How to leave pet medication instructions for a sitter

Copy the current instructions exactly

Use the medicine's current labelled container and the latest written instruction from the veterinary practice. Record the medication name, dose, frequency and any food instruction without shortening or paraphrasing important wording.

SitSorted does not calculate doses or provide treatment advice. If the label and another note disagree, resolve that with the veterinary practice before leaving the pet with a sitter.

• Medication name exactly as shown on the label
• Current dose and frequency exactly as supplied
• Times or time windows already agreed
• Whether the current instruction says with food or separately
• The end date or review date, where one has been supplied

Show the established method and storage

Ask the sitter whether they are comfortable with the task before the sit. Demonstrate only the handling and administration method already used for this pet and agreed with the veterinary professional.

Leave enough medicine and the correct measuring or administration equipment. Store everything in the established secure location, away from other pets and children.

• Where the labelled supply is stored
• Where any syringe or other supplied equipment is kept
• The handling approach the pet already accepts
• How to record that a scheduled dose was given
• Who can help if the sitter cannot administer it safely

Write down the missed-dose and urgent-contact route

Never invent a missed-dose rule. Copy the instruction supplied by the vet or tell the sitter to call the practice. Do not tell a sitter to double the next dose unless a veterinary professional has explicitly instructed that for this medication.

Include the regular practice, its out-of-hours route, the owner and a trusted backup. Check each number and explain which changes require an immediate professional call.

• Current missed-dose instruction or Call the vet
• Regular veterinary practice and phone number
• Out-of-hours provider and checked number
• Owner and agreed local backup
• Observations the sitter should record and report

Keep the record clear without inventing medical detail

This fictional example intentionally contains no drug or dose. It demonstrates the structure of a careful record, not a treatment plan.

Review one medication at a time

Use a separate schedule for each medicine when that reduces the risk of confusing names, timings or exceptions. Walk through the first due time and ask the sitter what they would do if something goes wrong.

Update or replace the page if the veterinary instruction changes. Remove old copies so the sitter cannot accidentally follow a superseded plan.