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?

Pack two groups of things: supplies your dog will use while you're away from home, and the papers and photos that show who your dog is and how to care for them. The lists below combine the CDC's pet disaster kit list and the ASPCA's disaster preparedness page, which cover much the same ground.

Write your dog's name, your name, and your contact information on the carrier. Make room for something familiar, too: familiar items can help reduce stress for your pet.

Keep the papers in a waterproof container, and keep copies available electronically as well, as FEMA's pet preparedness fact sheet suggests. The photo of the two of you has a job: if you become separated, it helps you document ownership. Most of these papers come from the records you already keep at home, and our guide to organizing your dog's health records covers what belongs in that folder.

How much food and water should you pack?

Pack what you can actually carry, and keep the rest at home. The sources give different amounts, so here they are side by side:

The CDC also lists a 2-week supply of any medicines your dog takes. FEMA's idea of two kits makes the difference easier to live with: 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. If you're unsure how much medicine to keep on hand, ask your vet.

What should go in the first aid kit?

Ask your vet, and bring it up at your dog's next checkup. Your vet knows your dog's health and can tell you what makes sense to carry. The ASPCA suggests asking your vet what to include in a pet first aid kit, and the CDC suggests asking your veterinarian for help putting the whole kit together.

Where should you keep the go-bag?

Keep the bag and the leashes as close to an exit as possible, and make sure everyone in the family knows where they are. Label the bag clearly and choose one that's easy to carry. A hall closet by the front door or a hook near the back door both work. If space is tight, at least keep a leash or carrier near the exit.

How often should you check it?

Swap the food and water every 2 months, and look at the medicines while you're at it. The ASPCA suggests rotating the food and replacing stored water every 2 months, and notes that food and medicines left in a kit too long may go bad or become useless. FEMA advises reviewing your kit regularly, especially the food and medicines.

A short routine makes it easy:

1. Set a repeating reminderPut it on your phone for every 2 months, when the food and water are due.
2. Swap the food and waterReplace the old supply with fresh food and water.
3. Check the medicinesMake sure each one is still fresh and hasn't expired, and that the written instructions match what your dog takes now.
4. Update the papersAdd a new prescription, replace an outdated photo, and fix any phone number that has changed.

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

Yes. Grab the record copies and your dog's medicines on the way out, and call the clinic if you can. Not every emergency is a disaster, and the same papers help on an urgent vet visit. As one example, 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).

Save the number and address of your nearest 24-hour emergency vet in your phone and on the contact list in the bag, so you aren't looking it up in a hurry.

Where would you and your dog go?

Decide ahead of time where you'd take your dog, because this is the part a bag can't solve. If local officials ask you to evacuate, your pet should evacuate too, yet many disaster evacuation centers don't accept pets.

Places worth looking into now:

• 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. Ask whether they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets.
• Boarding kennels. Ask your vet for a list.

Write down the address and phone number of every place you could take your dog, and find a vet or animal hospital near where you might stay. The Dog Emergency Preparedness Kit has a printable evacuation plan and a pet-friendly places list for exactly this.

Practice a car trip with your dog, too. FEMA suggests practicing evacuating in the car so your dog is more comfortable if you need to leave, and getting your dog used to their carrier before severe weather arrives. If your dog is still a puppy, our guide to your puppy's first night home covers making a crate a good place to be.

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

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

For a temporary caregiver, look for someone who lives close by and is usually home during the day, or who can easily get into your home, and 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.

Choose a permanent caregiver as well: 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?

Keep your dog's ID current long before anything goes wrong. That means a collar and tags with up-to-date contact information, and a microchip registered with the manufacturer. When a chip is scanned, it's used to look up the owner's contact information, so 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 you're getting ready for a new puppy, our list of what to buy before bringing home a puppy covers the collar, the ID tag, and checking the microchip registration.

If your dog does go missing, call 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, check with local shelters and organizations, since many of them house pets that were lost.