Check out our latest edition!
Pets First Monthly
December 2022
CHRISTMAS IS MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY Because of My Family’s Traditions
Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I enjoy spending time with my family, sharing our favorite Christmas stories, making new memories, wrapping presents, and continuing and creating traditions. But one of my favorite things at Christmas is decorating our Christmas tree. Ever since I was a little girl, I always looked forward to family time as we put ornaments on the tree. My parents would give my siblings and me a new ornament to put on the tree each year, and I always looked forward to seeing what my new decoration would be. I remember excitedly unwrapping my gift and staring at the ornament in amazement. Another
one of our traditions was an ornament exchange. My family and I would all purchase an ornament and wrap it in Christmas paper. Then, we would put our gifts on the table and take turns picking a present. As you can imagine, we had tons of ornaments on our tree every year. While taking down the tree was never as fun as setting it up, the times I spent decorating it with my family are memories I will cherish forever. One of my favorite ornaments that I still put on my Christmas tree is Rudolph. Since I got my Rudolph ornament, it has always been placed below the angel or star at the top of the tree. My brother would try to put an ornament where Rudolph always goes, but it never worked out in his favor — everyone knew that was Rudolph’s spot. My children even know that Rudolph goes below the angel on the top of our tree. I love how my Rudolph ornament holds memories of my childhood, and now, he holds memories that I have as a parent. Today, I keep the family traditions from my childhood alive with my kids. After Thanksgiving, my family and I set up our Christmas tree and pull out boxes filled with ornaments. Each child has a box to look through and pick out decorations they want to hang on the tree. We put tons of ornaments on the tree; from my baby ornaments to my first home and first year of marriage ornaments, and all the ornaments my kids made
during the school year — they all have a spot on the tree. When we dig through the boxes, we will discuss the memories and meanings behind each ornament. I’m interested to see how decorating the Christmas tree will go this year with Subway and two kittens. Subway loves to swat the ornaments off the tree and hide them — we find ornaments all year long because of it. I wonder if the two kittens will follow Subway and attack the tree. Usually, the top half of our tree is filled with ornaments while the bottom half is bare. I may even have to set up a gate to keep the kitties away from it this year! But even if our cats take a liking to the tree, it just adds to the many wonderful Christmas memories I hold dear. Traditions are important because they create lifelong memories that you and your family will cherish for years to come. I hope my children will continue the traditions my parents made that I’ve passed down to them as they get older. I hope our traditions impact them the same way they’ve impacted me. I hope you and your family have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! –Dr. Emily Saunders
www.PetersenPetHospital.com
1
SUBWAY’S Advice Alley
Hi, newsletter friends! It’s your friend Subway here, and today we are going to talk about arthritis in cats. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that inflames one or more joints in cats. While OA is common in felines 10 years old and older, here is everything you need to know about OA and how you can help your furry friends. What are the symptoms of OA? Us felines are excellent at hiding signs and symptoms of our pain — we don’t want our owners worried about us. However, the most common symptom that informs cat owners that their feline may have OA is difficulty jumping onto the bed, couch, or windowsill. Other signs include walking stiffly, lameness in one or more legs, difficulty getting in and out of the litter box, stiff or swollen joints, and unexpected aggression towards other cats or humans. How can you make your cat more comfortable? While there isn’t a cure for OA, there are some things you can do to ensure your feline continues to live happy lives. The first thing you can do is implement non-skid flooring to provide more texture and reduce the risk of slips and falls. You can also invest in ramps that attach to your bed and couches, so your cats can quickly get on and off your furniture. Perhaps getting a litter box they don’t have to climb into or one with a ramp will make using the bathroom easier. Are there any treatments? Yes! You can look into laser therapy and pain medications to help ease the stress and pain your cat’s joints feel. However, a new treatment that has
Bright Eyes and Bushy Tail!
