Pet Care Instructions for Dogs and Cats: Full Guide

A complete pet care guide should let another person care for your dog, cat or other companion animal without guessing about food, medication, behaviour, routines, safety or veterinary decisions. It should explain what normal looks like for your pet, what can wait, what requires a phone call and what needs urgent professional care.

This matters during holidays and short pet-sitting arrangements, but it matters even more if you are unexpectedly hospitalised, injured, displaced by an emergency, lose capacity or die. A one-page sitter note may cover a weekend. A genuine continuity plan also names backup carers, long-term guardians, emergency accommodation, financial arrangements, transport, identification, insurance, end-of-life values and what happens if the preferred carer cannot take the animal.

The full guide below includes a complete copy-ready template with proper grey writing boxes under every question. It can be used for one pet or duplicated for every animal in the household. Keep veterinarian-issued medication and treatment directions exactly as provided, and do not use this document to diagnose, prescribe or replace veterinary advice.

Within the wider family-planning system, this guide belongs beside the emergency binder, the digital legacy directory and the letter of wishes.

What the current leading pet care instruction templates cover

The current high-ranking pet sitter templates are useful because they focus on the information a temporary carer needs immediately. The Hushku pet sitter instructions template covers owner and emergency contacts, veterinary details, microchip information, feeding, medication, walks, toileting, sleeping, separation anxiety and house access. It also recommends keeping a visible physical copy and a digital version.

The Petza sitter checklist adds a strong safety boundary: medication, post-operative care and dietary restrictions should be copied exactly from the veterinarian rather than paraphrased. Pet Sitter Plan emphasises the daily rhythm, what owners commonly forget and a concise one-page handover for feeding, walks, medication, emergency contacts and behaviour.

Those resources solve the immediate sitter-handoff problem. Evaheld’s guide includes all of that, then adds the continuity details families often miss: backup carers, long-term guardianship, proof of ownership, insurance, expenditure authority, evacuation routes, emergency kits, species-specific handling, what is normal versus concerning, daily care logs, the pet’s relationship with other animals, end-of-life values, aftercare wishes and a review history.

Why pet care instructions need more than feeding times

A carer can follow a feeding schedule and still misunderstand the animal. “Nervous around visitors” could mean hiding under a bed, barking from a distance, attempting to escape or biting when cornered. “Needs medication twice a day” is incomplete unless the carer knows the exact medicine, dose, timing, administration method, storage requirements, missed-dose instructions and the vet to call after vomiting or refusal.

A useful guide distinguishes routine from risk. It says what the pet normally eats, drinks, sleeps, eliminates and enjoys. It also records warning signs such as refusing food, repeated vomiting, unusual breathing, collapse, inability to urinate, seizures, severe lethargy or behaviour that is dramatically different from normal. The carer should not be asked to diagnose the cause; they should know who to call and how quickly.

Pet care is also part of household continuity. Evaheld’s practical family information guidance includes pets alongside bills, contacts, documents and daily responsibilities because animals cannot wait for an estate or family meeting before being fed, medicated or moved to safety.

Create your pet care guide in Evaheld now, beginning with emergency contacts, feeding, medication and the person who can reach your pet if you cannot get home.

Pet identity and proof of ownership

Record the pet’s full name, nicknames, species, breed or type, age, sex, desexing status, colour, markings, weight, microchip number, council registration and a current photograph. Add a photograph of you with the animal where proof of ownership may matter.

The NSW Government’s Pet Ready Plan recommends current microchip and registration details, vaccination records and recent photographs. Animal Welfare Victoria also stresses updating both the microchip registry and council registration so a lost or injured animal can be reunited with the correct owner.

Identification instructions should be practical. If a collar is removed indoors, say where it is kept. If a cat is indoor-only, record that clearly. If a bird has a leg band, a horse has identification records or a reptile has specialised permit information, include the exact record location.

Feeding, medication and veterinary instructions

Write exact food brands, product types, serving amounts and times. Include wet, dry, raw or prescription diets, how food is prepared, where supplies are stored, how water is managed, approved treats, prohibited foods and what to do if the preferred food runs out. Avoid phrases such as “one scoop” unless the correct scoop is labelled and its volume is known.

