Pet Emergency Guide for House Sitters: What to Do When Things Go Wrong

The best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens. Make sure you write down all of the points below during your handover; don't rely on your memory:

• Vet name, address, and phone number (the pet's regular vet)
• Nearest emergency vet (open 24/7, weekends, and holidays)
• Pet insurance details if applicable
• Known allergies or medical conditions for each pet
• Current medications with dosage and schedule
• Microchip numbers for each pet
• A recent photo of each pet in case they go missing

Save all of this on your phone, not just on a piece of paper stuck to the fridge. If you're out walking and something happens, you need to have this information right at your fingertips.

On Global Pet Sitter, pet owners can include their veterinarian's contact information and emergency details in their welcome guide. However, always verify during the handover that this information is still up to date, as veterinarians may change, insurance policies may expire, and medication regimens may be adjusted.

Ask the homeowner how they would like to be contacted in an emergency. Some people prefer to be called at any time, regardless of the hour. Others prefer to receive a message first so they can respond when it's convenient for them. Make sure you know this before it becomes necessary.

You don't have to be a vet to tell that something's wrong. The key is knowing what's normal for the specific animal you're caring for; that's why it's so important to pay close attention during the first day or two.

Warning signs in dogs:

• Refusing food for more than 24 hours (some dogs skip a meal when stressed - that's usually fine)
• Excessive vomiting or diarrhea, especially with blood
• Lethargy or reluctance to move
• Whimpering, panting heavily, or pacing when they normally don't
• Swollen or bloated abdomen (this can be life-threatening in large breeds)
• Difficulty breathing or persistent coughing
• Limping or inability to put weight on a leg

Warning signs in cats:

• Hiding for extended periods (more than their usual amount)
• Not using the litter box or straining to urinate
• Refusing food for more than a day
• Excessive drooling or pawing at the mouth
• Rapid breathing or open-mouth breathing (cats should almost never pant like dogs - brief panting after intense play can be normal, but sustained open-mouth breathing is an emergency)
• Sudden aggression or sensitivity when touched in a specific area

Trust your instincts. If the animal's behavior seems noticeably different from when you first arrived, something is probably wrong. It's always better to call the vet and find out it's nothing serious than to wait and let the situation get worse.

Stay calm. Your energy directly affects the animal. A panicked pet sitter will only make a stressed pet even more nervous. Take a deep breath, assess the situation, and proceed methodically.

For non-urgent situations (mild vomiting, minor cuts, slight limping):

1. Monitor the pet for the next few hours
2. Message the homeowner with a clear description of what happened
3. Call the regular vet for advice during business hours
4. Follow whatever guidance the vet provides

For urgent situations (difficulty breathing, suspected poisoning, heavy bleeding, seizures, collapse):

1. Call the emergency vet immediately - describe what's happening and follow their instructions
2. Transport the pet safely (use a towel as a stretcher for injured animals, keep them warm)
3. Contact the homeowner as soon as you can, but don't delay treatment to make a phone call
4. At the vet, provide the pet's medical history and any relevant details

If you suspect poisoning, try to identify what the pet ate and bring the packaging or a sample to the vet. Common household toxins for pets include chocolate, grapes, lilies (extremely dangerous for cats), xylitol (in sugar-free products), and certain medications.

Keep track of everything: times, symptoms, what you did, and what the vet said. This helps the pet owner understand what happened and is essential if an insurance claim is involved.

This is every pet sitter's nightmare, and it happens more often than people care to admit. A door left ajar, a gate with a gap you missed, a cat that bolts the moment the delivery person rings the doorbell. Don't waste time feeling guilty -act fast.

Immediate steps:

1. Search the immediate area thoroughly - check under bushes, behind sheds, in garages, under cars
2. Put the pet's bed, a worn piece of the owner's clothing, or their food bowl outside the door (familiar scents help them find their way back)
3. Contact the homeowner immediately
4. Call the local animal control and report the pet missing with a description and microchip number
5. Post on local lost pet groups on social media (ask the homeowner's permission first if you can reach them quickly)

For escaped dogs:

• Walk the regular walking route - they often retrace familiar paths
• Ask neighbors if they've seen anything
• Check nearby parks, water sources, and areas where they like to sniff
• Don't chase a frightened dog - sit down and call them calmly

For escaped cats:

• Most cats don't go far - they're usually within a few houses of home
• Search during quiet hours (dawn and dusk) when they're more likely to emerge
• Set up a humane trap near the home baited with strong-smelling food like tuna or sardines
• Check high places - trees, roofs, on top of walls

Prevention is key. During your inspection, check for any risks that could cause pets to run away. Could the dog run outside through open doors? Is the cat trying to slip out? Are there holes in the fence? Be aware of the risks before they turn into problems.

