As chief barketing officer at Petersen Pet Hospital, I have the honor of announcing that our team has recently expanded by six! I’m thrilled to publicly welcome newly graduated veterinary technicians: Maci , Morgan , and Madi . We’re so excited to have them, as technicians are very important to Petersen Pet Hospital! They do everything from taking X-rays and drawing blood to running diagnostics and giving vaccines. Perhaps most importantly, they give our clients’ pets treats (!) and help them feel less anxious and afraid when they come to visit us. Maci, Morgan, and Madi can’t wait to meet you! I’d also like to thank our summer interns, Lexi , Charlie , and Melaina , for being with us! We’re so happy they’re part of our team and are helping our pet clients have the best experience possible! Be sure to say hello to all our new faces the next time you’re here! I know you’ll love them as much as we do. 6 NEW FRIENDLY FACES SAM’S CORNER
Battle of the Bloat JACK’S LIFE- SAVING PROCEDURE
Jack is a very sweet and normally energetic neutered male Bernedoodle. He seemed a little out of sorts one evening after a routine day at the groomer. The next morning, he had no interest in his breakfast and even refused his favorite treats throughout the day. When his attitude became more subdued, progressing to lethargic, and he started intermittently hacking throughout the afternoon, his owner knew something was wrong and called our team for an exam. Jack initially presented for an examination with Dr. Conrad, who noted that he was very depressed, drooling excessively, and was slightly tense on palpation of his abdomen. His abdomen was also mildly distended, and he was hanging his head. His bloodwork came back normal, and abdominal radiographs were taken to confirm the cause of his distended abdomen and abdominal pain. On radiographs, his stomach was filled with a large volume of gas, and portions of his stomach were in abnormal places. These findings confirmed that Jack had a gastric dilatation and volvulus, commonly referred to as a GDV or “bloat.” GDV is an emergency condition in which the stomach fills up with gas and abnormally twists on its own axis. This condition stops blood flow to the stomach, is life-threatening, and requires emergency surgery. Jack was rushed to surgery with me. His stomach was identified, and syringe needles were inserted into the stomach, and a rubber tube was inserted into his esophagus to alleviate the gas pressure from his stomach. His stomach was then untwisted and returned to its normal position. To prevent future GDVs for Jack, a gastropexy procedure was performed, where his stomach was surgically tacked to the inside of his abdominal muscles. This procedure will help to decrease the risk of his stomach flipping on itself again in the future. Jack recovered smoothly from surgery and was a brand-new, very happy dog by the next morning. At his two-week recheck and staple removal, he had healed 100% and was able to return to his normal, energetic life. GDV most commonly affects deep-chested, large-breed dogs, such as the Great Dane, German shepherd, standard poodle, Newfoundland, and Bernese mountain dog (among others). As a preventive measure, we at Petersen Pet Hospital recommend a laparoscopic gastropexy (a stomach-tacking procedure performed with two small incisions and a camera), usually at the time of a pet’s spay or neuter. Other preventive measures in these breeds include avoiding strenuous activities before and after eating, eating slowly to prevent excessive air intake, and feeding multiple smaller meals throughout the day.
–Sam Chief Barketing Officer
—Dr. Steven McGinty
Contact us! 319-743-0554
Mon–Fri: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. (Closed Fridays from 12:30–2:10 p
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator