Animals and floods
Below, you will find advice and resources for looking after animals affected by flooding.
We know that disasters and emergencies of any kind can have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing. Please visit our dedicated mental health page for resources on taking care of yourself during a disaster or emergency.
Emergency contacts
Please call 111 if:
- someone is in danger
- someone is having chest pain or breathing difficulties
- someone is seriously ill or injured
- there is a fire or serious risk to property
- a crime is being committed and the offenders are still there or have just left
- you've come across a major public inconvenience, like trees blocking a road.
The operator will connect you to the right emergency service.
If an animal is injured, contact your nearest veterinary clinic.
If you have lost or found a pet:
- contact your nearest veterinary clinic
- check the Lost/Found listings at www.lostpet.co.nz
- post a notice on www.lostpet.co.nz
- phone 0800 LOSTPET (0800 56 78 73)
- cross-post the listing to local Facebook groups.
Local authorities are responsible for civil defence emergency management (CDEM) in their area. You local civil defence group can help with:
- general advice and assistance
- finding a safe shelter place (animal shelters, saleyards, or showgrounds)
- animal rescue enquiries.
First Aid advice
If an animal has been exposed to flood water, it is important to check them for the following signs:
- Deep wounds and/or bleeding heavily
- Difficulty breathing
- Unable to stand without assistance
- Unconscious or reduced levels of consciousness
If your animal is displaying any of these signs, please call your veterinarian immediately.
Check for signs of hypothermia
Signs of hypothermia include:
- a rectal temperature of below 37º or a digital thermometer reading of L
- very cold limbs, with no shivering
- drowsy or dopey responses.
If you suspect hypothermia, move your animal to a dry area and cover it with blankets if possible. Call your local vet for advice.
Check their breathing
- Check for bubbles coming out of their nose or harsh sounds when they breathe. You may need to listen carefully to check, but remember to keep yourself safe.
- Monitor the animal's breathing rate closely. If their breathing rate is increasing, call your vet for advice.
- If you suspect your animal has inhaled water, call your vet immediately.
Clean your animal
Thoroughly clean all areas of the animal that have been in contact with flood water.
- If your animal is showing any signs of hypothermia, warm them up first.
- Use clean water to rinse the animal's coat all the way to the skin. Animal-safe shampoos or soaps are OK to use.
- While cleaning the animal, look for any cuts or injuries.
- If your animal is injured or their skin looks infected, call your vet for advice.
Give your animal water and food
- Provide your animal with fresh, clean water and non-contaminated food
- They may be very tired from swimming or running during the flood. Giving them a warm, dry area with fresh water and food will help with their recovery.
- If your animal is not strong enough to eat or drink, please call your vet immediately.
Resources for pet owners
| Animals affected by flood - Advice from MPI for livestock, lifestyle block, horse and pet owners |
| Animals in emergencies - Advice from SPCA |
| Flood safety for pets - Blog post from vet charity PDSA |
| Eight tips to protect your pet after a flood - Blog post from World Animal Protection |
What is leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can infect both humans and animals. It is caused by a bacterium (genus Leptospira) that thrives in moist and humid areas, and is spread through animal urine and animal tissue.
How is leptospirosis transmitted?
Leptospirosis is spread through direct or indirect contact with urine from infected animals. You or your pet can catch leptospirosis if you are bitten by a carrier or if you come into contact with infected water, mud or soil. For example, if a rat urinates into a stagnant body of water and your pet drinks that water, they are at risk of infection.
The bacteria can also enter the body through cuts in the skin or occasionally via the gums, mouth, nose and eyes. So, a dog that swims or stands in infected water or mud is at risk. Dogs accessing areas where there has been recent flooding or where there is a large amount of silt are at increased risk of exposure.
There is an increased risk of outbreaks of leptospirosis in production animals after flooding which increases the risk of exposure in dogs.
Rats are the most common carrier for the infection. There is often an increase in the number of rodents in areas where there has been recent flooding, due to rotting fruit, vegetables and other food sources. This also amplifies the risk of exposure in dogs.
Cats are more likely to become infected by eating infected rodents or their carcasses. However, cats generally carry a reduced risk of clinical infection than dogs.
What are the symptoms of leptospirosis?
Clinical signs can be varied and generally are seen 5-15 days following exposure.
- loss of appetite
- lethargy/loss of energy
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- a reduction in the frequency of urination and the amount of urine produced
- breathing problems - rapid or laboured breathing
Can leptospirosis be treated?
When caught early, leptospirosis responds to antibiotic treatment and supportive care. But the disease may be severe with long term damage done to kidneys, liver and other organs so early treatment is most effective and intensive care may be necessary.
Talk to your vet if your dog is appears unwell, even if their symptoms are vague.
How do I protect my pets from leptospirosis?
