Petersen Pet Hospital - September 2020

Monthly Pets First

September 2020

A Real Farmer’s Breakfast ADVENTURES ON MY GRANDPARENTS’ FARMS

“Even though they put me to work, it was like a vacation every time we went to the farms.”

I owe a lot to my grandparents. I grew up with two very good sets of

grandparents, and they were all farmers. My sisters and I spent much of

our childhoods on the farms, taking care of cattle, hogs, chickens,

back to the house, where my grandma had a farmer’s lunch waiting with hamburgers, vegetables, and pasta salad. We worked hard, but we ate well, too.

and many other animals. My maternal grandfather, Bedford, loved animals. He raised all the farm animals himself, including turkeys, ducks, guineafowl, cats, dogs, and pigeons. Somehow, my grandfather bred pigeons that were perfectly white. Grandpa Bedford also had a horse named Sugar. She was the first horse I ever rode and the sweetest horse I’ve ever met.

One of the really adventurous chores I got to help with was weaning piglets from sows. When the mother pigs gave birth, they did so in a farrowing pen. These looked like big dog houses where the sows could come and go during the day. That’s where the piglets were kept and where the sow slept and nursed. When the piglets were old enough, we’d go out there, put the piglets into a wagon, and bring them to a different field where they would grow up; this way, the sow could rest and recover from giving birth so she could be bred again. It sounds simple, but the trouble was that piglets tend to squeal when you pick them up, and when a piglet squeals, the sow gets upset and starts barking, kind of like a dog. Sometimes, we’d have a 400-pound sow chasing after us, trying to nip us as we put the piglets into the wagon. It could be pretty scary, but it was also exciting. The important thing is that I never got trampled by an angry sow. Sunday, Sept. 13 is National Grandparents Day, so I’ve found myself reflecting on these fond memories. I loved visiting my grandparents. Even though they put me to work, it was like a vacation every time we went to the farms. All of my grandparents have since passed away, and that farmland doesn’t look anything like it did when I was a kid, but I still have really good memories from that time. Even as an adult, I loved the time I spent with them. My grandparents were all really great people, and I’m glad they were part of my life.

It’s no surprise that spending time on my grandparents’ farms is what sparked my interest in veterinary medicine. Hanging out on the farms and learning how to take care of animals really influenced me. Beyond inspiring my future career, I just really liked visiting my grandparents. Every morning, I would wake up and come downstairs to find my grandmother already in the kitchen making a real farmer’s breakfast. We’d have pancakes, bacon, eggs, even cinnamon rolls. After breakfast, I’d go out with my grandfather and uncles to do chores on the farm. We’d take care of animals, tend to the crops, pull weeds, and really work our tails off. In the afternoon, we’d head

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DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS, OR ANGRY? TRY LISTENING TO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL! , I , I I TO ROCK ‘N’ !

Border Collie Corner 3 SIGNS OF ALLERGIES THAT DOG OWNERS MISS

A-choo!

Excuse me! I got something in my nose.

Don’t worry, I don’t have allergies, which is fortunate because fall is a major allergy season for dogs. Dogs can suffer from allergy symptoms any time there’s pollen in the air, but the plants that pollinate in the fall tend to irritate dogs more than pollen from the rest of the year. While allergies may cause humans to have a runny nose or itchy eyes, allergy symptoms look very different in dogs.

For the most part, allergies cause skin irritation in dogs, which leads to excessive itching. Here are some signs that dog owners should look out for:

The Power of Music to Shift Your Mood

Itchy ears cause dogs to scratch their ears or shake their heads excessively. Itchy feet cause dogs to compulsively lick or chew on their feet.

2020 has been a difficult year. If you’re feeling frustrated, angry, or depressed right now, you’re not alone! All over the world, people have been trying different strategies to cope with their feelings, including yoga, meditation, exercise, binge-watching their favorite TV shows, and even baking banana bread. But perhaps the most universal outlet and cure for pent-up emotions is music. Do you remember the clip that went viral in March of Italians in quarantine, singing together from their balconies? If you do, that’s probably because it made you smile. TIME heralded it as proof that “the country’s spirits are still strong,” and it’s just one small example of howmusic uplifts people. This isn’t just an anecdotal effect, either. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, music can help us process emotions and fight mental health conditions like anxiety, dysregulation, depression, trauma, sleep disorders, schizophrenia, and more. So, how can you take advantage of music’s power to turn your mood around? One option is to create music of your own, but another is simply to listen. When it comes to flipping a bad mood on its head, a survey conducted by the Family Center for Recovery (FCR) suggests that rock is the genre of choice. “During any given year, depression affects approximately 5%–8% of Americans,” FCR reports. “According to our survey participants, the vast majority — around 89%— turn to music in order to feel better. The top genre for depressed listeners is rock, followed closely by alternative, pop, and hip-hop/rap.”

An itchy butt may cause dogs to drag their rear on the ground.

DIY Dog-Friendly Doughnuts

Want to showyour dog that they’re a very good boy or girl? Try this recipe for a tasty treat your dog will go nuts for!

Inspired by SunnyDayFamily.com

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the blues came in last on the list.

To put the power of music to work, create playlists for each mood that you want to turn around, like “Anger,”“Frustration,”“Sadness,”“Anxiety,”or “Grief,” and fill themwith songs from genres associated with fighting that feeling. According to FCR, rock is the most popular antidote to sadness and anxiety, and it’s also high on the list for anger, along with pop and country. Frustrated people opt for variations of rock, pop, punk, and heavy metal, and those stricken by grief turn to soft rock or soul. The artists are up to you, so fill up your lists, press play, and let the music do its work.