Medication instructions should be copied from the veterinary label or written care plan. Record the medicine name, strength, dose, timing, route, storage, administration technique and what the veterinarian has instructed after a missed dose. Do not tell a carer to double a dose unless the veterinarian has expressly said to do so.

List the primary veterinarian, specialist, after-hours clinic and backup clinic. Record the animal’s medical conditions, allergies, previous reactions, vaccination status, recent surgery, mobility limits and the location of current records. Keep insurance policy details, claims contacts and the person authorised to approve treatment inside the Evaheld Essentials Vault or another protected record.

Behaviour, routine and emotional safety

Describe behaviour without using vague labels such as “good”, “difficult” or “aggressive”. Record what triggers the response, what the animal does, how close the trigger can safely come, what handling method works and what makes the situation worse.

Useful details include reactions to children, men, uniforms, hats, bicycles, delivery vehicles, thunderstorms, fireworks, grooming, touch near painful areas, other dogs, cats, wildlife, food bowls, toys and being left alone. State whether the animal guards food or objects, bolts through doors, slips harnesses, hides when frightened or redirects fear towards people or other animals.

Routine is a safety tool. Record waking, feeding, medication, exercise, toileting, rest, play and bedtime times. Include favourite sleeping locations, toys, blankets, commands, hand signals and calming methods. NSW emergency guidance notes that animals may hide, flee, bite or scratch when frightened, so the guide should tell carers how to secure the animal before stress escalates.

Pet emergency and evacuation planning

A pet guide should state who can collect the animal, where carriers and leads are stored, how every pet can be moved in one trip, which safe destinations accept animals and what to do if you are unreachable. Do not assume an evacuation centre will accept pets.

The NSW SES household pet plan recommends three to seven days of supplies, suitable containment, vaccination records, alternative accommodation and practice. The RSPCA emergency-planning guidance recommends a written plan, updated identification, medical information, transport equipment and an emergency kit. Agriculture Victoria’s pet emergency plan also recommends a trusted backup person with access to the home.

The emergency kit should be labelled and easy to carry. Include food, water, bowls, medications, records, photographs, carrier, leash, harness, muzzle where appropriate, sanitation supplies, bedding, toys, species-specific equipment and the guide itself. Practice putting cats into carriers, dogs into vehicles and birds or small animals into safe transport before an emergency.

Long-term guardianship if you cannot care for your pet again

A temporary sitter is not automatically the right permanent guardian. Name the person you would prefer, at least one backup and the reasons they suit the animal. Confirm that they are willing. Record whether the pet should remain with another animal, whether children or other pets create a problem, and whether a particular household or person is unsuitable.

Keep formal legal and financial arrangements in the appropriate estate-planning documents. The pet care guide should explain the animal’s needs and your preferences, while a Will, trust or other valid arrangement may be needed to deal with money and legal responsibility. Evaheld’s letter of wishes can preserve non-binding context for executors, and the broader affairs-in-order checklist can make the supporting documents easier to find.

The RSPCA’s responsible ownership policy recognises that owners should make provision for temporary and permanent care when they cannot continue caring for an animal. A plan should never depend on an unspoken assumption that a relative will take the pet.

Complete pet care guide to copy and use

Duplicate this template for each animal. Every grey box is a working response field. Replace the guidance with your own information. Keep veterinary directions exact, and separate any sensitive financial or home-security details from the version given to a short-term sitter.

Section 1: Guide ownership, purpose and access

1.1 Who created this pet care guide, and when was it reviewed?

Write over this guidance: Add your full name, address, phone, email, date prepared and last review date. Identify which version is current.

1.2 Which pet does this guide cover?

Write over this guidance: Record the pet’s full name, nicknames, species, breed or type, sex, age and the other animals in the household.

1.3 Who should receive or access this guide?

Write over this guidance: Name temporary sitters, backup carers, family, executor, long-term guardian and any professional service. State what each person needs to see.

Section 2: Pet identity and proof of ownership

2.1 What does your pet look like?

Write over this guidance: Record colour, markings, scars, size, current weight and any feature that would help identify the animal. Attach current photographs.

2.2 What are the microchip and registration details?

Write over this guidance: Add microchip number, registry, council registration, licence or permit details, renewal dates and the contact information currently held.

