A pet is another member of the family, and it can be challenging enough to leave your animal in someone else’s care. For owners who have pets with special medication needs or disabilities, this anxiety tends to grow — after all, how will a pet sitter know what to do in an emergency or what symptoms to look out for?
Before you leave your furry friend with a Northern Virginia pet sitter, it’s important to thoroughly vet your options (and do some prep work yourself).
Here are some tips for communicating with potential sitters about your pet’s needs, as well as how to prepare before you go so that your animal can receive the best care while you’re gone.
Can Pets with Special Needs Be Left with a Sitter?
The short answer is yes. Even pets with special needs or disabilities can be left with a pet sitter. The difference is that it is extra important that you thoroughly research potential sitters before making a selection.
Not all pet sitters in Northern Virginia will have the experience and knowledge necessary to perform specialized tasks such as administering medicine, changing dressings, or creating specialized walk schedules.
It is important to prepare before leaving your pet with a sitter — both with your pet and with the sitter. When all the proper precautions are in place, you can confidently leave your animal companion with their sitter.
How to Prepare Your Pet
Before leaving your pet with a sitter, it’s important to schedule a time to meet. A meet-and-greet allows the sitter to get to know your pet, including their body language and limitations, while you are still there to provide guidance.
This meeting also acclimates your furry friend to their new human and eases tensions, so they are more likely to stay calm when the sitter enters your residence while you are away.
During this time, you can go over any pet-specific guidance, such as medications, dosages, and how to get your pet to cooperate. For instance, you can show the sitter how you wrap a pill into a piece of cheese so your pet eats it without a fuss.
Pets with special needs may have adaptations within your residence, such as beds and stairs, that should remain in the same place at all times.
Walk your sitter through the common areas so they can see how your pet goes about their daily life. This way, they will be more likely to identify when something has gone wrong while you are gone.
Before You Go
Before leaving, it is also important to prepare some information for your pet sitter. Create a document that details your pet’s medical needs. At a minimum, it should include:
- Medication name(s)
- Medication dosage
- Medication frequency
- Medication storage instructions (room temperature, in the fridge, etc.)
- Application instructions (e.g., pill, injection)
- Tips for administration (where the pet is most tolerant of injections, what foods the pet will eat with a tablet inside, etc.)
- Emergency contact information
- Vet information (the phone number, address, and veterinarian name of your preferred provider — ideally the one who regularly sees the pet and prescribes the medication)
- Emergency vet information (if your normal vet does not have emergency services or hours, locate the emergency clinic you would like your sitter to use in case of an after-hours emergency and include their name, address, and phone number)
Leave this information in a highly visible place, such as on the refrigerator or kitchen table, where the pet sitter can clearly see it each time they visit.
It is also essential to discuss emergency plans with your pet sitter. Do you want them to contact you first if your pet is in distress, or should they go to the vet and contact you later?
In the case of pets with special needs, it is helpful to disclose to your regular veterinarian that you will be out of town and that a sitter will supervise your companion.
This way, the vet knows they can discuss medication issues or questions with someone other than you while you are away.
Trust Northern Virginia’s Top Pet Sitters with Your Pet’s Medication
Leaving your pet with special needs with a sitter while you attend to business or leisure away from home can be a stressful experience, but it doesn’t have to be!
By trusting reputable pet sitters who have experience administering medications and caring for animals with special needs, you can rest easy knowing that your furry friend is in good hands.
The experts at Paw Pals are certified in pet CPR and can provide medication, whether tablets, injections, or even subcutaneous fluids. Contact Paw Pals to share your pet’s story and partner with a sitter you can trust while you are gone.
