Petersen Pet Hospital - August 2021

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Pets First Monthly

August 2021

WE’RE ON A MISSION — TO ALWAYS DO BETTER How Daily Meetings and Training Improve Our Service

In today’s distanced world, it’s easy to become isolated within a community and focused on your own bubble. This includes a hospital that contains multiple departments, which operate fairly independently from each other. As we’ve grown, starting from less than five employees to over 30, I don’t always bump into every single employee every day like I used to.

“Compassion!” or “Accountability!” or “Taco Tuesday!” (Hey, tacos can be a core value.)

On Fridays, we also have a weekly mandatory one-hour staff training. During these training sessions, we talk about ways we can better take care of our patients and clients, such as new organizational strategies, procedure review, and educating people on the various tasks and work we do in the hospital so people have a greater understanding of other roles. To do this, we’ll often have local speakers

However, I think it’s still more important than ever to retain the tight-knit community we’re known for and greatly benefited from, which includes staff, clients, and even patients.

That’s why one of my favorite things that we do at Petersen Pet Hospital is our morning huddle and weekly staff training events.

I started learning about doing these meetings through a professional practice consultant and never went back. It boosts team morale, communication, organization, and I love that we get team member feedback all the time.

come to educate, or we’ll even have a team member present on a certain parasite or case.

Education doesn’t always take up the full hour, though — we often begin by playing games, such as our favorite, “Catchphrase.” Since we provide lunch once a month for these training sessions, we might even have a tasty bite to enjoy as well.

Just like a football team before a big game, we do our morning huddles every single day. From 7:50 a.m. sharp to 8 a.m., we talk about staff members who may have birthdays or anniversaries that day, which we love celebrating with cake or cookies. We’ll also introduce anyone who is job shadowing and go over all our appointments, from surgeries to check-ins. If a client needs help getting a pet out of their car, all team members will be made aware of that, so we’ll make sure to have someone available to help them inside the building. If we want to put extra spring into our step, we enjoy stretching all together or going on a short walk.

It turns out that having fun is a great way to optimize a hospital’s lines of communication and team spirit —who knew? Although I didn’t always know about them, I can’t see us operating without these team meetings now. They really put a smile on all our faces and give us a bunch of laughs even before the day gets started. Anything that does that is pretty worthwhile, I think.

Thanks for reading, folks, and enjoy this wonderful summer.

–Brad Petersen

Then, for the morning huddle closing, we get pumped up for our “break” phrase. Most days, we all yell out, “Go team!”Other days, we’ll cheer a core value, such as

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Border Collie Corner

4 Key Tactics to Soothe Separation Anxiety

Hiya, friends! Sam here. With the steady COVID-19 recovery across the country, I’ve noticed a lot more people outdoors. That’s so great! I love seeing your smiling faces again when I’m on walks. However, this does mean that a lot more pets are being left at home and may be at risk for developing separation anxiety — specifically, fellow dogs. We will typically show anxiety when the owners have left the house. Symptoms can include vocalization (barking and whining), salivating, and any kind of destructive behavior, including pawing and clawing the exterior door where the owners left and tearing up the carpet. We may even soil the house by going to the bathroom indoors, despite being trained otherwise.

Meet Mackenzie and Bergen! Mackenzie grew up in Atkins, Iowa, and graduated from Benton Community High School in 2017 and Iowa State University in 2021. She earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science. Her family includes her mom (Robyn), dad (Tony), twin brother (Zach), and an older brother (Chael). She has a tabby cat named Chloe. Kenzie grew up loving animals and spent a lot of time helping with chores and caring for animals on her friend’s family farm. She also grew up around animals with miscellaneous medical issues such as cancer, heart complications, Addison’s disease, and joint problems, which boosted her interest in helping animals. In her free time, she likes running, walking, crafting, sewing, spin flags, and socializing. Bergen is a veterinary assistant at Petersen Pet Hospital. She grew up in a small town called Keota, and the people in her community always knew her as the goofy girl with a contagious smile and a genuine love for animals. Bergen graduated from high school there in 2019. After graduation, she enrolled in the Humane Officer Training Program at Kirkwood Community College and moved to Cedar Rapids. Bergen decided she would like to stay in the Cedar Rapids area and further her career, which is what led her to Petersen Pet Hospital. At a young age, Bergen’s love for animals developed, and she always knew she would have a career that involved caring for animals. When Bergen was 16, she began working at a local animal shelter, and she has worked with animals ever since. Bergen also fosters animals in need. So far, she has been a temporary home to 38 cats/kittens and 10 dogs. Two of her pets are ”foster fails”: her dog, Jax, that she saved from living his puppy days locked in a livestock trailer and her cat, Basil, that was an orphan kitten that she bottle fed since the day he was born. Bergen currently shares her home with quite the handful of pets and spends most of her time with themwhen she is not at work. She enjoys taking her dogs on walks on local nature trails and going to dog parks in the area. Bergen also enjoys fishing, going to concerts, spending time with family, and volunteering at a variety of places.

