Pet Sitter Handoff Checklist: Medications, Routines and Emergency Details

Leaving a pet with a sitter is easier when the handoff answers the questions that tend to come up after you have left: when does the next dose happen, what counts as a normal meal, and who should the sitter call if something seems wrong? A short, readable care sheet is more useful than a long message thread assembled at the door.

Put the essentials at the top

Start with the pet’s name, a recent photo, your contact details and the name and phone number of the regular veterinary clinic. Add a second emergency contact who can make decisions if you are on a flight or otherwise unreachable. If you have chosen an emergency clinic, include its address and phone number too.

Keep this first section visible without scrolling through background history. In a stressful moment, the sitter should not need to search for the one number that matters.

Write medication instructions so they can be followed

For each medicine, record its name, the prescribed amount, the route, the usual time and any instruction that affects whether it should be given with food. Say where it is stored and how to use the measuring device. If a dose is missed, the sitter should follow the veterinarian’s instructions or call the clinic—not guess or double the next dose.

List allergies and important conditions alongside the medication details. Make clear which notes are current and when you last checked them. For any uncertainty about a treatment, confirm the plan with your veterinarian before handing over care.

Describe the ordinary routine

Include feeding amounts and times, water preferences, walks or litter care, sleep habits and any reliable sign that your pet needs a break. Mention practical quirks that prevent avoidable problems: a door that must stay latched, a harness that fits correctly, or a food that should not be substituted.

Separate “usual routine” from “call me if this changes.” This helps a sitter distinguish a familiar preference from something that needs your attention.

Agree on emergency decisions in advance

Tell the sitter how to reach you, who may authorize care if you are unavailable, and where vaccination or insurance information can be found. Do not leave financial or medical authority ambiguous. The sitter should know the next step, but medical decisions belong with you and your veterinary team.

For travel or boarding, see the related pet health records to prepare for a road trip and vaccine records checklist for boarding.

Make the sheet easy to use

Keep a copy with the pet’s supplies and another accessible on your phone. Use short headings, plain language and a date at the top. Before you leave, ask the sitter to read back the medication schedule and emergency contact plan; this catches missing details while you can still clarify them.

PawKeep helps keep pet health records, medications and care details together on iPhone. It can serve as a quick reference alongside the instructions from your veterinarian. Learn about PawKeep or view PawKeep on the App Store.