By Susan Collins-Smith
MSU Ag Communications
JACKSON – Getting routine health care for family pets is just as
important as having a fully-stocked emergency kit and a home evacuation
plan when preparing for disasters.
“After a disaster, many animals must be boarded because their homes
are damaged or they are injured or lost,” said Dr. Carla Huston,
veterinarian and associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology
and Population Medicine at Mississippi State University’s College of
Veterinary Medicine. “In a boarding setting, animals may be exposed to
other animals that are carrying diseases that may not be visually
evident.”
Routine health care includes physical examinations, vaccinations
and screenings for contagious parasites. Boarding facilities require
pets be up-to-date on routine health care before accepting them. In a
disaster situation, there are often no exceptions, Huston said. more...
