Florida Veterinarians: Don’t Repeat the Same Hurricane Mistakes We See Pet Owners Make Every Year

TAMPA, Florida (May 6, 2026) – As National Hurricane Preparedness Week highlights the start of storm season, veterinarians with Thrive Pet Healthcare are warning Florida pet owners not to wait until a storm is in the forecast to prepare their pets, saying many of the medical emergencies they treat after hurricanes are preventable and often tied to last-minute decisions.

Florida veterinarians say they see the same preventable problems after major storms every year because pet families wait too long to refill medications, update vaccines, replace pet carriers or make plans for where their pets will stay if conditions worsen.

“After hurricanes, we often see pet emergencies that started with a gap in planning,” said Dr. Victoria Ormsby, emergency veterinarian at Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Care Center. “A pet runs out of medication, a carrier is too small or broken, or a family realizes too late that their backup housing will not accept animals. These situations become much harder to solve when clinics, pharmacies and roads are already affected by the storm.”

“Something else we see every hurricane season is owners who wait too long to act on their pet’s stress and behavior changes after a storm,” said Dr. Mayra Apolo, emergency veterinarian at Capital Veterinary Specialists Jacksonville. “Dogs and cats can appear fine at first, but then show signs like hiding, aggression, appetite loss or house soiling. Once those behaviors escalate, they’re harder to reverse, so early intervention with calming strategies or medication can really help.”

Veterinarians say many pets treated after storms never evacuated at all. Common post-storm issues include anxiety, gastrointestinal illness, paw injuries, skin infections, heat-related illness during power outages and parasite exposure after flooding.

Veterinarians with Thrive Pet Healthcare recommend Florida pet owners take the following steps before hurricane activity begins:

“One preventable issue we see every hurricane season is pet owners assuming they can board their pets at the hospital and then evacuate. In reality, mandatory evacuations require veterinary staff to leave as well, meaning boarding is not an option during severe storms,” said Dr. Sarah Amblard, veterinarian at Marathon Veterinary Hospital. “We also encourage owners to prepare in advance by ensuring they have an adequate supply of their pets’ food and medications, as access may be limited both during and after a hurricane.”

Veterinarians also encourage pet owners to schedule wellness exams before hurricane season intensifies, particularly for senior pets and pets with chronic medical conditions.

Veterinarians say one of the most common mistakes is waiting until a storm is approaching to refill medications, update vaccines or replace missing pet supplies. By then, veterinary hospitals, pharmacies and pet stores may already be overwhelmed or closed in preparation for the storm.

Hurricanes and severe storms can increase the risk of lost pets due to damaged fencing, open doors or evacuations. Veterinarians recommend microchipping pets and making sure registration contact information is current.

Yes. Floodwater may contain bacteria, parasites, chemicals and debris that can lead to gastrointestinal illness, skin infections or injuries. Veterinarians recommend keeping pets out of standing water whenever possible after storms.

Thrive Pet Healthcare’s veterinary hospital network includes 14 primary, specialty and emergency care facilities in Florida. Pet owners can search for their nearest location at www.ThrivePetCare.com.