Delightful Pet Menagerie Newsletter – January Edition 🗞️

Greetings and Happy New Year! Welcome to the January edition of Dr. Pet Mom’s Delightful Pet Menagerie (DPM) NewsletterPet. A new year is a great time to plan ahead for your pet. Learn all about pet planning for 2026. Enjoy!

What is Pet Planning?

As the new year begins, let’s look at a great tool for any responsible pet parenting: pet planning. This tool gives you more ways for your pet’s quality of life and long-term security.

One source described a pet plan as a safety net for your pet. A pet plan also gives you peace of mind, knowing that any pet family member will always be protected and cared for.

And peace of mind is extra important for senior pet parents, who may need long-term decisions for their furry family members.

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Sample Pet Plan

A basic pet plan should cover pet emergencies, your pet first aid kit, estate planning and other life events. Here’s a detailed sample of a pet plan:

Basic Pet Information:

• Pet’s name, breed, age, and gender.
• Microchip ID number (if available).
• Physical description and identifying features.
• Veterinarian contact information.

Daily Pet Care Instructions:

• Favorite toys, habits, routines, and personality quirks.
• Exercise, training, and playtime routines.
• Feeding schedule and any dietary restrictions.
• Medication schedules (if needed).
• Bedtime or crate habits.
• Interactions with other pets or people.

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Pet’s Medical Records and History:

• Vaccination history, allergies.
• Any surgeries or medical conditions.
• Current medication and dosages.
• Pet insurance policy information.
• Keep a hard copy and digital copy for easy access in an emergency. And drop a copy in your pet first aid kit.

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Short-term and Emergency Care Plan:

• Contact info for the person who will take care of your pet if something happens to you. Identify a family member, trusted friend, or neighbor who will care for your pet for 24 to 72 hours.
• The contact person will have access to your home, know where your pet supplies are, and has basic information on how to care for your pet.
• This person should provide transport for your pet if needed.
• Keep this person’s contact info in your pet plan, with a hard copy in easy access in your home and pet first aid kit.

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Long-term Pet Guardian Designation

• If you need a permanent solution for your pet’s care, think about a “pet guardian” who will give your pet a safe and loving home.
• Find someone who understands your expectations, and is emotionally and financially able to care for your pet.
• Write out a clear plan of your pet care expectations (including a back-up pet guardian) and ensure that the pet guardian agrees to their responsibilities in advance.
• If you have multiple pets, make an individual plan for each animal. Designate which pets can stay together or which ones need separate care arrangements.
• Designate which pet can live with which pet guardian. Be clear about each pet’s needs and make sure each pet guardian understands and is committed to the needs of each animal.

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Estate planning: Pet Trust or Will:

• A Pet Trust is a thoughtful plan for your pet’s financial future. This estate planning tool gives instructions for your pet’s care, names your pet’s guardian, and you can leave money for your pet’s care. A pet trust is a legal obligation to care for your pet. This estate planning tool helps your pet guardian with financial support.
• For example, a pet trust can cover emergency and routine vet care, food and grooming expenses, pet insurance premiums and end-of-life pet care. Pet trusts are recognized in all 50 states in the U.S. A pet trust ensures that your pet will be cared for according to your wishes.
• A Pet Will does not allow you to leave money or property to your pet. A Will is only in effect after you die and the remainder of your estate goes to the person you named in your Will . Your pet does not get your money or property.
• If you don’t have a Will , the state takes control of your pet’s life and your assets.
• A Pet Fund is a pet-specific savings account that identifies your pet guardian as the joint account holder. The person can access funds immediately without waiting for probate.

You can find a sample pet planning packet from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). And here’s a different sample packet.

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Closing Thoughts…Best 2026 Pet Care Tidbits

Let’s close with the best pet care tidbits for the year.

While you’re thinking about a pet planning project, start recording your pet’s history of annual exams, health conditions, blood work, and dental cleaning visits.

Preventive veterinary care keeps an eye on your pet’s weight, and lowers the risk of chronic diseases (asthma, arthritis, and diabetes).

For dogs:

• Simple training commands, search for hidden treats, fetch or regular play sessions improve your dog’s physical and mental health.
• Reward every good thing your dog does to keep them happy and show your love.
• Practice at-home dental care (daily brushing with a dog-specific toothbrush and toothpaste) to slow down tartar and gingivitis problems.

For cats:

• Weigh your cat regularly to see if your kitty is losing or gaining weight. Weight changes are very subtle and hard to see unless you weigh your pet weekly.
• Add clicker training to your kitty’s play time. The clicker is a fun way to teach new tricks, (sit or stand, ring a bell, give a high-five).
• Offer a variety of vertical and horizontal scratching posts to engage your cat’s natural scratching behavior. Scratching is key to your kitty’s claw health and stress relief.

 For horses:

• Schedule regular oral exams for healthy teeth for your horse. Regular check ups can detect early signs of dental disease, loose or fractured teeth, and painful ulcers known as teeth floating.
• Dental care helps your horse chew efficiently, very important to lower their risk of colic.
• Keep your horse’s vaccinations up to date based on your horse’s age, lifestyle and exposure risk. And regular blood work gives you a snapshot of your pet’s organs and screening for horses older than 15 years for Cushing’s disease.

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Thanks for stopping by!
Dr. Pet Mom

“My sunshine doesn’t come from the sky. It comes from the love in my dog’s eyes.”
~~ Unknown