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Pets First Monthly
June 2021
LESSONS FROM STAN THE MAN A Tribute to My Father
Like most little boys, one of my biggest role models growing up was my father. Although he passed eight years ago, he still feels present in my life through my memories of our fishing trips. Since he was an avid fisherman by family tradition, I remember being exposed to fishing at an early age. I have fond memories of early spring mornings when we’d get up at 5 a.m., hop in the car before the sun was up, and arrive at our local lake to go fishing.
Luckily, we didn’t live too far from a wooded area, so we’d take the dead, fallen trees, cut them up, and stack the wood alongside our house. I was admittedly pretty reluctant to help him with the
whole process, but it did amaze me that he was always willing to cut his own wood when he didn’t have to. I began to sense that his intense work ethic wasn’t from a simple desire to save money but, instead, from a desire to manage his resources so our family could live a better life. Most of all, I learned the importance of responsibility and looking out for other people.
We fished for small fish known as crappies, but we were very serious about it. We’d always bring raincoats because, even if it was pouring down rain, we’d still be sitting in our boats and fishing. Even with all the elements against us, it was so much fun. I remember riding in the car and thinking, “Wow, that was a really good time spent with Dad.”
During his funeral, a lot of people came up to me to share their awesome memories of my dad. He was a manager at a
That was the thing about my dad — he knew how to make you feel appreciated. His buddies used to call him“Stan the Man.”Whenever we’d pass by people in bait or hardware stores, he was happy to socialize and make people laugh. His friendly and polite manner of speaking is something I deeply admired. “Treat others how you want to be treated”was the lesson he imparted to me without having to say it; he taught by example. He also taught me the lifelong lesson about the importance of a work ethic. I’d always tag along with him to run errands, which usually meant going to a hardware store and fixing things around the house. One of these errands was cutting firewood. At the time, we had a wood-burning fireplace that was mostly responsible for warming the house in winter. While some people don’t mind picking up wood at the gas station or stores, my father never believed in paying someone to cut his own firewood.
company in town, and a lot of his coworkers and staff told me how much they enjoyed working for him. As a boss, he always treated them right, communicated well, and was a good manager. I couldn’t say I was surprised, but I was certainly inspired as a business owner and administrator myself. To this day, fishing is probably my biggest hobby I like to do when I get time off work. No matter where or when I’m fishing, I’m always reminded of his legacy. Thank you, Dad, for how hard you worked and for how caring you were. You’re still my inspiration.
–Brad Petersen
www.PetersenPetHospital.com
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Border Collie Corner Best Pet Toys for Good Girls and Boys
Hiya friends! With summer in full swing, I’ve noticed my family grabbing gear for their summer adventures. Call me biased, but why not grab an awesome toy for your best friend as well?
Pet toys not only offer entertainment but also mental stimulation, which is surprisingly important to both pet and human happiness in the home.
If your pet tends to keep you awake at night, giving your pet a challenging toy will often properly exhaust your pet before it’s time to sleep. Hey, ask anyone — thinking hard is exhausting. Also, these interactive toys will keep your pet busy whenever you’re too busy to play with them yourself. It’s a win for everyone!
Meet Our Newest Veterinarian, Dr. Hannah Green! Hi everyone! It’s such an honor to be a part of the Petersen Pet Hospital. I grew up in Cedar Rapids, so I’m very excited to come back after graduating from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. My family probably could have predicted I’d take this path because my connection with animals started from a very young age. My grandparents used to have animals on their farm, including bunnies, kittens, and llamas. I was always very comfortable with them and spending time out there. As I’ve been treating patients this past year, I’ve learned that one of my favorite parts of the work is simply being hands-on with a patient’s case. I really enjoy talking to clients and getting to know their stories as well as their pet’s stories. I love that I learn new things about animals all the time with this line of work, and it’s also been fun to have opportunity to teach clients about their pets as well. There’s simply so much information about our furry best friends that may surprise owners, such as the serious health risks of periodontal disease.
Chewy Cat Treats Turn your cat’s
favorite meal into a scrumptious treat!
After being in school for eight years, I’ve been absolutely thrilled with the opportunity to diagnose and treat patients — it’s definitely a dream come true.
If you’d like to learn more about me, feel free to say hi when you swing by! I’m a cheerful married gal, and my husband and I love to travel and get outdoors whenever we can. We also recently had a baby back in October, and we absolutely can’t wait to raise our daughter close to our folks here in Cedar Rapids. We know the area pretty well after growing up here, but we haven’t been back in some time. Let me know if there are any new spots in town we should check out! Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you around!
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Contact us! 319-743-0554
Light Up Your Life Get the Most Out of Each Lightbulb
A great pet toy is especially useful during the winter months while your pet is spending all hours of the day indoors. That’s right — pet toys are a wonderful, healthy household gift all year round! Here are a couple unique products you’ll find at Petersen Pet Hospital you can grab on your next visit.
Hidden Treat Puzzles
Pets love treats, and the best way to mentally stimulate them is to hide their favorite snacks in pet-friendly puzzles! Their noses will definitely sniff them out, and we could watch them play with these toys for hours — it’s a lot of fun for everyone. Mazes, towers, and even handheld toys will all challenge your pet to figure out how to grab their snack (or even their entire meal themselves), and you’ll have fun watching it happen.
