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Pets First Monthly
July 2022
DOES YOUR DOG HAVE A NOISE PHOBIA?
As we enter July, there are two things I think of this month: the Fourth of July and thunderstorms. During Independence Day, many people celebrate the holiday by getting together with family and friends, eating food, and lighting off fireworks. Likewise, thunderstorms are common during the summertime because the heat and humidity provide moisture, which can cause air to rise. But there are two things that fireworks and thunderstorms have in common: loud noise. If you have a dog, they could be sensitive to loud noises, and it’s important to understand the symptoms and solutions to make your pets feel comfortable during this time. This noise phobia is common in breeds such as German shepherds, collies, and golden retrievers, but loud noises can affect any breed. At first, your dog may not show signs of sound sensitivity, but they may gradually begin to show symptoms over time as they age. Noise anxiety can result in many symptoms and have different severity levels for your pet. When loud noises occur, your dog could be shivering or shaking, panting, pacing around the house, salivating, or hiding in a corner or under a bed. You may have seen your dog conduct these behaviors during fireworks, thunderstorms, and sometimes at alarms such as fire alarms or warning sirens. The first thing pet owners may try to do when they notice their dog showing signs of these symptoms is comfort them by petting them or using soothing words. But this is the last thing you want to do. I have had several clients tell me that they try to calm down their dogs by doing this, but it could only make things worse. This is because, in your dog’s mind, they may see you comforting them during this time as reassurance — you’re inadvertently rewarding this kind of behavior. I know it can be difficult and heartbreaking to see your dog in distress, but the best thing you can do at that moment is to act like everything is normal.
You will need to give your dog tough love when instances like these occur. You must act like the fireworks or thunderstorms aren’t bothering you and remain confident. This, in turn, will help your dog realize that the noise shouldn’t bother them either. As pet owners, our animals can sense if we are in distress, and they can mimic that behavior. If your
dog is showing symptoms of noise phobia, allow them to shiver, pace, or hide. Let your dog have their space during this time, no matter how challenging that may be.
There are some ways you can help prevent noise anxiety that you can begin doing today. First, ensure that your dog is getting enough playtime — at least 30–60 minutes a day, as a noise phobia can arise from a lack of exercise. However, if this doesn’t seem to work, my team and I will be happy to examine your dog and write you prescriptions you can give your pet before thunderstorms or fireworks. It’s essential that if you use medication for your pet, you provide it to them a few hours ahead of time. The medicine won’t work if your dog is already upset or nervous
because of the noises.
I understand it can be tough to watch your dog during this time, but it’s best to allow them to calm down on their own. If you’re ever concerned about your pet’s behavior, give us a call! We will be happy to help you out. You can also use our Pet Health Checker on our website if our offices are closed. Go to PetersenPetHospital.com and click on “Pet Health Checker” under the “Pet Health” tab for more information.
I wish you and your family, both human and four-legged, a happy and safe Fourth of July!
www.PetersenPetHospital.com
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SUBWAY’S Advice Alley
SMILE! Cats Get Toothaches Too!
There is absolutely no denying that cats are intricate and mysterious little creatures that do not follow the veterinary medicine book very well, and
in fact, tend to just write their own. As mysterious as they are, they are absolutely wonderful pets, family members, companions, and best friends. Cats are very stoic, and they hide their pain and illness exceptionally well. And that is just the case with Lori, a 7-year-old, beautiful black kitty that came in for an annual exam with Dr. Eike. For the physical exam, Lori was the purrfect patient. While examining Lori’s mouth, we found a condition called FORL, or feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions. These are areas on the tooth that are eaten away and are like cavities in humans. This disease is very painful. As a
Meet Sarah Davidson!
matter of fact, even while under complete general anesthesia, cats can still react to the pain by chattering their teeth, so you can only imagine the pain while fully awake!
Sarah is the practice manager at Petersen Pet Hospital. Sarah lives in Cedar Rapids with her husband, Ethan, and their children, Norah (5) and Miles (2). They also have their beloved shiba inu, Kaia, and a crested gecko, Mango. She is originally from Davenport, Iowa, and grew up surrounded by dogs and cats. At 3 years old, her brother found a pregnant cat hiding in the bushes by their house. Her
Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats
parents kept the mother cat (Miss Kitty) and found homes for all the kittens. This event really jump-started her love for animals. Sarah was an intern at Niabi Zoo in Coal Valley, Illinois, during college and cared primarily for the exotic birds. After receiving her biology degree from the University of Iowa, she worked as a veterinary technician in
Des Moines, Iowa, for two years. She then received her Master of Arts in teaching at Drake University and taught middle school science for five years. Sarah is extremely happy to be back in the veterinary world supporting the amazing people that help our wonderful clients. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, playing piano, reading, and biking.
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
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Contact us! 319-743-0554
Some signs that Lori may have exhibited at home include dropping food out of her mouth and swallowing her food whole. This is a common disease in cats affecting 20%–60% of middle-aged felines. Unfortunately, we are not entirely sure what causes this condition, but what we do know that by removing what is left of the tooth, we take care of the pain and further deterioration.
