One of the few downsides of living in Florida are the ever-increasing tropical storms. We’re almost into hurricane season, so it probably won’t be long before we’re all honing in on a weather model. A Sarasota, FL vet lists a few things you may want to scratch off your to-do list now in this article.

Stock Up

Don’t wait until there’s a mad rush on supplies to pick up a few extra things. You should have at least a week or two’s worth of pet food, water, medicine, and cat litter on hand. (It’s not a bad idea to stock up on treats, too.)

Microchipping

If your pet hasn’t been microchipped yet, we strongly recommend getting this done as soon as possible. That tiny device could be a game changer if you and your furry pal are ever separated during a storm!Of course, getting your pet microchipped is only step one. You’ll need to make sure that your records are correct in the database. ID tags are also important.

Research

The good thing about hurricanes is that, unlike tornadoes and earthquakes, they don’t exactly sneak up on us. You’ll usually have several days to decide what plan of action to take. However, you can do some research in advance. Find out what shelters and hotels take pets, and what their policies are. You may also want to list potential places along your evacuation route. Print these out, in case you lose cell phone service.

To-Go Bag

It’s always good to have an emergency bag for Fluffy. This can also come in handy for travel, or if there’s another type of emergency, such as a fire. You’ll want to add kitty necessities, such as food, treats, bedding, a first-aid kit, water, dishes, a leash and collar, a litterbox, and litter.

Documentation

If you have to go to a hotel or shelter, you may have to show copies of your pet’s vaccination and registration. Keep copies of this paperwork in or near the bag we mentioned above. It’s also a good idea to upload digital copies, so you can access them from anywhere. Email them to yourself, post them as private pics on social media, or store them in the cloud. As your local Sarasota, FL animal clinic, we are dedicated to offering top-notch care. Please feel free to contact us anytime.