You remember breakfast. You remember walks. And there's absolutely no chance your pet is going to let you forget dinner.
But what about washing their food bowl? Checking their nails? Looking inside their ears?
Some of the easiest pet care jobs to forget are also the ones that can make a real difference to your pet's everyday health and comfort. They're rarely urgent enough to demand your attention, so weeks (or sometimes months) can quietly pass before you remember them.
How many of these are on your radar?
When Did You Last Wash Their Food and Water Bowls?
Giving the water bowl a quick refill isn't quite the same as giving it a proper clean.
Food residue, saliva and moisture can build up in pet bowls, creating an environment where bacteria can grow. Water bowls can also develop that slippery film you may have noticed around the inside.
Wash food bowls after meals where practical and clean water bowls regularly with hot, soapy water, rinsing them thoroughly before refilling.
And yes, the water fountain needs cleaning too. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and remember to replace filters when required.
Have You Checked Their Teeth Lately?
Dental care is incredibly easy to ignore when your pet is eating normally and doesn't appear uncomfortable.
Take a quick look at your pet's teeth and gums regularly. Bad breath, visible tartar, red or swollen gums, difficulty chewing, dropping food or suddenly avoiding harder foods can indicate that something needs attention.
Regular tooth brushing with pet-safe toothpaste is one of the best habits you can establish. Dental chews and other appropriate dental products can also form part of an overall dental care routine.
Never use human toothpaste on pets.
When Did You Last Look Inside Their Ears?
You probably look at your pet's adorable face every day. Their ears? Maybe not quite as often.
Every so often, gently lift the ear flap and take a look. Healthy ears shouldn't have excessive discharge, strong odours, significant redness or swelling.
Dogs with floppy ears or pets prone to ear problems may need particularly close monitoring.
If your pet is suddenly shaking their head, scratching at their ears or seems uncomfortable when you touch the area, don't simply clean the ear and hope for the best. A veterinarian can determine what's causing the irritation.
Are Their Nails Getting a Little Too Long?
Nails grow gradually, which makes it surprisingly easy not to notice they've become too long.
Overgrown nails can affect how comfortably your pet walks and may be more likely to snag or break. Don't forget the dewclaws either. Because they may not contact the ground, they often don't wear down naturally.
How frequently nails need trimming varies between pets depending on their activity, environment and individual nail growth.
If you're not confident trimming them yourself, a veterinarian or professional groomer can help.
Have You Washed Their Bedding Recently?
Think about everything your pet brings back to their bed after a normal day: loose hair, dirt, saliva, pollen and whatever they managed to roll in outside.
Regularly washing blankets, removable bed covers and other washable fabrics helps keep their sleeping environment cleaner and fresher.
This is particularly useful in multi-pet households, during flea problems or for pets that spend plenty of time outdoors.
While you're there, wash their favourite soft toys too if the care instructions allow it. That toy they've been carrying around for six months has probably seen some things.
When Did You Last Clean Their Collar, Harness and Leash?
This one is very easy to forget.
Collars and harnesses regularly come into contact with your pet's skin and fur while also collecting sweat, dirt, mud and water from everyday adventures.
Check them periodically for grime, unpleasant smells, fraying or damaged hardware, and clean them according to the manufacturer's instructions.
It's also a good opportunity to check the fit. Weight changes and coat growth can mean something that once fitted perfectly is now too tight or loose.
Is Their Parasite Prevention Actually Up to Date?
You know your pet needs parasite protection. The harder part can be remembering exactly when you last gave it.
Missing or delaying a scheduled flea, tick, heartworm or worm treatment may leave gaps in protection, depending on the product you're using.
Check the packaging of your pet's preventative to confirm how frequently it should be administered and which parasites it covers. Setting a recurring reminder on your phone can make staying on schedule much easier.
If you have multiple pets, remember that each animal may have different requirements based on their species, age, weight, lifestyle and location.
Have You Checked Their Skin and Coat Properly?
Petting your dog or cat gives you the perfect opportunity to do a quick body check.
Run your hands gently over their body and pay attention to anything unusual, such as new lumps, bumps, scabs, irritated skin, bald patches or areas that seem sensitive.
Part the fur occasionally so you can actually see the skin underneath, particularly on pets with thick or long coats.
You're not trying to diagnose anything yourself. You're simply getting familiar with what's normal for your pet so you're more likely to notice when something changes.
When Did You Last Check Their ID Details?
Your pet's ID tag might still have the phone number you used three years ago.
Check that tags are readable and contain current contact information. It's also worth making sure your pet's microchip registration details are current, particularly after moving house or changing phone numbers.
Hopefully you'll never need them, but accurate identification can make an enormous difference if your pet ever goes missing.
Don't Try to Remember Everything
If you've reached this point and realised you've forgotten three or four of these, you're probably not alone.
Instead of relying on memory, turn recurring pet care into a routine. You could set reminders for parasite treatments, choose one day each week to check bowls and bedding, and give your pet a quick nose-to-tail check while you're already cuddling or grooming them.
A few minutes here and there is much easier than trying to remember everything at once.
Summary
Some of the most useful pet care habits are also incredibly easy to forget. Cleaning bowls and bedding, checking teeth, ears, nails and skin, updating identification details and keeping parasite prevention on schedule can all become part of a simple routine.
So, how many had you forgotten?