2.3 Where are ownership, adoption and vaccination records stored?

Write over this guidance: Point to the exact physical or digital location and state who may retrieve the records.

Section 3: Daily routine at a glance

3.1 What is the normal daily schedule?

Write over this guidance: List waking, feeding, medication, exercise, toileting, rest, play and bedtime in chronological order.

3.2 Which routines must stay consistent?

Write over this guidance: Identify routines that affect medication, anxiety, toileting, sleep or behaviour and explain what happens when they change.

Section 4: Food, water and treats

4.1 What exact food should be given?

Write over this guidance: Record brand, product, wet or dry, prescription status, flavour, preparation, storage and acceptable substitute approved by your vet.

4.2 How much food is given and when?

Write over this guidance: Use grams, millilitres, cups or another precise measure. List meal times, bowl location and whether food must be separated from other pets.

4.3 Which treats are allowed or prohibited?

Write over this guidance: List approved treats, maximum amounts, food allergies, toxic foods and any table-food rule.

4.4 How should water be managed?

Write over this guidance: Record bowls, fountains, cleaning, refill frequency, filtered-water needs and what would count as unusual drinking.

Section 5: Medication and medical conditions

5.1 What medical conditions does the pet have?

Write over this guidance: List diagnoses, symptoms, mobility limits, previous surgery, allergies, known reactions and the date of the latest veterinary review.

5.2 What medication must be given?

Write over this guidance: Copy medicine name, strength, dose, time, route, storage and label directions exactly. Attach the veterinarian’s written plan where available.

5.3 How is each medication administered successfully?

Write over this guidance: Explain the safe technique, food or device used, handling limits and what signs mean the dose may not have been swallowed or delivered.

5.4 What should happen after a missed dose, vomiting or refusal?

Write over this guidance: Copy the veterinarian’s instructions. State who to call before repeating, delaying or changing a dose.

Section 6: Veterinarians and emergency treatment

6.1 Who are the primary and emergency veterinarians?

Write over this guidance: Add clinic names, veterinarian names, addresses, phone numbers, hours, after-hours process and distance from the pet’s location.

6.2 What signs require an immediate veterinary call?

Write over this guidance: Ask your vet to help identify pet-specific warning signs. Record the emergency clinic instructions rather than asking the carer to diagnose.

6.3 What treatment authority and spending limit apply?

Write over this guidance: Record who may approve treatment, the insurer, policy number, payment method, spending limit and the person to contact if costs exceed it. Confirm clinic requirements separately.

Section 7: Exercise, enrichment and toileting

7.1 What exercise or enrichment is appropriate?

Write over this guidance: Record frequency, duration, intensity, route, weather limits, toys, training games and restrictions caused by age, pain or medical conditions.

7.2 What leash, harness, carrier or containment rules apply?

Write over this guidance: State the exact equipment, fit, storage, off-leash rule, escape risks and whether the pet may be handled by one or two people.

7.3 What is the normal toileting routine?

Write over this guidance: Record walk or yard times, litter type, tray location, cleaning, bedding changes and what changes in urine or stool require attention.

Section 8: Sleep, comfort and separation

8.1 Where and how does the pet sleep?

Write over this guidance: Record bed, crate, room, temperature, blankets, lights, doors and the usual bedtime routine.

8.2 What helps the pet feel safe?

Write over this guidance: List favourite people, toys, scents, music, quiet places, commands and veterinarian-approved anxiety supports.

8.3 How does the pet cope when left alone?

Write over this guidance: State the safe maximum time, departure routine, camera or monitoring use, destructive or vocal behaviour and what the carer should never do.

Section 9: Behaviour, triggers and handling

9.1 Which situations trigger fear, escape or aggression?

Write over this guidance: Name the trigger, distance or context, the pet’s body language, likely response and the safest avoidance or handling method.

9.2 Are there touch or handling boundaries?

Write over this guidance: Describe painful areas, grooming limits, lifting methods, muzzle or towel handling, bite or scratch history and who is qualified to assist.

9.3 Which commands or signals does the pet understand?

Write over this guidance: List spoken commands, hand signals, whistle cues, reward words and commands that should not be used.