Norah is a beautiful, black, long-haired, 5-year-old German shepherd that is extremely sweet. Norah came in to see Dr. Eike with very red eyes and she was having difficulty seeing. From first glance, Dr. Eike suspected what Norah’s
topical immunosuppressants. Pannus makes eyes sensitive to sunlight and doggles (dog goggles) may be warranted to protect the eyes from ultraviolet light. Some cases require surgery to remove pink scar tissue from the corneas. If left untreated, Norah could have become completely blind.
issue could be due to breed, age, and characteristics of the eyes.
Initial treatment for Norah involved topical steroid eye drops given four times daily for two weeks. To be honest,
Festive Holiday Dog Cookies
Several tests were performed on Norah’s eyes to distinguish what eye conditions were present and the cause of this problem. Eye pressures were checked to rule out glaucoma and fluorescein staining of both eyes was performed for the presence of eye ulcers. A Schirmer tear test determined adequate tear production. All tests were negative and normal. Dr. Eike diagnosed Norah with pannus. Pannus is a chronic superficial immune- mediated condition affecting both corneas (the clear part of the eye). It most commonly occurs in middle-aged German shepherds, but it can occur in other breeds as well and is thought to be hereditary. Treatment is topical steroids for the eyes and is for life, as treatment only slows the progression of pannus. Sometimes, dogs with pannus need additional eye medications that are
Dr. Eike was very concerned and
skeptical that we could clear this up with just the use of topical steroid drops. But at the 10-day recheck, in comes Norah, trotting and bouncing through the doorway like the princess she is with her bright eyes and bushy tail. She looked amazing! She could see again, and her eyes cleared up beautifully. In Norah’s case, her treatment protocol will consist of topical steroid drops given twice daily for two weeks, then once daily for two weeks. Sometimes, it can be discontinued but flare-ups can occur. We will likely continue with once-a-day dosing for Norah. In most cases, it is a lifelong disease and requires therapy. Norah will continue to see Dr. Eike to ensure she stays healthy and happy for the rest of her doggie days.
Inspired by Rover.com
2
Contact us! 319-743-0554
recently been released called Solensia can help your cat with their pain. The drug functions like naturally produced antibodies and can help relieve the pain of OA. You will see your feline more active after using the pain reliever. This treatment option lasts only one month, so you will have to return to the office to receive more doses of Solensia. If your furry friend is showing signs of OA, and you want more information about making your cat more comfortable and available treatment options, visit your friends at Petersen Pet Hospital. We will be happy to provide you with more information about OA and help your kitty continue to live a long and happy life. Let’s Talk About Osteoarthritis
How the Grinch Stole Our Hearts Behind the Timeless Christmas Tale As regularly as Rudolph does, the Grinch appears on our television screens every December. Despite his negative attitude and nefarious intentions, the protagonist of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” remains a family favorite more than 50 years after the animated TV special first aired. The Grinch’s transformation into a cultural icon began with a 1957 children’s book. Author Dr. Seuss had recently experienced great success with “The Cat in the Hat” and was a hot commodity. He published “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” later that same year, and the black-and-white book was an instant smash. The story might have ended there if Dr. Seuss had his way.
Dr. Seuss was protective of his creations and didn’t trust them in anyone else’s hands, but his filmmaker friend, Chuck Jones, eventually persuaded him to reconsider. Still, the story required some changes. Jones assigned the Grinch his signature green color, and the Grinch’s dog, Max, was given a more prominent role to increase the special’s runtime. But the songs were the most important of all. The TV special contains nine total musical numbers, the most famous featuring lyrics only Dr. Seuss could have written. “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” is a hilariously clever song and a highlight of the program. The filmmakers also secured a big win in the voice talents of horror movie legend Boris Karloff, who provided an alternatingly sneering and tender tone to the production.
Spoil your dog for the holidays with these applesauce and oatmeal cookies! And don’t forget to include these with the cookie exchange for your friends to share with their favorite K9!
