Keeping Pets Safe After the Storm.

• Position: YOUR LIFE

Depending on a hurricane's path and magnitude, it can take days, weeks, months, or even years before things return to normal. This affects pets, too. From the immediate aftermath to long-term health concerns, Trupanion, Inc., Seattle, Wash., a provider of medical insurance for cats and dogs, offers a few things pet owners should be aware of after a hurricane.

First off, there are several environmental health hazards to keep in mind. Natural disasters increase the risk of injuries and disease outbreaks in humans and animals. If you are in a flooded region, contaminated water, downed power lines, wild animals, and floating debris all are very real threats.

Some of the infectious diseases pet owners should be most concerned about stem from excessive flooding. These include mosquito-borne illnesses, bacterial disease like leptospirosis, and parasitic illness like giardia. All of these organisms thrive in wet or moist environments and can linger well after a storm.

Pets also can sustain traumatic injuries, develop hypothermia, and face toxic sewage-related stomach illnesses. As the floodwaters recede, do not let your pet swim in or drink the water, and try to limit their exposure to any flooded areas. Your pet should be disinfected as soon as possible after exposure to flood waters. Keep a first aid...