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Who feeds the dog? Planning pet care before a hospital stay
A simple pet care plan takes one evening to write and saves a lot of worry if you end up in hospital unexpectedly.
One of the most common worries I hear before a planned admission has nothing to do with the procedure. It is: "Who is going to feed the dog?" For a lot of people who live alone, a pet is family, and the fear of leaving them stranded can make someone put off care they need.
In the Patient Support Network we've started nudging members to write a short pet care plan long before they need one. It takes an evening, and it means a neighbour or friend can step in without twenty phone calls.
What goes in the plan
- Two people who have agreed to help, and how they get into your home
- Feeding amounts, times and where the food is kept
- Medications, the vet's details and any allergies
- The walking routine, quirks and anything that frightens your pet
- Who can make vet decisions if you can't be reached
Keep a printed copy on the fridge and a photo of it on your phone. If you keep a hospital bag ready, put a note in there too saying who has your keys.
Members have shared lovely stories of neighbours who became regular dog walkers after a hospital stay, and a few who now swap pet-sitting with each other. If you have a plan that works, post it in the comments (with personal details removed) so others can borrow the structure.