INGREDIENTS •
2 cups whole-wheat flour
•
1 cup unsweetened applesauce 1 tbsp vanilla extract Natural food coloring
• • •
2 cups oat flour
2 eggs
• •
Thanks to its full animation technique featuring 25,000 drawings, Variety says “The Grinch” may have been the most expensive television special made until that time. Later, Hollywood upped the ante with a live-action adaptation in 2000 and an animated full-length film in 2018. Both movies were box office successes, but neither has overtaken the 26-minute TV special as our favorite way to enjoy the Grinch. Why does the Grinch endure? Dr. Seuss based the character on himself, so it may be that there’s a little bit of the Grinch in all of us. Unlike that other well-known holiday-hater Ebenezer Scrooge, he gives those who aren’t full of Christmas cheer a favorable mascot. The Grinch’s wild schemes and comical complaints are more fun than menacing, and his story produces a reliably happy ending. As its greatest gift, an annual viewing can leave even the most hardened Grinch feeling as if their own heart has grown a size or two.
2 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Use a food processor, electric mixer, or spoon to combine all ingredients and mix until a dough is formed. Add more flour if dough is too sticky. 4. Separate dough into several large balls. 5. Add natural food coloring to dough balls and knead with your hands. 6. Flour a work surface and roll each ball flat to about 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut into shapes. Place cookies on the baking sheet. 7. Bake for 20 minutes. 8. Allow cookies to cool, then serve to your pup!
3
www.PetersenPetHospital.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1031 Kacena Road Hiawatha, IA 52233 www.PetersenPetHospital.com 319-743-0554
Mon–Fri: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. (Closed Fridays from 12:30–2:10 p.m. for team meetings) Sat: 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Sun: Closed
Inside This Issue
1
My Rudolph Ornament Is Always on Top
PRIMARY
2
BLACK Norah’s Eye Treatment Subway’s Advice Alley 50% BLACK
PMS4655
3
Festive Holiday Dog Cookies You’re a Mainstay, Mr. Grinch
SECONDARY
4
These Bugs Love Takeout Containers
PMS258
PMS292
PMS5635
PMS1215
THESE ‘SUPERWORMS’ COULD SAVE OUR PLANET Meet the Bugs With a Taste for Plastic
Hundreds of years after you die and decompose, the Styrofoam takeout containers you used for last night’s Thai food will still linger in the landfill. Scientists estimate it takes thousands of years for Styrofoam (aka polystyrene) to break down when buried under other trash. Even in direct sunlight, the process takes decades! This is a huge pollution problem — but a tiny bug may be able to solve it. On the other side of the globe, at the University of Queensland in Australia, researchers are keeping a tank full of pets that may save us all from our plastic waste: Zophobas morio, aka the “giant mealworm” or “superworm.”
of the superworm experiment at the University of Queensland, told Science Daily. “The breakdown products from this reaction can then be used by other microbes to create high-value compounds such as bioplastics.” Not only did the worms in the Queensland study eat the Styrofoam, but they actually gained weight from a healthy diet of takeout containers. Their ability to digest plastic is likely thanks to the gut bacteria Dr. Rinke mentioned. If we can grow and control these bacteria, we may be able to set it loose in landfills and turn our trash into something more useful. Superworms haven’t saved us yet — in fact, we usually use the 2-inch brown bugs as food for pet lizards and birds — but it’s about time we put their true potential to work. Fortunately, scientists like Dr. Rinke are on the case.
In the wild, superworms are scavengers that will munch on anything from animals to apples. But in captivity, researchers have found another food they love: Styrofoam. “Superworms are like mini recycling plants, shredding the polystyrene with their mouths and then feeding it to the bacteria in their gut,” Dr. Chris Rinke, the leader
“Our team is very excited to push the science to make it happen,” he said.
To see the superworms in action, head to YouTube.com and search “superworm plastic.”
Contact us! 319-743-0554
4
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator