Hidden Dangers for Pets in the Aftermath of Severe Weather

The tornado has passed, the floodwaters are receding, and the worst is over. But for your pets, the danger may be just beginning.

The immediate aftermath of severe weather is one of the most hazardous environments a pet can be in, and most of the threats are invisible, unfamiliar, or easy to dismiss. Here's what to watch for, and what to do, in the hours and days after a major storm.

Floodwater: The Contamination You Can't See

Within hours of flooding, standing and moving floodwater becomes a toxic mix of raw sewage, agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, motor oil, heavy metals, and bacteria at concentrations that can make both animals and humans seriously ill. Your dog's instinct will be to drink it, wade in it, and lick their paws after walking through it. Every one of those behaviors is dangerous.

Leptospirosis is one of the most significant flood-related threats to pets and deserves special attention. This bacterial infection, carried in the urine of rodents, raccoons, and other wildlife, spreads readily through contaminated water and soil. Dogs can contract it through mucous membranes, skin cuts, or ingestion. Symptoms include sudden fever, vomiting, muscle pain, lethargy, and, in severe cases, kidney or liver failure. Critically, leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be transmitted from infected pets to humans. If your dog has been in floodwater and develops any of these symptoms, this is a same-day veterinary emergency.