Section 10: Other animals, children and visitors

10.1 How does the pet respond to other animals?

Write over this guidance: Describe safe companions, animals to avoid, introduction rules, feeding separation and any prey-drive or territorial risk.

10.2 How should children and visitors interact with the pet?

Write over this guidance: State age limits, supervision, safe touch, quiet areas, door rules and whether visitors should ignore the pet initially.

Section 11: Home access, safety and supplies

11.1 How does the carer safely enter the home?

Write over this guidance: Record key or lockbox location, alarm process, door sequence and how to prevent the pet escaping. Keep unnecessary security details out of widely shared copies.

11.2 Where are food, medication and care supplies stored?

Write over this guidance: List exact locations for food, medicines, leads, litter, cleaning products, carriers, records, bedding and emergency equipment.

11.3 Which parts of the home are unsafe or off-limits?

Write over this guidance: Identify gates, pools, balconies, toxic plants, unsecured windows, other animals, sheds, machinery or rooms that must remain closed.

Section 12: Grooming and routine maintenance

12.1 What grooming is required?

Write over this guidance: Record brushing, bathing, nail, dental, ear, eye, coat, enclosure or aquarium maintenance and the frequency of each task.

12.2 Which groomer or service provider knows the pet?

Write over this guidance: Add provider, contact, booking details, handling notes and the date of the next appointment.

Section 13: Sitter, boarding and daily handover

13.1 Who is the preferred temporary carer?

Write over this guidance: Name the sitter, friend, family member, kennel, cattery or service, contact details and what they have agreed to do.

13.2 What should the carer record each day?

Write over this guidance: Include food eaten, water, medication, toileting, exercise, behaviour, symptoms and the time of each visit or overnight stay.

13.3 What updates do you expect?

Write over this guidance: State frequency, method, photographs, urgent-call triggers and the backup contact if you cannot be reached.

Section 14: Emergency evacuation plan

14.1 Who can collect the pet if you are away?

Write over this guidance: Name at least two people, their access arrangements, transport capacity and familiarity with the animal.

14.2 Where will the pet go during an evacuation?

Write over this guidance: List preferred family, boarding, accommodation and emergency options, plus alternatives if pets are not accepted.

14.3 Where is the emergency kit and what is inside?

Write over this guidance: Record exact location and list food, water, medicines, records, photos, carrier, lead, harness, sanitation, bedding and species-specific equipment.

14.4 Which transport route and vehicle will be used?

Write over this guidance: State the primary vehicle, alternate vehicle, loading order, route and whether every animal and kit can be moved in one trip.

Section 15: Insurance, costs and financial authority

15.1 Is the pet insured?

Write over this guidance: Add insurer, policy number, coverage, excess, claims contact, renewal date and document location.

15.2 Which account or fund pays for routine care?

Write over this guidance: Identify the lawful payment pathway without exposing credentials. Record who may approve and pay for food, boarding, grooming and veterinary care.

15.3 What spending limits or priorities apply?

Write over this guidance: Record routine budgets, emergency approval limits and who should be consulted for major or ongoing treatment decisions.

Section 16: Long-term guardian and permanent care

16.1 Who is your preferred permanent guardian?

Write over this guidance: Add name, relationship, contact details, location, household animals, housing suitability and confirmation that the person has agreed.

16.2 Who are the backup guardians?

Write over this guidance: Name at least one alternative and explain the circumstances in which they should be approached.

16.3 Are there homes or people that are unsuitable?

Write over this guidance: Record relevant incompatibilities such as children, pets, housing, distance, allergies, safety concerns or inability to meet medical needs. Keep the wording factual.

16.4 What legal or financial documents support permanent care?

Write over this guidance: Point to your Will, trust, letter of wishes, executor instructions, insurance or other professional documents. Obtain legal advice where needed.

Section 17: Species-specific care

17.1 What species-specific environment is required?

Write over this guidance: Record temperature, humidity, light cycles, water quality, enclosure, bedding, perches, hides, filtration, heating, ventilation or other essential conditions.

17.2 What specialised handling or transport is required?

Write over this guidance: Describe carriers, containers, towels, gloves, heat support, oxygenation, water transport, restraint limits and the expert to call.

17.3 Which specialist veterinarian or adviser is required?

Write over this guidance: Add avian, exotic, reptile, aquatic, equine or other specialist contacts and after-hours alternatives.

