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Pets First Monthly
November 2021
The holidays are a special time of year that often give us more and more nostalgia by the day. Amidst the nostalgia, I’ve found myself recalling the days I’d sit in front of the TV and watch the original “Aquaman” show that played throughout the 1970s. To this day, Aquaman remains my favorite superhero, and I suppose that had an impact on my life in some way. The first thing I loved about Aquaman might be obvious to you: He can speak to any animal that lives in the ocean. Even as a kid, I found this to be an enviable superpower. I love all bodies of water but especially the sea. I liked to imagine a world where I could speak to fish and treat them for their injuries and ailments. Growing up, I never wore out my love for fish. I’m a pretty avid fisherman these days, and I have both a tropical freshwater and saltwater aquarium at home. I’ve always liked seeing different breeds of fish from different environments, which lends to my love for snorkeling. Anytime I travel, if there’s a nice place to snorkel, I always take advantage of it. LIVING IN FEAR Why Aquaman Is One of the Best Superheros
I felt a very similar fear when my wife and I initially got certified. We’d taken some classes in Iowa and then flew to Jamaica to dive and finish our
credentials (since diving is, of course, a necessary component). The instructor brought us 60-feet-deep into the sea, with our feet touching the ocean floor. That would’ve been enjoyable, except we had to take our breathing masks off. It’s part of the final exam to be able to take off your mask and put it back on while underwater, using your own air to “clear” your mask so you can breathe again. That was terrifying for a couple reasons. One, you don’t want to open your eyes in saltwater — the pain is searing! Two, if we made a mistake or freaked out, we wouldn’t be able to pop back up on the surface. Sixty feet is very deep, and surfacing too quickly can cause decompression sickness or the “bends,” a condition where the difference of water pressure causes bubbles or air pockets that affect your body in severe or lethal ways. It was terrifying to know that a single mistake could end our lives. So, after that, we promised each other we wouldn’t go scuba diving again! We’re happy snorkeling and seeing beautiful fish near the surface. It comforts me to know, however, that even Aquaman fears drowning. I suppose any act of courage requires a little bit of fear or else it’s not really courageous. Considering he’s always in the water, it makes me more certain than ever that he’s one of the best superheroes out there.
Despite the fact that my wife and I are certified in scuba diving, I don’t like to go too deep, however —
and apparently, although Aquaman can breathe underwater, he has reason for not wanting to swim too deep, either. It was never explored in the TV show, but I recently found out that, in the comics, it was revealed that Aquaman has a fear of water. Yes! The very thing he lives and breathes in. He fears the day that he might lose his ability to breathe underwater, and the environment he loved and seemed so familiar would suddenly threaten his life.
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Border Collie Corner It’s Not COVID, It’s CIRDC
Meet the Team: Jolee and Naomi Jolee Jolee is a client care specialist at Petersen Pet Hospital. She is currently finishing up her associate degree at Kirkwood Community College. Jolee grew up in the small town of Keota, Iowa, and recently purchased her first house with her boyfriend in Cedar Rapids. She has always wanted to work around animals, which led her to Petersen Pet Hospital. Jolee has always had a passion for animals. Growing up on a farm, she got to care for many types of animals, including farm animals, exotics, and even some wild animals like raccoons and robins. As a child, Jolee would always surprise her parents by bringing home sick and/or homeless animals she had found and wanted to help. Jolee is currently a mom to two dogs, Gibson and Marshall, and a bearded dragon lizard, Dude. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her animals, going on walks, and taking them to dog parks to play and ponds to swim. Naomi Naomi is a veterinary assistant at Petersen Pet Hospital. She is a Cedar Rapids native and graduated from Linn-Mar High School in 2016. She previously was a pre-K teacher and pursued elementary education in her early years out of high school. In 2018, she decided to attend Kirkwood Community College and graduated from their veterinary assisting program a year later. After being in practice for a year, she has decided to go back to school and will graduate as a veterinary technician in 2022. When she’s not at work or school, she enjoys watching movies with her two cats, Harley and Hendricks. She also enjoys going on walks with her childhood dog, Sammy, and her mom.
Hi newsletter friends! Samhere, and I have a pretty ruff topic to talk about today. In Iowa, it’s fairly common for dogs to get sick with canine infectious respiratory disease, or CIRDC for short. This past summer, there was a significant resurgence of CIRDC cases. With so many pet owners traveling or going out of town this holiday season, it’s good to be aware of why putting your pet in a kennel or dog day care might put your furry best friend at risk.
CIRDC is sometimes referred to as kennel cough or canine cough. A hallmark of CIRDC is a sudden onset of a harsh cough, which is typically described as
‘Barkuterie’ Board
A charcuterie board blends communal party snacks with a touch of elegance, and this holiday season, your dog can partake in the fun.
(Note: This will also work for cats with some adjustments for their diet.)
