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Pets First Monthly
September 2023
FIND STRENGTH BY DISPLAYING PRIDE Lessons From a College Rivalry
I’ve noticed quite a few tell-tale signs that fall is upon us. When Sam and I go on our daily walk, I can feel the air is slightly cooler. The trees we pass during our commute have vivid reds, yellows, and orange leaves peeking through — next thing you know, you will hardly
Iowa State — I invested lots of time and dedication there So, of course, I was a huge fan. I had to represent my school! While I was proud to be a Cyclone, when I would visit my hometown, it was like I had a target on my back.
see any green leaves! Another clue that we’re entering fall is that professional and college football and basketball are back!
Out of the sea of people wearing black and gold, there was me — standing out with my striking
red and gold attire. People used to jokingly make fun of Iowa State’s sports. But I didn’t take it personally; trash-talking was part of the game! I still wore my college gear proudly. To this day, I still have flags, logos, and other Iowa State memorabilia on my walls. Because I spent a good portion of my life at the university and created many fond memories there, I have a sense of pride for my school and what it represents. And nothing will take that feeling away.
One of my favorite things about sports is the team rivalries fans get to witness. Tension and emotions are always high when two foes battle head-to-head. Not only do the players feel more pressure during rivalry games, but the fans are also more on edge. Some of the best rivalries I can think of are University of Michigan and Ohio State football, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill basketball, Clemson University and the University of Alabama football, and the University of Iowa and Iowa State University football. My hometown was only 30 minutes away from the University of Iowa. As you can imagine, my family, neighbors, and friends always cheered them on during game day. Everyone would wear black and gold to support the Hawkeyes. Any time Iowa State University and the University of Iowa played against each other, it was like a national holiday — no one could stop talking about the big game.
Having pride in what you do adds an additional level of strength over the things you cherish. So no matter what team you represent, what your hobbies are, what you do for work, or what you believe in, take pride in the things you support. With this mindset, you’ll embrace your roles more and find ways to improve them daily. Furthermore, you’ll gain confidence that no one can take away. What are some things in your life that you take pride in? How do you nurture those connections and strengthen your beliefs? I would love to hear from you and learn more about your story!
Growing up, I was a Hawkeyes fan. But as I got older and went to college, I changed teams.
—Dr. Brad Petersen
I attended Iowa State University and traded my black and gold merch for cardinal red and gold. I was officially part of the Cyclones. I spent eight years of my life at
www.PetersenPetHospital.com
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Border Col
Daisy Has an Eye Problem
UNDERSTAND THE SIGNS THAT YOUR PET IS IN PAIN!
Hi newsletter friends! It’s your buddy Sam here, and today we’re going to talk about Animal Pain Awareness Month. Sometimes my human, Dr. Petersen, will start talking to me and asking if I’m okay when he notices me acting funny or not sticking to my daily routine. It’s hard for me and my other cat and dog friends to vocalize when we’re experiencing pain and discomfort. Although you may not be able to decipher various barks and meows, there are some behavioral symptoms you can look out for that can help you determine if your furry friend is in pain. Here are three signs you should know. Vocalizing For dogs: You may notice your canine groaning or grunting more often as they stand up or lay down. You could also hear them whining or whimpering as they get comfortable. For cats: Your feline could meow more than usual. They may also start purring when you usually wouldn’t expect them to. Cats could also growl or hiss if approached by their owner, other human family members, or other pets. Changes in Routine For dogs and cats: Four-legged friends can become more restless because they can’t find a comfortable place to lie down. They could have less energy, Pumpkin Spice Latte for Dogs
Dr. Green Took Care of Dachshund
Daisy is the sweetest senior dachshund who came in with Dr. Green and her team for an eye issue. Daisy’s family noted that she had been squinting her eye and that her eye was more red than normal.
Dr. Green began by performing a thorough physical exam, with specific focus on Daisy’s eye. Her eye was sensitive and reddened, she had some watery discharge, and she was sitting with her eye slightly closed, causing her third eyelid to be visible. So, Dr. Green performed basic vision testing. She then looked at her eye with magnification to make sure she didn’t have anything rubbing her eye such as an
eyelash out of place. Next, Dr. Green and her team performed a test called a fluorescein stain to check for corneal ulcers. The team first placed a few drops of the highlighter
yellow fluorescein stain into Daisy’s eye, flushed it with some eye wash, turned the lights off, and then looked at Daisy’s eye with a blue light. Unfortunately, her eye did glow from the stain, meaning that the stain was sticking to exposed underlying layers of the eye, ultimately diagnosing a corneal ulcer.
Corneal ulcers can be caused by multiple things including injury, conformation issues with the eye such as eyelids folding into the eye, eyelash disorders, dry eye, nerve paralysis, and infections. Pets with corneal ulcers may squint, have watery eye discharge, continually rub at their eyes, have red eyes, and/or have an elevated third eyelid. In Daisy’s case, we suspected that her ulcer could have been caused by trauma as she had been staying with several other pups while her owners were away on vacation.
