Veterinarians:
Information for Radiation Emergencies
General Comments
- Pets can be affected by both radiation exposure and contamination.
- Instructions for decontamination of pets (HHS/CDC)
- Hospital Decontamination System and Decontamination for Assistance Dogs that Accompany Incoming Disaster Victims, Considerations for Human Hospital Policy Canine Decontamination in a Disaster/Hazmat/CBRNE Event (PDF - 21 KB) (Gordon LE, DVM, MA-TF 1, Urban Search and Rescue, NVRT-1; 2014.) This document provides recommendations from one author, and is not policy; it focuses mostly on non-radiation incidents.
- After a very large mass radiation casualty event, medical resources will be scarce. Using scarce, radiation-related resources for animals may be difficult.
- Animal preparedness information resources below provide general emergency and disaster information, not specifically related to a radiological or nuclear event.
Key Online Information Resources
US Government
HHS- National Veterinary Response Teams (HHS/ASPR/NDMS)
- What about my pets? (HHS/CDC)
- Disaster Preparedness for Your Pet (HHS/CDC)
- Radiation Decontamination of Pets (HHS/CDC)
- How to Evacuate with Pets (HHS/CDC)
- Decontamination - Pets (HHS/CDC)
- Understanding How to Accommodate Service Animals in Healthcare Facilities (HHS)
- Disaster Veterinary Issues (HHS/TRACIE)
- Animal Welfare Disaster Planning (USDA)
- Pet/Service Animal Preparedness: Facilitator Guide (DHS/FEMA)
National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP)
- Funded by USDA Animal Care
- NASAAEP published “Best Practices” for various aspects of the emergency response for animals include the following
- Emergency Animal Decontamination Best Practices
- Animal Evacuation and Transportation
- Emergency Animal Sheltering Best Practices
- Disaster Veterinary Care: Best Practices
- Preparedness and Community Outreach Best Practices
- Planning and Resource Management Best Practices
- Zoological Best Practices Working Group
State and Local Government
- Dunning D, Martin MP, Tickel JL, Gentry WB, Cowen P, Slenning BD. Preparedness and disaster response training for veterinary students: literature review and description of the North Carolina State University Credentialed Veterinary Responder Program. J Vet Med Educ. 2009 Fall;36(3):317-30. [PubMed Citation]
Other Sources
- Companion Animal Challenges in Radiologic Emergencies, Dr. Kathy Jorgensen, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, Coordinator, Minnesota Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps, (Lecture to NACCHO Radiation Workgroup Meeting February 1, 2021) (Video: 33 min 7 secs)
- Detailed information about managing companion animals in small radiologic emergencies
- Pets and Disaster Safety Checklist (American Red Cross)
- Zoo and Aquarium All Hazards Preparedness Response and Recovery Program (Zoo and Aquarium All Hazards Preparedness, Response and Recovery Fusion Center)
- National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition
- Animal Decon
- Animal decontamination training, planning and disaster response resource for working and service animals, household pets, zoo, exotic, wildlife and livestock
- Huff Technical Training
- Training to mitigate emergency situations for animals in all fields of disaster
- Chukwuma C, Poole K, Okereke O, Fogelberg K, Oden M. Care of Pets in Disasters. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2018 Apr; 12(2):279-80.
- Hooser SB. Radiation Emergencies: Dogs and Cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2018 Nov;48(6):1103-1118. [PubMed Citation]
- Baker LR, Cormier LA, Vogtle LK. Using an Education Intervention to Increase Preparedness Among Pet Owners: Results of a Pilot Study. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2018 Aug;12(4):441-445. [PubMed Citation]
- Beckman-Moore J, Eidson M, Ruland L. Survey of New York veterinarians to assess needs for public health preparedness training. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2010 Dec;4(4):300-5. [PubMed Citation]
- Disaster Preparedness - Disaster Training (American Veterinary Medical Foundation)
- Pet Disaster Preparedness: Learn how to prepare your pets for an emergency evacuation and help them recover afterward. (American Red Cross)
- AVMA Disaster Preparedness, including specific resources and plans for each state (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- Mobile App Tool for Veterinarians: electronic submission of animal health certificates to state officials (Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases)
- Radiation Protection and Safety in Veterinary Medicine (IAEA, 2021)
- Hargraves A et al., Case report: PET imaging of dog exposed to artificially created search and rescue setup contaminated with FDG. (PDF - 736 KB) Open Journal of Clinical and Medical Reports, 2019;5