You can prevent your pet from catching leptospirosis by:
- preventing them from drinking or swimming in stagnant water
- avoiding areas where rats, mice, wildlife or farm animals congregate
- getting your pet vaccinated against leptospirosis if they are visiting or living in a high-risk area (talk to your vet about your animal's vaccination programme).
There may be an increase in cases of gastroenteritis in dogs following flooding as a result of access to contaminated water and silt.
Clinical signs are often noted shortly after exposure and include:
- reduced energy levels
- reduced or absent appetite
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- collapse (in advanced cases)
To reduce the risks:
- wash pets with gentle soap or mild grease-cutting detergent following exposure to flood waters or silt
- thoroughly clean your pet's feet and pads with mild soap or detergent (make sure you wear surgical or cleaning gloves to keep yourself safe!)
- take care with general hygiene such as handwashing
- reduce the opportunity for your dog to access potentially contaminated water or food.
If your dog appears unwell or is symptomatic, call your local vet. Dogs can become quickly dehydrated and may require veterinary treatment.
Spoiled foods or rubbish may contain mould toxins which can cause signs of toxicity in dogs, including:
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- tremors and wobbliness
- seizures
To reduce the risk to your dog, make sure you throw away any contaminated or mouldy food (including pet food).
Cats are often significantly affected by changes in their routine and environment, and may be especially susceptible to the resulting stress and anxiety.
This may cause signs of stress-related cystitis in cats. Male cats can even develop a condition where they cannot pass urine. Not only is this painful and distressing, but it needs to be managed as an emergency since it can result in life-threatening complications.
Clinical signs to watch out for include:
- attempting to urinate more frequently
- posturing to urinate for longer periods than usual but only producing small volumes or no urine
- attempting to urinate in unusual places
- excessive licking and grooming around the back end
- vocalising more than usual
- unsettled behaviour
- seems stiff when walking
- reacts when picked up
- reduced or absent appetite
- vomiting
If your cat is showing any of these symptoms, please contact your vet for advice as soon as possible - especially if you have a male cat.
Resources for rural communities
| Dealing with floods - Information and resources from MPI to help you deal with floods |
| Animals affected by flood - Advice from MPI for livestock, lifestyle block, horse and pet owners |
| Decision tree for flood damaged farms - Advice from DairyNZ |
| Leptospirosis information - Resources and information from WorkSafe |
| Flood sediment - Silt research from Sustainable Farming Fund report |
| Animals affected by flood - Advice from MPI for livestock, lifestyle block, horse and pet owners |
| Crisis Priority Checklist - Advice from DairyNZ |
| Dairy Floods Checklist - Booklet from DairyNZ |
| Flood support - Information from Beef + Lamb NZ about preparing for and responding to floods |
| Cyclone response - Advice, tools and resources from DairyNZ about dealing with cyclone response |
| Livestock health after prolonged wet conditions and flooding - Advice from MPI for farmers, whenua Māori entities and lifestyle block owners |
| Missed milkings - Advice from DairyNZ |
| Camelid care after floods - Fact sheet from Dr Jane Vaughan |
| Goats and floods - Fact sheet from Dr Sandra Baxendell |
| Horses and floods - Advice from Agriculture Victoria |
| Protect your animals in an emergency: Livestock and horses - Fact sheet from MPI |
| Managing Horses During a Flood Crisis - fact sheet by by Dr John Kohnke |
| Preparing your horse for severe wet weather - fact sheet from Equine Veterinarians Australia |
| Livestock health after prolonged wet conditions and flooding - Advice from MPI for farmers, whenua Māori entities and lifestyle block owners |
Resources for veterinary professionals
| Restricted Veterinary Medicines and Authorisation During Major Disruptive Events and Emergencies - Official advice from the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ) |
| Business advice: In an emergency - Information from business.govt.nz about keeping yourself, your employees and your business safe |
| Keeping safe during cyclone and flooding emergency and recovery - Advice for businesses and organisations from WorkSafe |
|
Canine leptospirosis: Factsheet for veterinary teams |
|
Leptospirosis in dogs |
|
Emerging leptospirosis in urban Sydney dogs: a case series |
|
Serological survey of leptospiral antibodies in clinically unwell dogs in New Zealand |
| Disrupted milking after an adverse event - Advice from the Dairy Cattle Veterinarians (DCV) branch of the NZVA |
| Effect of an extended milking interval on recovery of milk yield and somatic cell count in dairy cows - Paper from the New Zealand Society of Animal Production online archive |
| Flood Injury in Horses - Paper from the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine |
| Flood Injury to Horses - Fact sheet from Louisiana State University Agricultural Center |
| Horse Care and Management Tips for Flooded Areas - Advice from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension |
| Veterinary Management of Flood Rescue and Flood Injuries in Horses - Webinar from the Equine Practice Company |
| Immersion Foot Syndrome in 6 Equids Exposed to Hurricane Floodwaters - Case report from the Veterinary Pathology journal |