Here's something most new pet sitters don't think about: are you actually allowed to give consent for treatment of someone else's pet? In many places, veterinarians require the owner's consent for procedures, especially surgeries or expensive treatments.

Before the sit starts, ask the homeowner to:

• Call their regular vet and let them know a sitter will be caring for the pets, including your name and phone number
• Provide written authorization for you to approve emergency treatment up to a specified amount
• Leave a signed letter stating you can make medical decisions on their behalf in an emergency

Some GPS pet sitters create a simple authorization form that they send to each homeowner before every sitting. This form includes consent for emergency medical treatment, spending limits, and preferred methods of contact. This may seem a bit too formal, but veterinarians appreciate it, and it eliminates any hesitation when every minute counts.

If you can't reach the owner and the veterinarian has to make a decision, most veterinarians will proceed with life-saving treatment regardless. However, if the paperwork is in order, everything goes more smoothly and is less stressful for everyone involved.

Save a digital copy of each authorization on your phone, along with the vet's contact information. Paper copies on the kitchen counter won't help you if you're at the animal emergency clinic at 2 a.m.

This is the awkward conversation that no one wants to have, but that you absolutely must have before the pet-sitting period begins. An emergency trip to the vet can cost hundreds or even thousands of euros, and you need to know exactly where you stand.

The general expectation: The homeowner pays for veterinary costs. You're providing a care service, and the pet's medical expenses are the owner's responsibility - just as they would be if they were home.

What to clarify beforehand:

• Does the pet have insurance? If so, what's covered and what's the excess?
• Is there a spending limit you should be aware of before calling for approval?
• Should you pay upfront and get reimbursed, or does the vet bill the owner directly?
• Is there a credit card left for emergencies?

Some homeowners leave a small emergency fund in cash or give you a card to cover veterinary expenses. Others expect you to pay the costs up front and reimburse you later. Neither approach is wrong, but you should make arrangements about this before you find yourself at the vet's front desk wondering who's going to pay.

If there is any uncertainty, be sure to document everything using the GPS messaging system. Written documentation provides certainty for both parties. Keep all receipts, invoices, and veterinary reports.

An important note: if the emergency was the result of genuine negligence on your part -for example, because you left a gate open, gave the pet something poisonous, or ignored clear warning signs -then the financial and moral responsibility shifts. This rarely happens, but it's worth being honest about it if it does.

Don't wait until something goes wrong to figure out what to do. Create a simple emergency plan for every situation. It only takes ten minutes and could save an animal's life.

Your plan should include:

1. Emergency contacts (prioritized):

   • Emergency vet (24/7)
   • Regular vet
   • Homeowner (phone + backup contact method)
   • Homeowner's emergency contact (friend, family member, neighbor)
   • Local animal control

2. Pet details for each animal:

   • Name, breed, age, weight
   • Microchip number
   • Known medical conditions and medications
   • Recent photo

3. Home details:

   • Full address (you'd be surprised how many sitters can't recite the address in a panic)
   • Nearest emergency vet address and fastest route
   • Location of pet carriers, leashes, and first aid supplies

4. Authorization:

   • Written consent for emergency treatment
   • Spending limit for vet bills
   • Payment method for emergencies

Save all of this in a single note on your phone. The welcome guide for homeowners in the GPS app already includes fields for emergency contacts, your veterinarian's information, and your pet's medical history, so much of this information should already be filled in for you. However, always make sure the information is up to date during the handover.

Some sitters create a template that they reuse for every sit; they just fill in the details each time. After a few sits, this becomes second nature.

The reality is that most assignments go off without a hitch. But when things do go wrong, being well-prepared makes all the difference. Being prepared doesn't mean you're paranoid; it means you're working professionally.