan, an emergency contacts page, and what to do if your dog goes missing, with steps, a contact log, and a lost dog flyer.