Section 18: Quality of life, end-of-life care and aftercare

18.1 What quality-of-life values matter to you?

Write over this guidance: Describe your values around comfort, pain, mobility, eating, social engagement, distress and the pet’s ability to enjoy familiar activities. Do not prescribe a clinical outcome.

18.2 Who should participate in serious veterinary decisions?

Write over this guidance: Name the veterinarian, primary decision-maker and backup. State that quality-of-life and euthanasia decisions require professional assessment.

18.3 What aftercare do you prefer?

Write over this guidance: Record private or communal cremation, burial where lawful, ashes return, urn, memorial item, paw print, photograph or family discretion. Add provider details if chosen.

Section 19: Daily care log

19.1 What should be logged each day?

Write over this guidance: Create fields for date, visit time, food, water, medication, toileting, exercise, symptoms, behaviour and carer initials.

19.2 Which changes require escalation?

Write over this guidance: List owner-call, backup-contact and veterinarian-call triggers based on the veterinarian’s advice and the pet’s normal baseline.

20.1 How often should the guide be reviewed?

Write over this guidance: Set a six-month review and immediate updates after changes to medication, diagnosis, food, vet, address, microchip, behaviour, carers or insurance.

20.2 Who has the current version?

Write over this guidance: List each sitter, family member, guardian, executor or professional, their access level and the date the guide was shared.

20.3 What changed in this version?

Write over this guidance: Record the date, section changed, old information removed and person notified.

Complete and share your pet care guide in your Evaheld Legacy Vault for free. Download a copy for the fridge or sitter, keep the living version updated and share the right level of detail with temporary carers, family and the long-term guardian you have chosen.

Pet care instruction mistakes that create avoidable risk

Do not leave a list that says only “feed twice daily” or “give the usual tablets”. Do not assume a sitter knows where the carrier is, can recognise a medical emergency, understands the alarm or knows which animal may eat from which bowl.

Do not hide serious behaviour, bite, escape or prey-drive risks because you are embarrassed. Honest instructions protect the pet, the carer, visitors and other animals. Do not direct a person to use force, punishment or an unapproved medication when the animal is frightened.

Do not name a permanent guardian without asking them. Do not assume pet insurance automatically pays the clinic at the time of treatment. Do not expose full banking, password or alarm information in the printed sitter copy. Evaheld’s guide to emergency access without revealing passwords can help separate sensitive access from the care instructions.

Do not let the guide become stale. A changed medication, disconnected phone number, outdated microchip address or deceased backup carer can make the plan fail when it is needed most. Evaheld’s affairs checklist can help make pet care part of a regular household review.

Pet care guide example for a dog

Bella is a seven-year-old desexed Labrador. She eats 150 grams of her prescription dry food at 7:30 am and 5:30 pm. Her food is in the labelled container in the pantry. She may have two dental treats each day. Do not give table scraps because rich food triggers pancreatitis.

She takes one tablet with breakfast. The current medicine, dose and missed-dose instructions are printed on the veterinary medication sheet inside the purple folder beside her food. Please do not repeat a dose if you are unsure whether she swallowed it; call the veterinary clinic.

Bella walks for 25 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening. She must remain on the blue harness and lead. She is friendly with people but becomes frightened when off-leash dogs run directly at her. Cross the road or turn away before they approach. Do not take her into the dog park.

She normally sleeps through the night and eats every meal. Call me or the backup contact if she refuses two meals, vomits more than once, becomes unusually weak or cannot settle. Go directly to the emergency vet if she collapses, has difficulty breathing or has a seizure.

If I cannot return home, my sister Mia has agreed to care for Bella temporarily. My friend Daniel is the backup. My Will and letter of wishes contain the long-term arrangement and the location of the fund set aside for her care.

Why keep a pet care guide in Evaheld

Pet information changes. Food brands are discontinued, doses change, carers move, microchip details become outdated and the animal’s behaviour evolves with age. A static paper page becomes unreliable unless someone remembers to replace every copy.

Evaheld lets you maintain one current guide beside the supporting records, trusted contacts, insurance, household instructions and legal-document locations. A short printed sheet can remain visible for emergencies, while the detailed version stays protected and updateable.