We amputated the crown of the affected tooth and left the roots, since they were resorbing into the bone. The site was closed with sutures so no bone was left exposed. Pain medication, along with antibiotics, were administered to enhance healing.
Traveling for the Food?
In the top picture, the X-ray shows how the tooth is eaten away and the roots blend in with the bone of the jaw because they are resorbed into the bone. The bottom picture shows how the crown of the tooth looks eaten away and is even partially gone. There are varying stages of tooth resorption from only the crown of the tooth, only the root, or both the root and crown. A full oral exam along with full mouth X-rays will allow us to identify the different stages and treat appropriately.
Don’t Miss These 3 Festivals
According to AAA, millions of Americans take “culinary-focused vacations” every year. We’ll travel to Philadelphia for cheesesteaks, Texas for barbecue, Louisiana for gumbo … you get the idea. Our culture loves to eat! If you’re a traveling foodie, you are in luck: Add these three summer festivals to your must-visit list for this summer or future food-finding trips.
Lori really wasn’t exhibiting any signs, and that is why annual and senior exams are extremely important — we
can identify such disease processes that these stoic cats hide from us and we can prevent further pain by addressing these FORLs sooner rather than later. She is now a happy, healthy, and pain-free kitty with the perfect smile!
Pierogi Fest (Indiana) July 29–31; PierogiFest.net
The Polish pierogi is a humble food: mashed potatoes and cheese wrapped in soft dough and either fried, baked, or grilled to perfection. But simplicity should be celebrated! In Whiting, Indiana, Pierogi Fest is a three-day affair that brings in more than 300,000 people for events like a Polka Parade, a pierogi toss, and, of course, pierogies stuffed with everything from cheese to alligator meat. Of course, there’s also a beer garden, because as the organizers put it, “Beer and pierogies go together as well as peanut butter and jelly.”
Combine taste with good nutrition by giving your dog these simple, healthy dog treats that will keep them coming back for more.
Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival (New York) July 31; JerkFestivalNY.com
INGREDIENTS • 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour • 2 eggs • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
Yes, New York City is home to fantastic pizza and bagels, but it’s also a Caribbean food hub! At this festival, visitors can stuff themselves with jerk chicken, enjoy whole fish, and drink icies straight from hollowed-out pineapples. Six celebrity chefs will make appearances this year to compete in food contests and show off their Jamaican roots and/or dishes. When attendees aren’t eating, they can relax at a musical or cultural performance.
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2 tbsp peanut butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Key West Lobsterfest (Florida) Aug. 11–14, KeyWestLobsterfest.com
DIRECTIONS 1.
This year is the 25th annual Key West Lobsterfest! Seafood lovers come from all corners to enjoy the crustacean-crazed festival, which includes a cinematic lobster boil at sunset, a lobsterfest pool party, a pub crawl, and an all-you-can-eat-and- drink lobster brunch. Head to the website to learn more and score delicious lobster recipes — even if you can’t attend!
Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all ingredients. If needed, add water to make the dough workable, but ensure it remains dry and stiff. 3. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick sheet. Cut into ½-inch square pieces or use a cookie cutter to make individual treats. 4. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper, and place cookies an inch apart. Bake for 40 minutes, or until hard, and let cool before serving.
Want more food festival intel? We’ve got you. Visit Insider.com and search “food and drink festivals” for a list of 28 top food attractions, ranked by Yelp reviews.
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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
You Don’t Want to Comfort Your Dog During This
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BLACK Meet Sarah Davidson! Cats Get Toothaches Too! 50% BLACK
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Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats 3 Summer Food Festivals Worth the Trip
SECONDARY
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PMS292 A True Canine Hero PMS5635
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A ROUND OF A-PAWS This Amazing Pup Saves the Day — Twice!
Heroes don’t always wear capes or stand on two legs — and in a specific case with a German shepherd, this is exceptionally true! A dog noticed that one of his favorite tiny humans was in some serious danger, so he saved the day, two times! A little boy and girl enjoyed the day, tossing a ball back and forth in their backyard. When the girl overthrew the ball, it unfortunately fell into a small pond behind the boy. The girl rushed inside the house to get help, but the boy stayed outside and even ended up leaning over the edge of the pond as he tried to retrieve the ball on his own. This is when a protective German shepherd, lying nearby in the grass, saw everything and immediately sprung into action.
The dog first looked into the pond to locate the ball. Then, knowing the boy was in danger as he teetered on the edge, the dog tugged on the little boy’s vest with his teeth, pulling him backward to safety near the back patio of the home. Once the little boy was in a safe location, the dog located a pole net that had been leaning
against the house and brought it over to the pond. While his tail wagged with pride, the dog fished the ball out of the pond.
The dog then put the net down on the ground near the pond and brought the ball over to the boy, who petted him with appreciation. This German shepherd saved the day for this little boy and girl — and also saved the boy from injury and needing a dry set of clothes! What an amazing canine. He deserves a treat and a round of a-paws!
Contact us! 319-743-0554
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