Top 5 Preventive Care Resolutions Every Pet Parent Should Make in 2026
Somehow, it’s that time of year again—January, a month for new resolutions and goals for a successful and healthy year ahead. As pet parents, many of us want our fur-children to have a strong start to the new year, too.
That’s why the team at Borgfeld Animal Hospital is bringing you five ways to focus on pet health in 2026.
Ready, get set, resolution time!
Top 5 Ways to Prioritize Preventive Pet Care in 2026
1. Book your routine wellness exams now—don’t skip them
The American Animal Hospital Association recommends that every pet get a checkup at least once a year. Puppies and kittens, of course, need more frequent visits, and so do mature dogs or those with health issues.
January is an excellent time to schedule that preventive care checkup. You can add the goal of “booking my pet’s routine checkup” to your New Year’s resolutions list and then check it off as soon as you make that call.
Remember, preventive care helps your veterinary team establish a baseline for your pet’s health and spot potential problems early. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
2. Make sure your pet is current on core vaccines
Vaccines prevent some of the most pernicious diseases that can make your pets sick—or even be fatal. Think rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and the like.
Yet once your pet is out of the puppy or kitten stage, it can be easy to forget to stay up-to-date on these core vaccines.
Check the AAHA’s vaccination guidelines for cats and dogs to get a detailed look at what’s recommended. Which vaccines need a booster? Which non-core immunizations might benefit your pet?
This year, make it a point to review your pet’s vaccine schedule with your veterinarian.
3. Lock down your parasite prevention plan
Here in Texas, mosquito-borne heartworm disease is a serious risk to pets—particularly dogs, cats, and ferrets—all year long. Along with bordering states like Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, Texas is one of the top 10 states for high heartworm incidence, according to the American Heartworm Society.
Heartworm is a dangerous and potentially deadly disease. The good news is that with strict adherence to prevention strategies—including heartworm preventive medication and routine checkups—your precious pet can avoid this illness.
If it’s been a while since your pet had a heartworm preventive, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian right away. Your pet may need blood testing and a new heartworm prescription to stay healthy.
4. Start brushing your pet’s teeth every week
In a perfect world, our pets would brush their own teeth at least once a day. But alas, their paws don’t allow for this—so we must do it for them.
And yes, it’s ideal to brush your pet’s teeth every day. If this isn’t realistic, try for at least two to three times a week.
Good oral hygiene helps prevent dental diseases down the line—which saves your pet from having to deal with painful tooth conditions and saves your wallet from getting drained for a costly dental procedure.
If it’s been a while since you brushed your pet’s teeth, start it back up today. Make an appointment for a full dental exam while you’re at it, too!
5. Feed for your pet’s life stage and body condition
You just brought home your fluffy pup yesterday, right? Perhaps not. Time goes by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, our pets age and change and require updated feeding guidelines.
At your annual checkup, talk to your veterinarian about what type of food your pet should be eating. Elderly pets might need food with joint supplements, for example. Pets with certain medical conditions or allergies may need food that caters to those differences.
Your Trusted Texas Veterinarians
Ready to get started with your pet-friendly New Year’s resolutions in 2026? Our caring veterinary team at Borgfeld Animal Hospital is here to help with any New Year’s Resolution that has to do with veterinary treatment, advice, or prevention.
Call us today at (830) 313-5290 for our Borgfeld Drive location and (210) 728-3477 for our Canyon Golf location.