How to make a pet emergency contact sheet
By The Pet Care Card teamUpdated 4 min read
Short answer
A pet emergency contact sheet needs the owner's number, a backup decision-maker, the regular vet's name, phone and address, the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital, the pet's known conditions and medications, and written authorisation for treatment up to a stated amount. Keep it to one page and post it where a caregiver can see it.
Emergency information is only useful if it can be read by a stressed person in ten seconds. That means one page, big type, and no searching.
People
- Owner name and mobile number
- Second contact who can make decisions if you cannot be reached
- Neighbour or key holder
Veterinary care
- Regular clinic: name, phone, full address, opening hours
- Nearest 24-hour emergency hospital: name, phone, address
- Pet insurance provider and policy number, if you have one
- Microchip number and registry
Medical context
List diagnosed conditions, current prescribed medications, known allergies and past reactions, exactly as your vet has recorded them. This is context for the clinic, not instructions to act on.
Written authorisation
Add a line such as: "I authorise [caregiver name] to seek veterinary treatment for [pet name] and approve costs up to [amount]." Sign and date it, and give your clinic a copy before you travel.
Where to keep it
- Printed on the fridge or by the front door
- On the caregiver's phone as a shared link
- A QR code near the pet's food, so anyone in the home can open it
Frequently asked questions
- What information does an emergency vet ask for first?
- Your pet's species, breed, approximate age and weight, what happened and when, and any medications or known conditions. Having those written down saves several minutes at intake.
- Should I include a spending limit?
- Yes. A stated limit lets a clinic begin stabilising care immediately instead of waiting for you, and it protects the caregiver from making a financial decision on your behalf.