Pet Health Records for a Pet Sitter: What to Share Before You Leave

Leaving a pet with a sitter is easier when the important health information is ready before the keys change hands. A long text message is easy to lose, and a paper note can be out of date. A concise pet health record gives the sitter the facts they need without asking them to search through old conversations.

Put the emergency facts first

The first section should answer the questions a sitter may have at 2 a.m.: your name and phone number, the pet’s name and age, the regular veterinarian, the nearest emergency clinic and any serious allergies. Add a backup contact who is authorised to make decisions if you cannot answer.

Keep this section short enough to read quickly. The full history can sit behind it, but urgent information should not be buried under old appointment notes.

Add medication instructions exactly

For every medication, record the name, dose, timing, method and what to do if a dose is missed. Include whether the medicine must be given with food and any warning signs that should trigger a call to the vet. If the medication is stored somewhere unusual, add that location too.

Ask the sitter to repeat the instructions back to you before you leave. That simple check catches more mistakes than adding another paragraph to the handover note.

Include practical care details

Health records are most useful when they include the everyday details that affect care:

• feeding amount and normal meal times
• food sensitivities and treats to avoid
• mobility limits or fears
• recent weight and relevant changes
• vaccination dates and microchip details
• the pet’s normal behaviour when unwell

The goal is not to create a veterinary textbook. It is to give a sitter enough context to recognise what is normal and what is worth escalating.

Keep the record private but available

PawKeep is designed as a private iPhone home for pet vaccinations, medications, vet visits, documents and care reminders. It gives you one place to update the record before a trip and show the relevant details to a sitter without turning your pet’s information into a public post.

Before handing over care, check that the record is current and that the sitter can reach you. If you are sharing a report or screenshot, make sure it includes the date it was prepared so nobody mistakes an old dose or phone number for the latest instruction.

Do one calm handover

Walk through the record with the sitter while the pet is present. Show where food, medication, carrier and leash are stored. Point out the pet’s usual hiding place and the signs that mean “call me” rather than “wait and see”.

A good handover is short because the preparation happened earlier. The sitter should leave with confidence, not a folder of disconnected notes.

Pet health records are especially valuable when nobody needs them. Prepare the emergency details, keep medication instructions precise and use one private source of truth so a sitter can care for your pet without guessing.