The guide can also sit beside your personal legacy letter, funeral wishes and family readiness checklist, giving the person who steps in one clearer map of the family, household and dependants.

Start your pet care guide today. Complete the first six sections first so another person can identify, feed, medicate and obtain emergency care for your pet without delay.

Pet care guide FAQs

Include identification, feeding, medication, daily routine, toileting, exercise, behaviour, vet contacts, emergency authority, home access, transport, supplies and the person who should take over if you cannot return. Evaheld’s practical family information guidance explains why pet care belongs beside other urgent household instructions, while the current Hushku pet sitter template shows the core handover details a sitter needs.

Use exact food brands, amounts, times, storage locations, approved treats, prohibited foods, medicine names, doses, administration methods and what to do if a dose is missed. The Evaheld emergency binder helps place pet routines within the wider household plan, while Petza’s sitter checklist correctly stresses copying medication and diet restrictions exactly as the veterinarian provided them.

Record your preferred vet, 24-hour emergency clinic, backup contact, insurance details, treatment spending limit and the circumstances in which the carer should seek urgent care. Formal authority and payment arrangements depend on the clinic and jurisdiction, so confirm them directly. Evaheld’s Essentials Vault can keep the supporting records findable, while the NSW Pet Ready Plan recommends keeping veterinary contacts, medications and proof of vaccination with the pet’s emergency information.

Describe what is normal, what triggers fear or aggression, safe handling methods, escape risks, social boundaries, calming routines and signs that something is wrong. Evaheld’s future care and wishes guide explains why the person taking over needs context rather than labels, while the NSW Government animal emergency guidance notes that frightened animals may hide, flee, bite or scratch and should be secured early.

Yes. Name a preferred long-term carer, at least one backup, any people or homes that are unsuitable, and the financial or practical support available. Speak to the person before recording them and keep legal or estate arrangements in the appropriate documents. Evaheld’s letter of wishes can hold non-binding context for executors, while the RSPCA’s responsible ownership policy specifically recognises the need to plan for temporary and permanent care when an owner cannot continue.

Review it at least every six months and immediately after a medication change, diagnosis, move, new vet, changed food, new behaviour issue, new microchip details or change of carer. Evaheld’s family readiness checklist helps keep recurring reviews visible, while Animal Welfare Victoria’s microchip and registration guidance stresses keeping contact information current.

Use both. Keep a short printed emergency sheet where a carer can see it immediately, and maintain the full, updateable version digitally. Do not place unrestricted banking, alarm or password details in an exposed paper copy. Evaheld’s digital legacy vault can hold the current guide and supporting records, while the Hushku instructions guide also recommends a visible physical copy plus a digital version.

Yes. Each animal should have its own identity, feeding, medication, behaviour, transport and emergency information, even when some household details are shared. Evaheld’s affairs-in-order checklist can connect multiple dependant records, while the Queensland Government’s pet emergency plan advises completing an additional plan when caring for more than two pets or another person’s animals.

Include food, water, bowls, medications, medical and vaccination records, identification, recent photographs, carriers, leads, harnesses, sanitation supplies, bedding, toys and emergency contacts. Add species-specific equipment and enough supplies for the risks in your area. Evaheld’s household emergency binder can point to the kit location, while the NSW SES household pet plan recommends three to seven days of supplies and practising transport and evacuation.

It can record your values about quality of life, palliative care, who should participate in veterinary decisions and your preferred cremation or burial arrangements, but it should never direct a carer to make a clinical decision without veterinary assessment. Evaheld’s funeral wishes planning guide can help keep aftercare preferences organised, while the RSPCA’s companion-animal euthanasia policy states that decisions should ordinarily involve a veterinarian or appropriate animal behaviour professional and a quality-of-life assessment.

Pet care guide next steps for protecting your animal

Start with the details that prevent immediate harm: identity, food, medication, veterinarian, emergency authority and safe handling. Then add daily routines, triggers, supplies, evacuation, insurance and the people who can take over temporarily or permanently.

The standard is simple: a capable person who loves animals but does not know your pet should be able to provide safe, familiar care without searching old messages or guessing what you meant.

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What Do I Write Down So Someone Knows How to Care for My Dog or Cat? Complete Pet Care Guide