Last Updated on April 16, 2023 by Lisa Vargas
Did you know that 67% of U.S. households own a pet? That’s a lot of love going around for our pets and in the United States, we don’t treat our animals like the pets that they are, but more likely we treat them like our children.
With that said, as we prepare for disasters whether it be financial disasters, natural disasters, terrorism attacks, nuclear attacks, or whatever you believe is coming next, what have you done to ensure your pets have a plan to get out of dodge with you?
Bugging out with your pet when SHTF is something that needs to be planned, just like you are currently prepping for your own safety. If you have to leave in a hurry, what is the proper gear to have for your dog or cat?
Below we will look at the basics for bugging out with your pet when SHTF.
So let’s get started!
How To Make A Bugout Plan For Your Pet
As preppers, we are constantly getting are plans in order including bugout bags, foods, water, first aid kits, IFAKs, bugout locations, where to meet family members, etc. But how do you make sure your pets get the same amount of attention and care that they need if you suddenly are stuck in a precarious situation?
Disclaimer, I am a huge dog lover and have two dogs of mine that mind as well be my children. Since I have no kids, I treat them like my own. I would never in a million years leave them behind in a disaster and I would do everything I could to make them feel comfortable and safe.
Which Pets Should You Take?
The first thing you should consider when making a bugout plan for your pet (s) is to determine which ones should go and which should stay. I know this might sound heartless, but let’s face it, you can’t bring your goldfish with you or your African Grey parrot in a life or death situation. At the same time, this will depend on if you have a bugout vehicle or if you plan on hoofing it to your bugout location.
You should know ahead of time which pet(s) you are going to take with you. The best idea is to take only the pets that can carry their own weight and are self-sufficient as much as possible. As you will see below, a small toy dog breed is much likelier to cause issues and slow you down as opposed to a large breed dog such as a husky or a German Shepherd.
Assess Your Pet’s Health
It’s always a good idea to take your dog to the vet for annual checkups. I’m guessing you already do this, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to figure out if your dog is healthy or not to bugout with. But if you already know that your dog has underlying health conditions such as arthritis or liver problems, you’ll need to make sure you address these and have some solutions ready for the moment you need to bugout.
Gather Bugout Bag Supplies Needed For Your Pet
Saddlebags
Finding the right saddlebag for your dog is important because this saddlebag needs to fit all of your pet’s bugout items in it, without straining your dog with too much weight. You can buy some fantastic dog saddlebags that will fit everything you need for the trip. I would always keep this packed and stashed next to your own personal bugout bag so that at a moment’s notice, you can jet out the door.
Dog Food
You’ll need to feed your dog while you get to your destination. Make sure you have enough dog food to last the duration of your trip getting to your bugout location. If you have a medium-sized dog, they will require fewer calories than a large 70-pound dog.
Extra Leash And Dog Tag
Make sure to get a few extra leashes for your dog. There are so many things that can go wrong and the last thing you want to do is go without an extra leash. You don’t know how long you will be gone so it’s a good idea to have a few extra leashes than not enough.
First Aid Kits For Dogs and cats
As you are planning your bugout strategy for your pets, make sure not to forget about first aid. There are several first aid kits for dogs and cats on the market today. You can easily pick one up on Amazon, which has of the best and most convenient choices on the market today.
If you’re going to be outside most of the time, you may also want to have some flea and tick medication available. Other medications for dogs include the following:
- Antibiotic Ointment and gauze for treating wounds
- Sulfadene for dogs
- Tick medicine
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Flagyl (Metronidazole) for controlling diarrhea
Collapsible Food & Water Bowls
I love to do a lot of hiking and sometimes I’ll bring my dogs with me. There is a beautiful river basin and park where I live and I take my dogs there quite often. I didn’t learn the beauty of the collapsible water bowl until I purchased one because the metal bowl that I was carrying in my backpack was so annoying!
The collapsible water and food bowl for pets is a necessity for your dog’s bugout gear. The best thing about it is that it’s lightweight and easy to carry on your dog’s saddlebag.
Dog Clothes and Paw Protection
Having the proper attire for your dog if they are traveling with you will be essential to keeping them comfortable and warm if you are traveling in the winter. You can have a few dog sweaters ready and packed in their saddlebag just in case it gets really cold.
You may also want to consider having something to cover your dog’s feet to protect them from the elements. If you’re out hiking for some time, dog boots may come in handy. The last thing you want is for your dog to go lame out on the road with you.
You can also choose to apply waxes to your dog’s paws. The wax protects their paws, especially in colder weather. There’s a really good was called Mushers Secret.
Comfort Items
I know that if I got stuck somewhere on the road with my dogs I would want them to feel as comfortable as possible. That’s why I would make sure to bring some chew toys, maybe a Kong ball, a little dog blanket or cushion, and some small treats.
As long as your dogs can pack their own items in their saddlebag, it should be good.
Dog Bugout Bag Checklist
- Saddlebag fitted for your dog
- Water for your dog
- Dog food
- First aid items such as flea and tick medicine, any medications, and dog first aid kit.
- Extra collar with ID tag
- Extra leash
- Dog vest with reflective properties
- Collapsible water/food bowl
- Dog booties
- Paw wax
- Pad for sleeping or dog sleeping bag
- Towels for wiping your dog down if it’s raining for example
- Dog toys
- Rain protection
Conditioning Your Dog For Bugging Out
Just like anything life, you never know when something will suddenly and drastically change. The coronavirus is a perfect example of something that hit the United States and the rest of the world, out of the blue and changed people’s everyday lives very quickly.
Will your dogs be ready to handle the strenuous exercise that may be necessary for bugging out? How long will you have to travel before you get to your location? Will you have to walk with your dogs through beaten paths and up and down hills?
Having your dog in tip-top shape is crucial to giving them the best possible case for survival. REI has a great resource for getting your dog in shape. This guide is written for getting your dog in shape for hiking, but it works just the same.
There are also some great blog posts out there such as How I Hiked The Appalachian Trail With My Dog and Considering A Long Distance Hike With Your Dog that you can read to get a better idea of what it would be like to go longer distances with your dog.
Final Thoughts
I hope you always consider your pets in a disaster and never have to leave any of them behind. Just like you are prepared for disasters, having a plan for your pet will give you greater peace of mind. I love my dogs, and I would never leave them behind. I wrote this post to share with you my own plans that I have, so hopefully it has helped to give you a better idea of how to plan for bugging out with your own pets.