A good pet emergency kit checklist covers at least 72 hours: food and water (the Government of Canada suggests about 4 litres a day for an average dog and 1 litre for an average cat), medicines, a carrier or leash, litter and bags, a pet first aid kit, and a file with your pet's records, photos and contacts.
Power outages, floods, fires and sudden evacuations happen across Canada, and the Government of Canada's advice is simple: the best way to protect your pet in an emergency is to bring them with you. This checklist helps you pack once and be ready.
The pet emergency kit checklist
This list follows the Government of Canada's Get Prepared guidance for pets and service animals. Put it in a bag or bin you can grab, near the door or with your own kit.
- A crate or carrier, and a leash or harness
- Food and water for at least 72 hours: about 4 litres of water a day for an average dog, 1 litre for an average cat
- Bowls, and a can opener if the food needs one
- Medicines, with written directions as your vet prescribed them and your vet's contact information
- Newspaper, paper towels and plastic bags
- Litter and a litter box for cats
- A first aid kit for pets
- A blanket and a favourite toy
- Your pet's file (see below)
Plan for 72 hours. For water, the Government of Canada suggests about 4 litres a day for an average dog and 1 litre a day for an average cat.
The pet file most people forget
The Government of Canada recommends keeping a file for each pet with recent photos, emergency contact numbers, medical and vaccination records, copies of licences, and training information. In an evacuation, a shelter, a kennel or a new vet may ask for exactly these.
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Recent photos | To prove ownership and make a poster if you are separated |
| Vaccination records, including rabies | Emergency shelters and kennels often ask for proof |
| Medicines and allergies | So anyone caring for your pet gives the right care |
| Microchip number and registry | To update your contact details quickly |
| Licence copy | In Toronto, dogs and cats must be licensed; it also helps a lost pet get home |
| Your vet and a nearby emergency hospital | So you know who to call at any hour |
| A friend or family contact | Someone who can collect your pet if you cannot |
Paper can get wet or left behind. Keep a copy on your phone too. In the free PetGrid app, you keep each pet's photo, vaccines, medicines, allergies and papers in one place, with any vet. If you have to leave your pet with someone, a share link shows them what you choose, and ends when you say.
Plan where your pet can go
Do not count on an emergency shelter for people being able to take your pet. The Government of Canada suggests making a list of places your pet could stay: hotels that accept animals, boarding kennels, animal shelters, vet clinics, and friends or family.
- List two or three places, at least one outside your neighbourhood.
- Ask a kennel now what it needs; most ask for proof of rabies vaccination.
- Agree with a neighbour or friend that they can collect your pet if you are away when something happens.
- Make sure your pet wears identification, and that the microchip details are current.
For a medical emergency, call a vet
A kit is for being ready, not for treating your pet. If your pet is hurt or sick, call your vet. If your clinic is closed, call your nearest emergency animal hospital. Find yours now and save the number; the PetGrid vet directory lists clinics by city.
If you think your pet ate something poisonous, call your vet or an animal poison line. Pet Poison Helpline answers 24 hours a day for owners in Canada and the US at 1-855-764-7661; a fee applies. Do not give anything to your pet unless a vet tells you to.
In the PetGrid app, you can give an emergency hospital a six-digit code that works for 24 hours, so they can see the records you keep in the app, and you see who opened it. The features page explains how it works.
Keep the kit current
- Swap the food and water before they expire.
- Check medicines when a prescription changes.
- Update photos every year, or when your pet's look changes.
- Check vaccine dates in the pet file.
- Set a reminder twice a year to go through it; the PetGrid app can send one by email or phone notification.
If your pet ever goes missing during an emergency, our guide on what to do if your pet is lost has the steps.
Questions people ask
What should be in a pet emergency kit?
Food and water for at least 72 hours, medicines, a carrier or leash, bowls, bags, litter for cats, a pet first aid kit, a blanket and toy, and a file with photos, records and contacts. That list follows the Government of Canada's Get Prepared guidance.
How much water should I pack for my pet?
The Government of Canada suggests about 4 litres a day for an average dog and 1 litre a day for an average cat, for at least 72 hours. Larger dogs may need more; ask your vet.
How much medicine should I keep in the kit?
Ask your vet. They can tell you whether to keep extra and how to store it. Never change a dose on your own.
Can I take my pet to an emergency shelter?
It depends on the shelter, so ask your municipality and do not count on it. Make a list of pet-friendly hotels, kennels, animal shelters, clinics and friends or family who could take your pet.
Who do I call if my pet eats something poisonous?
Call your vet or your nearest emergency animal hospital. Pet Poison Helpline answers 24 hours a day in Canada and the US at 1-855-764-7661, and a fee applies.
The short version
Pack 72 hours of food, water and medicines, a carrier or leash, the basics for mess, and a file with records, photos and contacts. Then plan where your pet can go, and keep it all current.
The paper file is easy to lose. The PetGrid app is free for pet owners and keeps your pet's records, photo and medicines on your phone, with any vet.
Keep your pet's records, vaccines and visits in one safe place. The PetGrid app is free for pet owners, with or without a clinic.
Get the free PetGrid appSources
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