How to write feeding instructions somebody else can follow
Good pet feeding instructions answer five things without making the caregiver guess: which food, how much, when, where it is, and which animal gets it. If there are exceptions — medication with food, separate feeding rooms, leftovers, or a pet who regularly refuses breakfast — write those too. The goal is not to explain nutrition. It is to let another person reproduce the routine you already follow.
Key takeaways
- Never write "feed as usual" for somebody who does not know what usual means.
- Name the exact food and where it is stored.
- Use a measurement another person can reproduce.
- Give each animal a separate feeding block.
- Explain only the exceptions that could cause a real mistake.
- If feeding is connected to medication, copy the veterinarian-provided instructions rather than improvising.
Start with the food itself
"The brown bag" is not a food name.
Neither is:
the usual kibble
her wet food
the food under the sink
You know exactly what those phrases mean because you see the packaging every day.
Another person may see three bags, six cans and a box of treats.
Write enough to identify the correct food.
For example:
Food: [brand/product description you actually use].
Stored: lower left kitchen cabinet.
If you switch foods, update the instructions.
A beautifully written page pointing to the bag you stopped buying six months ago is worse than a simple current note.
Make the amount reproducible
"One scoop" only works if there is one obvious scoop.
"Some wet food" is not an amount.
"A small bowl" depends on the bowl.
Use the measurement you actually use, but make sure another person can identify it.
For example:
Use the measuring cup stored inside the food container. Fill to the marked line.
Or:
Use one unopened can from the second shelf.
Or write the actual measured amount used in your established routine.
Do not use this handoff as an opportunity to invent a new diet or feeding quantity.
You are documenting the routine another person needs to reproduce.
Write the time the way a caregiver experiences it
If exact clock time matters to your routine, write it.
If it does not, do not create fake precision.
Morning: after the first walk.
may be more accurate than:
7:03 a.m.
For another household:
7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
may be exactly right.
The instruction should describe what you actually do.
If there is flexibility, say so.
For example:
Dinner is normally around 6 p.m. An hour earlier or later is part of his usual routine.
That is more useful than leaving a sitter worried that 6:07 means they made a mistake.
Separate every animal
This matters even when the animals normally eat together.
Do not write:
"Feed the cats one can each."
if one cat has a different food.
Give each animal a block.
Luna
Food:
Amount:
Time:
Bowl:
Where food is stored:
Important note:
Oscar
Food:
Amount:
Time:
Bowl:
Where food is stored:
Important note:
The repeated structure is intentional.
It makes it harder to apply Luna's instruction to Oscar.
Explain how they are fed, not just what they eat
Sometimes the mistake is not the food.
It is the setup.
One cat steals from another.
A dog eats too quickly unless you use a particular bowl.
One animal eats behind a closed door.
Another walks away and returns later.
Write the behavior only when it changes what the caregiver should do.
For example:
"Feed Luna in the kitchen and Oscar in the bedroom with the door closed. Open the door after both bowls are picked up."
That is actionable.
"Oscar is greedy."
is not.
Treats need instructions too
If treats are part of the routine, say what the normal rule is.
Otherwise, a well-meaning caregiver may use them very differently from you.
You do not need a treat spreadsheet.
A line can be enough:
"Two of the small treats after the evening walk."
or:
"Please do not add treats outside the food listed here."
Again, record your existing routine rather than creating nutritional guidance for the sitter.
If medication is tied to food, make that explicit
This is where feeding instructions and medication instructions overlap.
If your veterinarian has told you that a medication should be given with food, or provided another specific instruction, record that instruction accurately.
Do not rewrite it into something you think sounds easier.
Do not tell a caregiver to double, skip, move or otherwise change a dose because a meal did not go as expected.
Instead, provide the veterinary contact for situations the written instructions do not cover.
Doggy stores the pet information you enter, including medication information.
It does not decide what medication or feeding schedule is medically appropriate.
Write what happens when the bowl does not look normal
A caregiver does not need to diagnose your animal.
They do need to know when you want to hear from them.
For example:
"If she does not eat her normal meal, contact me. If I cannot be reached and you are concerned, use the veterinary contact below."
That is a process.
Avoid instructions that ask the sitter to decide what an appetite change medically means.
The ASPCA recommends contacting a veterinarian if a pet shows signs of illness or injury.
Your instructions should make that contact easy to find.
Tell them what to do with leftovers
This is easy to forget because you handle it automatically.
Should uneaten wet food be removed?
Does your cat normally graze?
Should bowls be washed after meals?
Where does opened food go?
If the answer affects the next feeding, write it.
For example:
"Refrigerate the opened can with the lid beside the bowls. Use it for the next meal."
Small operational details are exactly what another person cannot infer from "feed her dinner."
Put the food where the instructions say it is
Before handing the note to someone, physically check.
Is the bag still there?
Is the measuring cup there?
Are the bowls obvious?
Is the food labeled if two animals eat similar products?
If your instructions need six sentences to explain where something is hidden, moving the item may be easier than improving the prose.
A good handoff is partly writing and partly removing avoidable confusion from the home.
The feeding block we would use
For each animal, keep it this simple:
Name:
Food:
Amount:
Morning:
Evening:
Where food is:
Which bowl:
Feeding setup:
Treats:
Medication-with-food instruction from veterinarian, if applicable:
If the normal feeding does not happen:
That block can sit inside a larger set of pet sitter instructions.
Doggy can also keep the information you prepared available to the chosen contact through the guardian link without requiring them to install the app or create a password.
Frequently asked questions
What should pet feeding instructions include?
Include the exact food, amount, timing, storage location, bowl or feeding setup, and any important exceptions another caregiver needs to reproduce your normal routine.
How do I write dog feeding instructions for a sitter?
Use concrete actions rather than phrases such as "feed normally." Identify the food, measurement, meal times, location and anything about the setup that changes what the sitter needs to do.
Should I include treats?
Yes, if treats are part of the normal routine or if you specifically want the sitter to limit them. A short rule is usually enough.
What if my pet refuses food while I am away?
Tell the caregiver whom to contact rather than asking them to diagnose the reason. If you are unavailable and they are concerned, they should have your veterinarian's contact information.
Should medication instructions be included with feeding instructions?
If medication is connected to a meal, include the instructions provided by your veterinarian. Do not create or modify medical dosing instructions yourself.
The bottom line
Feeding instructions fail when they depend on knowledge that only you have.
Replace "usual" with the actual food. Replace "a scoop" with a reproducible measurement. Separate each animal. Explain the feeding setup and give the caregiver a clear next step when the routine does not go as expected.
If another person can prepare the next meal without calling you, the instructions are doing their job.
*Doggy is not a medical device and does not replace emergency services. If someone is in danger, call 911.*