The new year brings fresh opportunities to keep your pet healthy and happy. Whether you’re caring for a puppy, a senior dog, friendly feline, or anywhere in between, having a solid 2026 pet wellness plan makes all the difference.
Let’s break down what every Oklahoma pet owner should consider for their pet’s best year yet.
Start With the Foundation: Annual Wellness Exams
Every pet needs at least one comprehensive wellness exam per year. Puppies and kittens need visits every 3-4 weeks during their first few months for vaccinations. Senior pets (around 7 years for dogs, 10 for cats) often benefit from twice-yearly checkups at a minimum. Keep in mind that every pet is different, therefore, your vet may recommend additional visits based on need.
These visits aren’t just about shots. Your veterinarian examines everything from teeth and ears to heart, joints, blood, and overall body condition. Wellness exams catch issues early, before your pet shows obvious symptoms, which often means simpler, more affordable treatment.
When you’re planning your 2026 pet wellness calendar, be sure to mark those wellness exam dates now. Life gets busy, and it’s easy to let months slip by. At Wedgewood Pet Clinic in Oklahoma City, we’ve seen how much easier it is for families to stay on track when appointments are already scheduled and locked in on their calendars.
Vaccinations and Year-Round Prevention
Oklahoma’s mild winters don’t kill off fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes like northern states experience. That means year-round prevention is essential here.
Plan for core vaccinations based on your pet’s age and lifestyle. Rabies is required annually by law in Oklahoma. Other vaccines like DHPP for dogs or FVRCP for cats protect against serious diseases.
Parasite prevention should run every single month, yes, even in January and February. Heartworm disease is a real threat in our local area, transmitted by mosquitoes that stick around longer than you’d expect. Flea and tick prevention protects your pet and keeps these pests out of your home.
Set up phone reminders for monthly preventatives or better yet, prescribe through autoship from our pharmacy to ensure your pet receives monthly preventatives on time without missing a dose.
New Pets: Setting Them Up for 2026 pet wellness Success
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten in 2026? Those first few months establish patterns that last a lifetime.
New pets need a series of vaccinations starting at 6-8 weeks, with visits every 3-4 weeks until they’re about 16-20 weeks old. You’re looking at roughly four visits in those first few months. We typically recommend spaying or neutering around 6 months, but talk to our Wedgewood veterinarians about the best timing for your pet’s breed and needs.
Beyond medical care, early socialization prevents behavior problems later. Consider puppy classes, which help your dog learn how to interact appropriately with other dogs and people. For cats, spend those early weeks creating positive experiences with carriers and car rides to make future vet visits easier.
Adopting an adult pet? Schedule that first wellness exam right away to establish a baseline for their health and address any gaps in their care history.
Senior Pets Need Extra Planning
Once your pet hits their senior years, their healthcare needs shift. Proactive planning catches problems when they’re most manageable.
Plan for at least one annual senior wellness exam, though twice-yearly visits are encouraged. Put these appointments on your 2026 calendar now. Our Wedgewood veterinarians can help you decide what frequency works best for your pet’s age, breed, and health status.
During senior wellness visits, we check bloodwork and organ function even if your pet seems perfectly healthy. Cats are masters at hiding illness, and dogs often don’t show pain the way we expect. Lab results reveal what’s happening beneath the surface.
Budget for potential diagnostics and consider environmental adjustments at home like orthopedic beds, non-slip rugs, and mental enrichment activities through food puzzles and gentle play.
2026 Pet Wellness Plan includes Dental Care
Most pets over three years old have some degree of dental disease. It’s one of the most common health issues we see in Oklahoma City and one of the most preventable.
Daily brushing is the gold standard. If your pet isn’t used to it yet, January is a great time to start. Use pet-specific toothpaste, never human toothpaste, which contains ingredients toxic to pets.
At your pet’s annual exam, your veterinarian will evaluate their dental health and let you know if professional cleaning is recommended. Dental disease doesn’t just cause bad breath, bacteria from infected gums enters the bloodstream and can affect your pet’s heart, liver, and kidneys too. Painful teeth make eating uncomfortable and can change your pet’s behavior. Be sure to prioritize dental care, exams, and treatments.
Weight Management That Actually Works
More than half of pets in the United States are overweight or obese, and those extra pounds significantly impact their health and lifespan.
Oklahoma’s hot summers make exercise challenging during peak heat, and our unpredictable weather disrupts walking routines. Building year-round activity into your pet’s lifestyle takes planning but pays off tremendously.
Start 2026 with an honest assessment. At a healthy weight, you should be able to feel your pet’s ribs easily without pressing hard, and they should have a visible waist when viewed from above. Check out this video where Dr. Carey Bachman explains the ins and outs of evaluating your pet’s body condition. When in doubt, the Wedgewood team can evaluate your pet for you and help you set realistic goals for your pet.
Your approach to help your pet with an ideal weight should include measured meals instead of free feeding, limited treats (no more than 10% of daily calories), and daily exercise adapted to your pet’s abilities. Even 15 minutes of activity makes a difference. On extreme weather days, plan indoor play sessions to keep pets moving.
Your 2026 Pet Wellness Action Plan
This week: Schedule your 2026 pet’s wellness exam if they’re due. Call Wedgewood Pet Clinic to get on the calendar.
This month: Take inventory of preventatives and vaccines. Make sure you have enough flea, tick, and heartworm prevention on hand and confirm when your pet is due for updates, including that annual rabies requirement.
This quarter: Set one specific health goal, whether that’s weight management, starting daily tooth brushing, or addressing a behavior concern.
Throughout the year: Set monthly reminders for preventatives, mark all wellness exams on your calendar, and check in quarterly on your progress.
Your pet depends on you for every aspect of their care. They can’t schedule their own appointments or tell you when something doesn’t feel right. Creating a solid 2026 pet wellness plan means you’re prepared to give them the healthy, happy life they deserve.
Ready to get started? Call Wedgewood Pet Clinic in Oklahoma City at 405-848-3329 to schedule your pet’s 2026 wellness exam.