What Does a Veterinarian Plant in Her Garden? Checking in With Dr. Emily Saunders

My family usually spends the summer traveling and visiting our relatives. Unsurprisingly, we didn’t do much traveling this summer. Instead, we were hunkered down at home, which meant that we needed to embrace some new hobbies. I decided to try something that, historically, I have been terrible at: gardening.

I have tried to plant my own garden many times in the past, and it has always ended with more weeds than produce. This year, our

garden has been doing a lot better! I credit this to the fact that we’ve been home more than we usually are, so I’ve been able to give the plants plenty of attention. My husband is a dairy farmer; since we live on acreage, I have plenty of land to work with. This year, we

If you notice your dog exhibiting any of these behaviors this fall, think about their allergies first and ask your veterinarian how you can help. The good news is that there are a lot of allergy treatments available, including topical sprays and ointments that address itchiness, supplements, and oral medications. There are even shots that can help your dog deal with allergies for months at a time! If you’re looking for a quick, at-home solution, try bathing your dog with veterinarian-approved shampoo. This can help remove pollen that has accumulated on your dog’s coat and skin and alleviate allergy symptoms. Fall and allergies go hand-in-paw. Though our symptoms look different, allergies are just as uncomfortable for us dogs as they are for humans. Keep an eye out for allergy symptoms in your dog so you can help themget allergy relief right away. –Sam INGREDIENTS

planted tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, and onions. Everything has grown really well, but my favorite is our pumpkins — which will be super fun this

Halloween. A couple years ago, we had success growing pumpkins, but we haven’t been able to grow them again until now. It’s great to see our garden finally thriving. These endeavors have kept us entertained, and the kiddos have enjoyed having something different to do while being cooped up at home. It’s wonderful to see what you can grow from just a tiny seed. We’re going to be in full harvest mode soon! I love growing vegetables a

For doughnuts • 1 cup flour • 1 cup oats •

For topping •

Greek yogurt

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Bacon bits

lot more than I like eating them. Fortunately, we have plans to can some of the produce or make salsa! This will be my first time canning, and I’m looking forward to it! After trying to grow a garden for so long, it’s really satisfying to see it finally bloom. It’s a real lesson in perseverance. If you’ve been trying to start a new hobby — be it gardening, painting, or anything else — I encourage you to keep at it. There might be years where

1/3 cup coconut oil

Special equipment • Doughnut pan

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1/2 cup xylitol-free peanut butter

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2 eggs

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly spray doughnut pan with cooking spray and set aside. 2. In a large bowl, combine all doughnut ingredients and mix well. 3. Transfer dough to doughnut pan. Use your hands to tightly pack eachmold. 4. Bake doughnuts for 14 minutes. Carefully remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. 5. To decorate your doughnut treats, place Greek yogurt in a small, wide bowl. Dip each doughnut in yogurt and sprinkle with bacon bits. 6. Place decorated doughnuts in the freezer for 10 minutes for the yogurt to harden. Serve straight from the freezer to your hungry dogs.

you don’t see progress, but once your garden starts to grow, you realize that the effort was well worth it in the end.

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Inside This Issue

Adventures on My Grandparents’ Farms

PRIMARY

The Best Genre of Music to Combat Depression

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Don’t Let Your Dog Suffer From Fall Allergies

When You Give a Dog a Doughnut

SECONDARY

How Does Dr. Saunders’ Garden Grow?

Dogs in Ancient Legend

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Good Boys of Antiquity

Dogs in Ancient Legend

YUDHISHTHIRA’S STRAY The Indian epic “Mahabharata” is thought to date back to the eighth or ninth century B.C. and tells the story of two warring families. Toward the end of the tale, prince Yudhishthira and his

Far before humans had written histories, we had dogs. From hunting and shepherding to playing and relaxing, our early ancestors had canine companions by their side, and their appreciation shows. As storytelling developed around the world, our four-legged friends became important characters. Here are a few ancient legends for the historical dog lover. TARASCAN SPIRIT DOGS Many Mesoamerican cultures featured dogs prominently in their myths and legends, especially in regard to the afterlife. One of the most notable of these comes from the Tarascan state, an empire that rivaled the Aztecs. The Tarascans believed canine spirits would search out the souls of lost humans and guide them safely out of the mortal world. Leave it to dogs to create ghost stories with happy endings. TUIREN THE WOLFHOUND In Irish folklore, Tuiren was a beautiful woman to be wed to Iollan Eachtach, but this love made Iollan’s faery sweetheart jealous. In an attempt to ruin the young woman’s wedding, the faery turns Tuiren into a hound and gives her to Fergus Fionnliath, a renowned dog-hater. This cruel act backfires when the Irish wolfhound wins over Fergus, teaching him to love not just her but all dogs too. In fact, the man is crestfallen when his hound is revealed to be a human. Tuiren’s nephew, the hero Fionn, cheers Fergus up with a new puppy!

family begin to ascend the Himalayas to reach heaven, and a stray dog joins them on their journey. One by one, Yudhishthira’s companions fall, until only the prince and his furry friend remain.

When the god Indra finally appears to offer Yudhishthira passage into heaven, he brings bad news: The dog cannot come with him. But Yudhishthira refuses to abandon his dog, explaining that he could never leave such a loyal, steadfast companion. Anyone who’s turned down a great apartment offer because they don’t allow pets can relate.

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