Petersen Pet Hospital - November 2023

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Pets First Monthly

November 2023

I Aim to Make Your Visit a Rewarding Experience My Time at Hy-Vee Continues to Help Me Today!

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This quote by Maya Angelou runs through my mind often, as I always want to be mindful of your experience when you enter the clinic. I know how nerve-wracking it can be to bring your pet to see us when they feel unwell or have strange symptoms. Your animal companions add so much joy to your life, and you can’t imagine living without them! Because of their fruitful impact, I will go the extra mile to put your fears at ease and help your pets continue to live long and happy lives. It took me time to learn how to create a nurturing experience at the veterinary hospital. My first taste of going the extra mile started in

If I saw someone searching through an aisle while I restocked shelves, I would stop and ask if they needed any help or provide alternatives to help them find what they were looking for. As a cashier, I always enjoyed speaking with customers, asking what meals they planned on cooking or if a particular brand they bought was good. Sometimes, I

we establish expectations on how to interact with you and your pet and provide strategies on how we can make your experience with us enjoyable. One of the methods I use to leave a lasting impact is sharing resources. After conducting exams, I will review my findings with you, explain behaviors and symptoms, and outline the various treatment options available for your pet. I also enjoy sharing new enrichment toys you can try, providing tips on

offered to walk a customer to their car and help them load their groceries. I hope my attention to detail enhanced their experience and made them want to shop there again.

keeping your pet engaged and entertained, and even walking you and your furry friend back to your car when I can. Many of you have expressed appreciation for the additional steps my team and I take to make you comfortable. Your insight is so beneficial, and I thank you for your honesty — it helps us improve our craft! If there is anything else we can do to make your next visit with us a rewarding experience, don’t hesitate to let me know during your next appointment.

high school and college when I worked at the Hy- Vee grocery store. If you strolled through the aisles of this store back in the ‘80s, you may remember their infamous slogan: “A helpful smile in every aisle.” This was more than just a saying you would see on the walls; every employee was extremely kind and helpful to anyone who came to shop.

Hy-Vee equipped me with the tools I needed to help make your experience with me and my team the best it can be. I always want to see your dog’s tail wagging as I greet them, your cat’s ears perk up as I give them head scratches during an exam, and the weight on your shoulder disappear after your visit. To make sure this happens, my team and I have weekly meetings where

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Hi newsletter friends! It’s your Petersen Pet canine Sam here, and today, I wanted to talk about a health condition that is ruff on dogs and a hissing fit for cats: diabetes. While you may have two-legged friends with a diabetes diagnosis, did you know your four-legged friends could also have the same condition? What is diabetes? In your pets, diabetes is a condition that can affect the concentration of glucose in your furry friend’s blood and urine. It can occur when their bodies cannot create enough insulin, stop producing the hormone, or don’t use it properly, which can cause issues when trying to convert food into energy. Border Collie Cor It’s Pet Diabetes M

Remy and His Teeth

Symptoms to look for: Some of the tell-tale signs of pet diabetes include:

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Drinking lots of water Excessive urination

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Extreme weight loss

My family adopted an elderly blue merle Shetland sheepdog in August 2022. He had several health issues, but we felt compelled to adopt him so that we could

Lack of energy

Eating more

give him a good last part of his life. We named him Remy, and I had grand plans to brush his teeth daily because Shetland sheepdogs are predisposed to developing severe dental disease. My plans were derailed when we found out he was mostly blind and would try to bite if you startled

If diabetes goes untreated, it can severely affect your pet’s body and cause other conditions, such as cataracts, enlarged liver, UTIs, seizures, and kidney failure. So, it’s best to have your pet examined sooner rather than later.

or touched him in ways he did not like. He had a professional tooth cleaning right away upon adopting him so that he could have a fresh start, but unfortunately, he could not have any teeth brushing or even an oral exam because of his behavior.

Easy 3-Ingredient Salmon Cat Treats

Remy before (left) and after (above) his annual cleaning

His behavior has improved, but I am still leery of trying to do things to his mouth. As the year anniversary of his adoption approached, his breath was getting worse, and I knew it was time for professional teeth cleaning again. Thankfully, he did not need any extractions, his teeth are nice and clean again, and his oral health is much improved. Since I cannot brush his teeth at home, I know he will need a yearly dental cleaning to keep his mouth healthy. Imagine if we did not brush our teeth for an entire year! All dogs and cats develop tartar on their teeth over time, regardless of teeth brushing or dental chews/treats. If left unchecked, continued tartar accumulation can lead to bacterial infections, bad breath, bone loss, tooth mobility or loss, and mouth pain. Performing professional teeth cleaning sooner rather than later gives you the best chance at reducing the risks of dental disease and helps keep your pet happy and healthy. Contact us at Petersen Pet Hospital if you have questions about your pet’s oral hygiene.