We’ve all stood in front of the lightbulb section at the home improvement store. There are so many to choose from. But most of the time, we just grab the one we know will fit in any given spot. We don’t always consider things like color temperature, brightness, wattage (outside of compatibility with lamps or sockets). However, the bulb you choose does matter. The type
Slow-Eating Food Bowls
of light it puts out can dramatically change a room— and not just in appearance, but functionality, too. Consider the following:
If your dog or cat eats their food too fast, you can buy a food bowl that looks similar to a labyrinth — it has notches and curves to help your pet slow down while eating, which aids their digestive system. If your pet regurgitates from eating too fast, this potentially makes for less vomit in the house, too! Check out our store for even more fun products and accessories to make your pet happier and healthier. Thanks for joining me! Hope your summer is going great, gang!
Working Spaces (Kitchen and Bathrooms)
These rooms, more or less, are utility rooms. They serve specific functions. In the kitchen, you prepare meals and cook. Kids may do homework in the kitchen. In the bathroom, you get
ready for work. You may choose outfits, put on makeup, groom yourself, and so on. In these rooms, you need to see detail.
INGREDIENTS • 1 large egg • 4 oz wet cat food •
As such, brighter lightbulbs are essential. These bulbs give off 5,000–10,000 lumens and have a
• • •
2 tbsp water
1 cup brown rice flour 1/2 cup rice, cooked
bright or cool white color temperature (the packaging may say 4,100 kelvins). Day lightbulbs are a good option as well (5,000–6,000 kelvins). The type of bulb (incandescent, compact fluorescent, LED, halogen, etc.) isn’t as important as the first two features. A bright bulb that emits cool light will open up the room, allowing you to clearly see the job at hand. Living Spaces (Dining Rooms, Home Offices, Bedrooms, Reading Areas) These rooms are more casual than the utility spaces and don’t require as much light as in the kitchen or bathroom. These are rooms where you may be relaxing or need to be less energetic. Bright, white light is more of an “awake” light, but it’s not ideal when you’re just chilling out (or even working behind a computer screen in a home office). You want bulbs in the 2,000–6,000 lumen range that give off softer, warmer light around 2,700 kelvins. This type of light is just as the naming suggests —warmer. It gives the room a more inviting feeling. It’s easier on the eyes and looks more natural in these types of rooms. In the home office, warmer light helps balance the light emitted by monitors, which can be harder on the eyes. Softer, warmer light reduces eye strain. This is also why it’s ideal for reading areas!
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
•
2 tsp olive oil
DIRECTIONS 1.
Preheat the oven to 325 F.
2. In a medium bowl, combine egg, cat food, parsley, olive oil, and water.
3. Add flour and rice, stirring to blend the mixture together.
4. On a prepared baking sheet, spread the mixture evenly, about 1/3-inch thick. Bake for 12–15 minutes.
5.
Let cool, then slice treats into bite-size pieces.
6.
Bake for an additional 8 minutes.
7. Allow treats to cool completely and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Inspired by JoyTheBaker.com
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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 teammeetings) Sat: 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Sun: Closed
Inside This Issue
Lessons From Stan the Man
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PRIMARY
Meet Our Newest Veterinarian, Dr. Hannah Green!
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PMS4655
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50% BLACK
Border Collie Corner Chewy Cat Treats
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Lightbulb Primer: Choosing the Right Bulb for the Right Job
SECONDARY
Should You Try Animal Therapy?
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PMS258
PMS292
PMS5635
PMS1215
Is Animal Therapy Right for You? Your Guide to AAT
There are just some things only a dog can understand — same with a cat, or a horse, or a bird, for that matter. That’s the idea behind animal-assisted therapy (AAT), a treatment designed to help those with mental and physical challenges. AAT may look like snuggling and playing with animals, but it’s much more involved than you may think. What is AAT? AAT relies on an innate human need to connect with animals. The idea is that humans form bonds with living things, and this connection can have a calming effect on our minds. Physical therapy and massage therapy involve tangible actions on the part of the therapist, while AAT relies on the relationship between a human and an animal. This could help someone cope with grief, lessen a medical patient’s pain related to chemotherapy or surgery, provide connection to residents in long-term care facilities, or even offer exercise for those with limited mobility. Aren’t those just emotional support animals? In recent years, emotional support animals have become increasingly popular both in the media and in their use.
Emotional support animals offer their owners vital emotional assistance, but they differ greatly from trained therapy animals.
AAT requires the use of a trained animal under the direction of a handler, who will also coordinate with medical professionals to ensure the strategies that they deploy will target what a patient needs. Prior to practicing, trainers and their animals must each pass certification processes intended to help each party gain the skills needed to help patients. To qualify, animals also need to be clean and vaccinated, and the type of animal that is used during AAT also depends on a person’s condition, the location of the therapy, and a patient’s need. Is AAT right for you? AAT isn’t for everyone, but it can be a vital component of your healing process. It’s often seen as a supplemental form of therapy intended to bolster other therapies. The important thing to remember when considering AAT is to establish reasonable goals. Discuss the possibility of using AAT with your doctor or therapist and consider which animals may bring you the most comfort. Be realistic about what you want and need before attempting AAT.
Contact us! 319-743-0554
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