Ultimately, your priority is to teach us independence again. You want us to feel safe and in control when

Chewy Catnip Treats

Inspired by JoyTheBaker.com

Superstar blogger Joy the Baker brings her baking prowess to the felines with this delicious treat recipe for cats.

we’re alone. To do this, you may want to consult your veterinarian about the specific behaviors we’re doing. But I do have a few tips to get you started! First, anytime you’re about to leave the house, spend 30 minutes before leaving and 30 minutes after arrival to“cool down” your dog’s energy. Be very low-key and business-like with your dog. If you play with them before leaving and they’re already super riled up, their feelings of panic when you leave may intensify. Also, when you return home, feel free to greet your dog and let them outside, but don’t act energetic or exuberant. Keep it low-key, and it’ll emphasize that your absence is no big deal. Second, before leaving the house, give your dog a tasty treat! If you give them a toy with peanut butter on the inside, it’ll redirect their attention while you leave. Also, it’ll incentivise the dog every time you leave, making your pet excited for that treat every time you go. Third, increase the amount of exercise your dog gets. Whether that means longer walks, hiring a dog walker, or utilizing a dog day care, distracting your dog with physical and mental stimulation can be a huge help in allowing them to feel calmer throughout the day. Fourth, teach your dog the“stay” command and don’t allow them to follow you around the house. If your dog is constantly following you to the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and anywhere else you go, it might be time to teach them a little distance. Give them a corner to “stay” in and make sure to give them plenty of treats when they obey!

5 Tips for Your Next Affordable Getaway Are you excited to explore the world again? Or maybe you’ve just gotten back from your latest vacation! In either case, the economic challenges of the pandemic might require travelers to plan their trips a little smarter. Here are five tricks to do just that. 1. Consider your budget while choosing your destination. Any destination heavily impacted by tourists is going to be more expensive to visit. So, consider taking a tour through various French countryside towns instead of Paris! Not only could it be more culturally immersing, but it may even be more relaxing and less stressful than visiting a dense area. 2. Sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flights. One of the most important parts of booking an affordable vacation is booking it at the right time. Scott’s Cheap Flights will track all the cheapest flights at an airport of your choice — you’ll get over 50%–75% savings on highly rated airlines. This will get you stress-free travel for a much lower price! 3. Travel in a group. If you travel with friends, your expenses become a lot more manageable. Let’s say you and a partner travel with two other couples — renting a swanky cabin at $200 a night will only cost around $33 per person. Plus, you will create some amazing memories together! 4. Plan your meal budget ahead of time. Looking forward to eating certain dishes? Find local menus and prices to ensure you don’t spend more than you planned. If you want an authentic and homestyle culinary experience, consider signing up for a peer-to-peer dining experience through Traveling Spoon or Bon Appetour, which is tax-free as well! 5. Consider volunteering for vacation. Want to go on a self-discovery trip? Why not cut your expenses in half by volunteering? For example, Habitat for Humanity offers a nine-day Mexico trip for $1,200 with lodging, food, and activities included. You’ll get to build structures and create something permanent for the local community.

That’s it for me. If you have any more questions, don’t be shy to give us a call! Thanks, newsletter friends!

INGREDIENTS • 1 large egg •

• • •

2 tbsp water

1 4-oz can of your cat’s favorite wet food 1/4 cup parsley, chopped

1 cup brown rice flour

1/2 cup cooked rice (white or brown)

• •

2 tsp olive oil

•

1 tbsp catnip

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 325 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, wet food, parsley, oil, and water until well combined. 3. Add rice flour and cooked rice, stirring to incorporate. 4. Spread mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. It should be about 1/3-inch thick. 5. Bake for 10–12 minutes, then remove from oven and let cool just enough to handle. Slice into bite-size pieces then return to the oven to bake for another 8 minutes. 6. Remove from oven and let cool completely before serving to your feline friends. 7. Store treats in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Traveling on a dime is no sweat with the right tools. Best of luck, traveler!

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

The Secret to PPH’s Premiere Customer Service

PRIMARY

BLACK Meet Mackenzie and Bergen! 4 Key Tactics to Soothe Dog Separation Anxiety 50% BLACK

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Chewy Catnip Cat Treats Want to Save on Your Next Vacation?

SECONDARY

Meet Odin, the Fireproof Dog

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Meet Odin, the Fireproof Dog

This Great Pyrenees Guided His Goats Through aWildfire

In October 2017, California was in flames. One of those blazes was the Tubbs Fire, which charred its way through 36,800 miles of forests and vineyards in both Napa and Sonoma County. More than 5,600 buildings were destroyed, and 22 people were killed. But when the flames finally died, a four-legged hero emerged from the ashes: Odin, the Great Pyrenees dog. Odin belonged to Ariel and Roland Hendel, two farmers in Sonoma County. When the Tubbs Fire threatened to char their home, they packed up as many of their animals and precious items as they could. Unfortunately, their flock of goats wouldn’t fit in the getaway vehicle — and their goat-herding dog, Odin, refused to abandon them. Great Pyrenees are prized livestock guardian dogs that will do anything to protect their charges, and Odin lived up to his breed.

“In the distance, I saw Odin’s tail,” Roland told ABC. “Sure enough, there was Odin coming at the head of all his goats.”

Not only did Odin survive the fire and run right up to the Hendels for belly rubs, but he also kept every single one of his goats safe! A few wild deer even joined the goats, and he shepherded them through unscathed. The incredible story made the news, and Odin became a local legend. Unfortunately, even legends don’t live forever. This April, Odin passed away after a long life of tail-wagging, treat-eating, and goat-saving. In his honor, Great Pyrenees Rescue of Missouri gifted the Hendels two new Great Pyrenees pups: Buddy and Snowflake. They’re following in Odin’s pawsteps, protecting the goats he loved so much.

“I said, ‘Okay, Odin, take care of the goats. You’ll be fine,’” Roland Hendel told ABC News.

Both Hendels were sure they were seeing their dog for the last time. Their hearts sank even further when they heard their home had burned down completely. But on a trip back to examine the ashes, something amazing happened.

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