Inspired by AintTooProudToMeg.com
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a“goose honk.”Nose and eye discharge may be present along with a mild fever. Some owners may notice gagging (or retching) withmucous froth around the mouth that may look like vomit. However, CIRDC is a tricky disease. Unlike most diseases, CIRDC can be caused by any number of viruses or bacteria. Because of this, there are potentially multiple sources for your dog’s illness. Not all dogs with infectious CIRDC organisms show symptoms. There are certain CIRDC organisms that will affect cats, but it’s rare— for the most part, CIRDC only affects dogs. Several vaccines treat CIRDC, but this is mostly to lower your dog’s risk of infection and severity of symptoms. As mentioned, multiple viruses and bacteria can cause CIRDC, and the vaccine your pup receives may not affect some of them. Luckily, CIRDC tends to give only mild to moderate symptoms and is self-limiting, which means your dog can overcome it on their own within 7–14 days. The symptoms typically last only 7–10 days, and it’s recommended that an infected dog doesn’t spend time around other dogs for at least two weeks. If your dog’s symptoms turn severe, there is a chance that pneumonia may be developing. Our vets can help by providing antibiotics, cough suppressant, and/or fever suppressant. Also, please note: COVID-19 cannot cause CIRDC in dogs! If your dog is coughing, it’s highly unlikely that they have the novel coronavirus, but rather kennel cough, especially after playing with some friends. Before traveling, ask your kennel or day care if there’s been any CIRDC outbreaks lately, and then decide whether it’s worth the risk. It’s stressful enough to be away from their awesome owners — consider finding a dog sitter instead!
November Is Secretly the Best Time to Camp
Stargazing, Bird-Watching, and More
Camping is most often associated with summer, but the humid, hot weather combined with the numerous bugs can create a frustrating experience. Most don’t realize that fall — specifically November — is the perfect time to take the family for an outdoor adventure. Here are some of the best reasons to pitch your tent in November. Scenery andWeather Camping in spring usually brings the risk of rain, while summer temperatures can make it unbearable. Fall weather, however, provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy camping to its fullest. It’s usually dry, and most states do not hit colder temperatures until the end of November. The leaves also change color in preparation for winter, which creates some truly awe-inspiring scenery — and a natural playground for children. Just watch for hidden dangers lurking beneath the fallen leaves that could injure your child. You shouldn’t have to worry about bugs, though; November has significantly fewer bugs than the summer or spring months. Stargazing Less rain means fewer clouds, which means clearer nights. Combine that with fewer leaves on the trees, and you have an unobscured view that’s better than any other time of the year. November is also one of the fewmonths when you can see meteor showers. If you’ve ever been entranced by the night sky, November provides the perfect opportunity to stargaze. Bird-Watching At this point in the season, many birds have already begun to migrate south. Some birds have stopover locations they stay at for a few days, so you might see birds unique to the area due to their migration. States in the north might see their local birds flying against beautiful backdrops as they make their journey to warmer areas. Regardless of your camping expertise, November is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the great outdoors. If you’re looking for a new family adventure or just want some personal quiet time to reflect, look no further than fall camping.
INGREDIENTS • Cucumbers, sliced • Carrots, sliced •
Melon, cubed and seeded
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Cheddar cheese, cut into 1/2-inch-thick squares
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Dog treats
• Unseasoned and cooked meats, cut into 1/2-inch-thick squares • Xylitol-free peanut butter • Hard-boiled eggs, diced • Bananas, cut into 1/2-inch-thick pucks DIRECTIONS 1. Cut up all the ingredients. Don’t shy away from fun shapes! 2. On a flat board, arrange the largest treats along the outside. 3. Add peanut butter to a small bowl and place it in the center of the board. 4. Arrange the smaller snacks around the bowl, filling in any gaps.
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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 teammeetings) Sat: 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Sun: Closed
Inside This Issue
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Is Aquaman the Best Superhero?
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BLACK Jolee and Naomi Dogs in Iowa May Get This Disease 50% BLACK
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‘Barkuterie’ Board November Is Secretly the Best Time to Camp
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SECONDARY
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Dog Dials 911 to Save His Owner
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HOW ONE DOG SAVED HIS OWNER By Dialing 911
Dogs can be trained to obey a lot of commands: sit, stay, rollover, play dead. But “dial 911”? Well, that would probably be a foreign command for most dogs. Luckily, it wasn’t for Buddy, an 18-month-old German shepherd who remembered his training and saved his owner’s life. Joe Stalnaker of Scottsdale, Arizona, sustained a head injury during a military training exercise 10 years prior to the incident. Because of that injury, he suffered from seizures. Normally, a condition like that would make it unwise for him to live alone, but Stalnaker valued his independence and wanted to find a way to lead as normal a life as possible. Joe adopted Buddy from a Michigan-based organization called Paws With a Cause when the pup was just 8 weeks old. Paws with a Cause trains assistance dogs, and after adopting him, Joe trained Buddy to dial 911 until an operator was on the line in the event that he had a seizure. A year and a half later, that training saved Joe’s life. One day, Joe began seizing when he was home alone with Buddy. Buddy rushed to the phone and dialed 911, whimpering to the dispatcher. Even if they don’t hear anyone on the line,
dispatchers are required to send police. When police arrived at Joe’s home, they found him and Buddy, who was barking loudly. They took Joe to the nearby hospital, where in a few days, he made a full recovery.
Some might say that Buddy was just following his training, but this heroic act goes far beyond just sitting and rolling over for treats. Even the veteran dispatchers hadn’t heard of a dog dialing 911 before. Buddy knew it was his mission to keep his owner safe, and thankfully, he knew exactly what to do under pressure — because that’s what heroes do.
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