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The Complete Pet Sitter Instructions Checklist: What to Share Before You Leave

You're finally going on that trip you've been planning for months. The bags are packed, the hotel is booked, and then it hits you — the gut-churning worry every pet owner knows too well.

Did I tell the sitter about the medication? Do they know which food goes in which bowl? What if something happens and they can't reach the vet?

Most of us deal with this by firing off a flurry of texts the night before we leave. A voice memo here, a photo of the food bag there, maybe a sticky note on the fridge that says "NO chocolate!!!" in all caps. The sitter does their best to piece it all together, and you spend the first two days of vacation checking your phone every ten minutes.

There's a better way. This guide walks you through every piece of information your pet sitter actually needs — organized into a single, shareable checklist you can prepare once and reuse every time you travel.

Essential Contact Information

The most important thing your sitter needs isn't your pet's favorite toy — it's knowing who to call when something goes wrong. Start your instructions with these contacts:

Your phone number and availability. Let the sitter know the best way to reach you (call, text, WhatsApp) and any times you might be unreachable — like on a flight or in a different time zone.

A backup emergency contact. If the sitter can't reach you, who should they call? A trusted friend, family member, or neighbor who knows your pet can step in when you're unavailable.

Your veterinarian's details. Include the clinic name, phone number, address, and hours. If your vet has an after-hours emergency line, note that separately.

Nearest emergency animal hospital. This is the one most people forget. Your regular vet might be closed at 11 PM on a Saturday. Look up the nearest 24-hour emergency vet and include their address and phone number.

Tip: For emergency contacts, make sure the sitter can reach them with a single tap from their phone — not buried in a paragraph of text.

Your Pet's Profile

Even if your sitter has met your pet before, a written profile eliminates guessing:

  • Name (and any nicknames they respond to)
  • Species, breed, and age
  • Weight (important for medication dosing if the vet asks)
  • Microchip number (in case of escape)
  • Personality notes — Are they shy with strangers? Do they bark at the mailman? Do they hide during thunderstorms?
  • Anxiety triggers — Fireworks, vacuum cleaners, being left alone, other dogs
  • Photo — A clear, recent photo helps if your pet escapes and the sitter needs to make flyers or show neighbors

Feeding Schedule and Diet

Feeding mistakes are the number one source of sitter stress. Be specific:

What they eat. Include the exact brand and variety. A photo of the food bag or can helps the sitter grab the right one if they need to buy more.

How much. "A scoop" means different things to different people. Specify cups, grams, or "fill the bowl to the line."

When. Morning and evening? Three times a day? Write out the exact times or time ranges (e.g., "breakfast between 7–8 AM").

How to prepare. Some pets need warm water mixed in, others eat kibble dry. If there's a routine — like soaking the food for ten minutes — spell it out.

Treats and snacks. How many per day? Which ones are allowed? Where are they kept?

Foods to avoid. This is critical. Many common human foods are toxic to pets. Be explicit: no chocolate, no grapes, no onions, no xylitol (found in sugar-free gum).

Water. Does your pet prefer running water from a fountain? Do they need their bowl refilled at specific times? Any supplements added to their water?

Medications and Health

If your pet takes any medication, your sitter needs foolproof instructions:

Medication name and purpose. What does it treat? This helps the sitter understand why it matters.

Dosage and form. "Half a tablet" or "2 mL of liquid" is clearer than "the usual dose."

Timing. With food or on an empty stomach? Morning, evening, or both?

How to administer. Some pets take pills in peanut butter. Others need you to hold their mouth open. Walk through the technique that works for your pet.

What to watch for. Side effects, allergic reactions, or signs that the medication isn't working. When should the sitter call the vet versus just keep monitoring?

Refill information. If the medication might run out while you're gone, leave information on how to get a refill.

Signs of Distress to Watch For

Give your sitter a short list of warning signs specific to your pet:

  • Not eating for more than 24 hours
  • Lethargy or hiding for extended periods
  • Vomiting or diarrhea (once might be normal — repeated is a concern)
  • Difficulty breathing or excessive panting
  • Limping or reluctance to move
  • Any behavior that seems "off" compared to how they normally act

Include clear guidance: "If you notice any of these, call the vet first, then call me."

