Why Every Pet Parent Needs a Health Baseline

Lauren Anders Brown
6 days ago
3 min read

Lauren and her dog (Peru) waiting outside the airport ready to travel

A Different Kind of Reset

January is for fresh starts — but for our pets, wellness doesn’t start with change. It starts with awareness.

Every January, we talk about resets: new routines, better habits, a healthier year ahead. For our pets, though, the most powerful reset isn’t switching food overnight or waiting for the next annual vet visit. It’s understanding what normal actually looks like for your pet — before something feels off.

In 2026, proactive pet care isn’t about reacting to illness. It’s about building a health baseline that gives you clarity, confidence, and peace of mind all year long.

“Normal” Is Your Pet’s Most Important Health Data

Most pet parents track health once something goes wrong. But by then, you’re already behind.

A health baseline is simply a clear picture of your pet’s usual:

Energy levels
Appetite and thirst
Digestion and stool patterns
Sleep and rest
Stress signals and behavior

When you know what’s normal, even the smallest change stands out — and early awareness often makes all the difference.

I was originally interested in trying the Maven Pet Health Tracker to track changes during travel — especially heart rate and breathing. Our pets can't tell us how they're feeling, but with Maven, I can see how my dog is managing before, during, and after each trip.

The Subtle Signs We Often Miss

Pets don’t raise their paws and tell us something’s wrong. The signs are quiet and easy to overlook.

Pet parents often miss:

Slight drops in energy
Changes in stool or digestion that seem “temporary”
Increased licking, pacing, or restlessness
Eating a bit slower… or skipping meals occasionally
Stress behaviors during routine changes

Individually, these don’t feel alarming. But when you can see them over time, patterns emerge and patterns tell stories. This is where consistent tracking becomes more powerful than memory.

My Experience Using the Maven Pet Health Tracker

When I first started using the Maven Pet Health Tracker, I didn’t do it because something was wrong. I did it because I wanted to understand my pet better.

Tracking daily habits helped me:

Spot patterns I never noticed before
Feel calmer when something seemed “off”
Know when to monitor vs. when to act
Walk into vet conversations feeling prepared

It didn’t create anxiety — it reduced it.

I tried and still use Maven to track while traveling, but I also love scrolling the app when we’re not traveling and I’m just out for the day or I’m on a trip and my dog isn’t with me. I can get real data that’s in an easy and enjoyable format that reassures me when we’re together and especially when we’re apart.

Why Tracking Matters Even More During Travel & Life Changes

Travel, schedule shifts, moves, new family members — pets feel these changes deeply.

When you travel with your pet:

You can distinguish travel stress from real health issues
You have data to share quickly if something feels off

When your pet stays home:

You know what behaviors are normal vs. concerning
Caregivers can reference real baseline information

A health baseline turns uncertainty into informed decision-making — especially during transitions.

Where PadsPass Fits Into the Bigger Picture

Wellness works best when tools work together.

PadsPass Digital Pet Passport
The secure home for verified medical records, vaccines, and travel documents.
Maven Pet Health Tracker
The daily companion that captures the living, breathing picture of your pet’s health.

One stores what’s official. The other tracks what’s happening every day.

Together, they help pet parents move from reactive care to confident, informed care.