PawKeep Family lets you share a pet's record with other people through Apple iCloud. You invite a partner, family member or sitter, choose read-only or read/write access, and they see the same vaccines, medication schedule, visits and documents on their own iPhone. When someone marks a dose as given, everyone sees it. You can revoke access at any time. There are no PawKeep accounts involved.
What goes wrong without a shared record
- The double dose. Two people each give the morning tablet because neither knew the other had.
- The missed dose. Each assumed the other had done it.
- The sitter's phone call. "Which one is the heart medication, and has she had it today?" while you are in an airport.
- The vet visit by the wrong person. The family member who takes the pet in does not know the history.
- The emergency. The person at home cannot find the vet's number or the microchip details.
How sharing works
- Open the pet's record and choose to share it.
- iOS creates an iCloud share invitation. Send it by Messages, email or any other way.
- Pick the access level: read-only or read/write.
- The other person accepts and the pet appears in PawKeep on their iPhone.
Sharing uses Apple's iCloud, the same system as shared Notes, so both of you need an iPhone signed in to iCloud. PawKeep does not run its own server for your records and there is nothing to register.
Choosing the access level
| Person | Suggested access | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Partner or co-owner | Read/write | They give doses and attend vet visits |
| Older child or relative who helps | Read/write | So they can mark a dose as given |
| Regular sitter or dog walker | Read/write while they are caring for the pet | They need to log what they did |
| Occasional sitter, boarding host | Read-only | They need the information, not the ability to change it |
| Anyone, after the arrangement ends | Revoked | Access should match who is currently helping |
What a sitter needs to know
Whether you share the record or leave paper, a sitter needs the same things:
- Feeding: what, how much, when, and what is forbidden.
- Medication: product, dose, time, and how your pet takes it.
- Routine: walks, where they sleep, what scares them.
- Health: known conditions and what is normal for this animal.
- Emergency details: your vet, the nearest out-of-hours clinic, your contact numbers, a backup contact, and how much you authorize them to spend.
The shared record covers medication, health history, documents and your vet's details. For the household routine, and for sitters who do not use an iPhone, the free pet-sitter emergency handover sheet is a printable you fill in once.
Separated households and shared custody
When a pet moves between two homes, the record should travel with it. A shared record means each household can see the last dose, the last vet visit and the next vaccine without messaging the other. Read/write for both keeps it complete.
Limits to know about
- iPhone only. The other person needs an iPhone and iCloud. For Android users, print or share a report instead.
- Sharing is part of PawKeep Family. The free version covers one pet on one person's device.
- It is not a chat. Messages stay in your usual app; PawKeep holds the record.
Free version and PawKeep Family
| Free | PawKeep Family |
|---|---|
| One pet, free forever | Additional pets |
| Unlimited records for that pet | Sharing with family or a sitter through iCloud |
| Vaccines, medication reminders, visits, weights and documents | Read-only or read/write access, revoked when you choose |
PawKeep Family is available monthly, yearly or as a one-time lifetime purchase. Check the App Store for current prices.
Common questions
Does the person I share with have to pay?
Sharing is a PawKeep Family feature for the person who owns the record. Check the App Store listing for how the plan applies to people you invite.
Can I stop sharing?
Yes. You can revoke someone's access whenever the arrangement changes.
Can a sitter mark medication as given?
If you give them read/write access, yes, and you will see it on your phone.
What if my sitter has an Android phone?
They cannot join the shared record. Send them a report as a document, or print the handover sheet.
Is my pet's data visible to anyone else?
No. Records stay on your device and in your iCloud, and only people you invite can see a shared pet.
PawKeep keeps your records organized. It does not give veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about your pet's health, vaccines and medication.
Give everyone who helps the same, current record: Get PawKeep free.