With this information, Dr. Green elected to start Daisy on an antibiotic eye drop and pain medications. Another key component for eye ulcer healing is an E-collar,
or cone, to prevent Daisy from rubbing and pawing her eye, potentially further injuring it. Other things used to heal more complicated ulcers include plasma eye drops and topical medications to help with eye pain. Sometimes, veterinarians have to resort to surgical treatment of eye ulcers as well. Fortunately for Daisy, after a couple of weeks of her owners diligently applying eye drops and keeping the cone on, her eye healed up with no complications
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llie Corner
The Real Sea Monster
A Giant Whale That Terrified Romans
Social media lit up in spring of 2023 with news that orcas were attacking boats off the coasts of Portugal and Spain. Experts can’t agree on the reason behind this aggressive behavior, but history tells us it’s not the first time whales have gone rogue against sea vessels in their midst. Citizens of the Eastern Roman Empire (aka the Byzantine Empire) dealt with a similar problem in the form of a fearsome giant whale they named Porphyrios. Porphyrios struck terror into the hearts of fishermen, merchants, and soldiers who frequented the waters around Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey) during the 6th century; he spent roughly 50 years attacking boats of all sizes throughout the area. Then he would disappear for years at a time, but the locals never knew when he would reappear to sink more ships. The whale caused so many problems for commerce and defense that Roman Emperor Justinian I reportedly prioritized capturing or killing him. But even the greatest war strategists could not devise a way to take Porphyrios down. He was like a natural disaster, and leaders could stop him no more than they could hold off a hurricane. As with today’s killer whales, experts are unsure what drove Porphyrios’behavior. Since cameras would not be invented for more than 1,000 years, there are no photographs of Porphyrios, and it’s impossible to know what species he was. Due to his enormous size and apparent long life, many marine biologists believe he was a sperm whale. However, others point out that sperm whales rarely live in the region where Porphyrios caused his mayhem and think he was an orca — perhaps an ancestor of the modern-day boat bashers around Europe.
decreased endurance, are reluctant to get up, and are less eager to jump on furniture or go down stairs. Cats and dogs could also refrain from their usual family interactions, eating and drinking less, not grooming themselves as often, sleeping in unusual positions, trying to hide, and showing signs of uncharacteristic aggression. Abnormal Postures For dogs and cats: When your furry friend stands, their front legs could be under their chest as an attempt to take some of the weight away from their painful hips or rear legs. You may notice that when your cat lays down, they keep their legs tucked underneath them instead of stretching to one side. Your dog may stretch their legs to one side rather than being tucked close to them. If your furry companion displays any unusual behavior or seems to be in pain, please don’t hesitate to contact Petersen Pet Hospital. They can get to the bottom of your pet’s issue and help your furry friend return to 100% again!
Fall is here, which means it’s time to bring on the pumpkin spice lattes! But sweet treats are better when you can share them with your furry friends. So this season, whip up this pup-friendly pumpkin spice latte so you and your pooch can celebrate the season together!
Unfortunately for Porphyrios and animal lovers, the whale’s antics eventually caught up with him. While chasing a school of dolphins, Porphyrios beached himself near the mouth of the Black Sea and struggled unsuccessfully to
INGREDIENTS • 1 cup goat’s milk or
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Dash of ground ginger Organic xylitol-free whipped cream
unsweetened coconut milk
• •
1 cup pumpkin purée
push his body back into the ocean. Meanwhile, Byzantines caught wind that their enemy was helpless and attacked with ropes and axes, giving Porphyrios a gory death and themselves a feast of whale meat.
Dash of ground cinnamon
DIRECTIONS 1. In a blender, place all ingredients and blend until mixture is thick and creamy, about 1 minute. 2. In a small dish, pour about 3–6 oz of the mixture (depending on your dog’s size). Top with whipped cream and serve! TIP : Place the rest in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for about a week!
Despite his inauspicious end, Porphyrios is still the only whale to threaten the Roman Empire. We can only hope he will be the only marine life ever to pose such a threat.
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Inspired by CookingWithJanica.com
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1031 Kacena Road Hiawatha, IA 52233 www.PetersenPetHospital.com 319-743-0554
Inside This Issue
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
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I Stood Out Like a Sore Thumb!
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Dr. Green Remedied Daisy’s Eye Injury Border Collie Corner
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50% BLACK
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Pumpkin Spice Latte for Dogs The Real Sea Monster: A Giant Whale That Terrified Romans
SECONDARY
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Unsinkable Sam: The Feline Hero of WWII
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HOW A WWII CAT SURVIVED 3 SHIP SINKINGS:
THE STORY OF UNSINKABLE SAM
You’ve heard the saying, “Cats have nine lives,” and while there
are countless tales of cats falling from trees or high- above windows, one cat put this theory to the test, earning himself the name “Unsinkable Sam.”
promptly scooped him up and welcomed him aboard. Sam had officially switched sides to the Allied forces.
Now on the right side of history, Sam lived with the British crew for the next few months as they performed convoy escort duties — until a torpedo struck the HMS Cossack in October 1941, killing all 139 members aboard. Except for Sam. Once again, Sam clung to a wooden plank and floated safely to the nearby shore of Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory. British service members who found him ashore put two and two together and realized the cat — the very one their fellow servicemen saved in 1939 — was the only survivor of HMS Cossack, earning him the nickname “Unsinkable Sam.”
Sam’s original name was “Oscar,” and his legacy began aboard the Bismarck, one of the two first-class Nazi battleships in World War II. The
Bismarck (with Sam) was launched on Feb. 14, 1939, and soon after engaged in battle with The Prince of Wales, an Allied battleship. The Nazi ship was severely damaged in this battle and ultimately sunk. Only 118 of the 2,200 crew members survived, plus Sam.
The group in Gibraltar was from the HMS Ark Royal crew, and of course, they loaded Sam aboard when it was time to launch. But as Sam’s luck would have it, a torpedo struck the HMS Ark Royal just a month later, leaving him once again clinging to a floating plank near a boat launch back in Gibraltar. Luckily, Sam’s boating days were over, and he was honorably transferred to the position of “mouse hunter” in the building of the governor-general in Gibraltar. Eventually, the British restationed their favorite floating feline to a “home for sailors” in Belfast, where he lived for the rest of his days until his peaceful passing in 1955.
The British destroyer HMS Cossack found Sam floating on a board hours later, and they
Sam’s story may not officially prove cats have nine lives, but it makes at least three seem likely!
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