Daily Routine

Pets are creatures of habit. The closer the sitter sticks to the normal routine, the less stressed your pet will be:

Morning routine. What happens first thing? Potty break, then breakfast? Breakfast first, then a walk? What time does your pet usually wake up?

Walk schedule. How many walks per day? How long? Preferred routes? Does your pet need to be on-leash at all times, or is there an off-leash area they know? Where are the leash, harness, and poop bags?

Potty habits. Indoor pets: where's the litter box, how often to clean it, which litter to use. Outdoor pets: do they have a preferred spot in the yard? Any signals they give when they need to go?

Playtime. Favorite toys, how long they like to play, and any games they enjoy. Some dogs need mental stimulation (puzzle toys, training sessions) to stay happy.

Quiet time and naps. Does your pet nap in a crate, on the couch, or in a specific room? Do they need the crate door closed or just access to it?

Bedtime. What time? Where do they sleep? Do they get a final potty break? Any bedtime rituals like a treat or a specific blanket?

House Rules and Safety

This section prevents the "I didn't know I wasn't supposed to..." moments:

Off-limits areas. Which rooms or pieces of furniture are off-limits? Is the dog allowed on the couch? Can the cat go in the bedroom?

Doors and gates. Which doors need to stay closed? Baby gates? Doggy doors — on or off? This is a common escape route for anxious pets.

Yard rules. Can the pet be outside unsupervised? Any holes in the fence? Plants they like to eat that they shouldn't?

Trash and hazards. Pets are curious. Point out any hazards: trash cans that need to stay closed, cleaning supplies within reach, cords they like to chew, small objects they might swallow.

Alarm codes and door locks. How to arm/disarm the alarm, spare key location, any quirks with the locks.

Thermostat. What temperature should the house be? Some pets are sensitive to heat or cold.

Mail and packages. Should the sitter bring in the mail? Any expected deliveries?

Quick-Reference Checklist

Here's everything above condensed into a scannable checklist your sitter can reference at a glance:

Contacts

  • Your phone number and best way to reach you
  • Backup emergency contact name and number
  • Vet clinic name, phone, and address
  • Emergency animal hospital name, phone, and address

Pet Profile

  • Pet's name, breed, age, and weight
  • Personality notes and anxiety triggers
  • Recent photo
  • Microchip number

Feeding

  • Food type and brand (with photo)
  • Portion size and feeding times
  • Preparation instructions
  • Treats: type, quantity, and location
  • Foods to absolutely avoid
  • Water routine

Health

  • Medications: name, dose, timing, and how to give
  • Signs of distress to watch for
  • When to call the vet vs. when to monitor

Daily Routine

  • Morning routine step by step
  • Walk schedule: times, duration, and route
  • Potty habits and signals
  • Playtime and enrichment
  • Bedtime routine

House Rules

  • Off-limits rooms and furniture
  • Doors and gates that must stay closed
  • Yard rules and safety hazards
  • Alarm codes and key locations
  • Thermostat setting

There's a Better Way to Share All of This

If you've read this far, you're probably thinking: "That's a lot of information to organize." And you're right. Most pet owners either under-share (leaving the sitter guessing) or over-share (a wall of text nobody reads).

The real problem isn't what to share — it's how to share it.

A Google Doc gets lost in email. A text thread gets buried under new messages by day two. A printed page can't be updated when you realize you forgot the vet's after-hours number. And none of these make it easy for the sitter to tap a phone number to call the vet in an emergency.

That's exactly why we built PetPage.

PetPage lets you create a Care Page for your pet — a single, shareable link with everything your sitter needs: feeding schedule, medications, emergency contacts, house rules, and more. Your sitter opens the link on their phone. No app to download, no account to create.

Here's what makes it different from a doc or a text thread:

  • Tap-to-call contacts. Your sitter taps the vet's number and the phone dials. No copying and pasting.
  • Works offline. Once loaded, the Care Page works without internet — perfect for cabins, basements, or spotty cell service.
  • Always up to date. Change the medication dose or add a new house rule, and your sitter sees it instantly next time they open the link.
  • Privacy you control. Add a password, set an expiration date, or disable the link with one click.
  • Reusable. Set it up once and share the same link with every sitter, neighbor, or family member who watches your pet.

You can see a live example of a Care Page to get a feel for how it works.

Ready to set one up? Create your free Care Page — it takes about five minutes, and your pet (and your sitter) will thank you.