—Dr. Sarah Young

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THE STORY BEHIND A MIND-BLOWING CALIFORNIA RAID Hang On — The FBI Robbed a Bank? “This was the largest armed robbery in United States history, and it was committed by the FBI.” That jaw-dropping statement came from Robert Frommer, an attorney representing several hundred people whose safe deposit boxes were emptied during an FBI raid in 2021. The story is wild from start to finish. On that fateful day in March, armed FBI agents stormed a California strip mall and burst into a U.S. Private Vaults bank branch. They searched 1,400 safe deposit boxes and confiscated the contents of many of them — making off with roughly $86 million, plus valuable collectibles like coins, gold, and jewelry. Why would the agency do this? Well, after a two-year investigation, the FBI suspected U.S. Private Vaults was catering to drug dealers and other criminals hiding cash in Los Angeles. So, the agency obtained a warrant and raided the bank to look for proof. And apparently, they found it. After the raid, U.S. Private Vaults pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder drug money and closed its doors for good. However, that wasn’t the end of the saga. Remember attorney Robert Frommer? Roughly 400 people who kept their money at U.S. Private Vaults hired him to get the contents of their safe deposit boxes back from the FBI. They said they weren’t criminals and wanted their money back. One of those people was Joseph Ruiz, who lost $57,000 in savings during the FBI raid. He filed a lawsuit, claiming the raid was unconstitutional. When the FBI accused Ruiz of making his money through illegal drug sales, Ruiz showed proof of his income, and in August 2021, the FBI agreed to return his funds. However, not every U.S. Private Vaults customer has been so lucky. In September 2022, a judge ruled that the FBI raid was legal under civil forfeiture laws and dismissed the depositors’ class-action lawsuit. An FBI spokesperson also said the agency was putting a process in place to return items to innocent owners, but as of March 2023, at least one person still claimed she hadn’t gotten her money back — even though she wasn’t criminally charged.

rner Month!

How do you diagnose a pet with diabetes? After you inform the humans at Petersen Pet Hospital of your furry companion’s symptoms, they will test

your cat’s or dog’s blood and urine to see signs of high glucose. It’s important to note that there must be signs of elevated sugar in your pet’s blood and urine. If there’s only high glucose in one, that means something else may be going on that our veterinarians need to examine. Is there a cure for diabetes? Unfortunately, diabetes is not curable, but it is treatable! The team at Petersen Pet Hospital will provide insulin shots you can give your furry friend each day, outline different diets and nutritional plans your pet can try, and provide tips on keeping your companion active to avoid sudden spikes or drops in glucose levels. In honor of Pet Diabetes Month, check in on your furry friends and ensure they are healthy on the inside and the outside by bringing them in for a visit. If you have questions or concerns about your pet’s health, Petersen Pet Hospital will gladly assist you!

Your cat will feel spoiled with these salmon-filled treats that are surprisingly simple to make.

INGREDIENTS •

10 oz canned salmon, undrained

1 egg, beaten

2 cups whole wheat flour

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2.

In a food processor, pulse undrained salmon until finely chopped. 3. In a stand mixer, combine salmon, egg, and whole wheat flour until dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add up to 1/3 cup of water. If it’s too wet, add a little more flour. The dough should be sticky but not wet. 4. On a floured surface, roll out the dough until around 1/4-inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut your treats. On a parchment- lined baking sheet, place treats and bake for around 20 minutes or until slightly browned. Let cool before serving!

If this story ever becomes a Hollywood movie, we’ll be first in line at the box office.

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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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Do You Remember Hy-Vee’s Catchy Motto?

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Dental Care for a Skittish Old Dog Border Collie Corner: Pet Diabetes Month

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Easy 3-Ingredient Salmon Cat Treats Did the FBI Really ‘Steal’ $86 Million?

SECONDARY

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The Heroic Hound Who Saved a Life in 2011 Tsunami in Japan

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A Dog’s Intuition: How Babu Saved Her Human From a Tsunami

The tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011 was unimaginable; the natural disaster killed nearly 20,000 people in minutes. But amid the chaos, there was at least one tiny miracle: an 11-year-old Shih Tzu named Babu. Tami Akanuma, an 83-year-old woman living in the coastal city of Miyako, had her typical morning interrupted by a 9.0 earthquake that shook her house roughly 200 yards from the coast. When it stopped, she breathed a sigh of relief, but Babu became extremely agitated. The small dog began frantically pacing around the living room, moaning, and jumping at the door. Though it was early for Babu’s morning walk, Akanuma decided to appease her. Sources differ on what happened next. Some say officials broadcast a tsunami warning, and Akanuma realized she must evacuate, while others state she knew nothing of the impending disaster.

But everyone agrees that Babu jumped into action. She instantly headed for a large hill near Akanuma’s home — the opposite direction of the pair’s usual walk. Akanuma did not dismiss the dog’s instincts. Babu tugged urgently at her leash, running as far as she could before turning to her owner. Akanuma said Babu seemed to be encouraging her to move faster, and the dog ran ahead every time Akanuma caught up. Akanuma later estimated they walked more than half a mile in a few minutes. Only moments after the duo finally reached the top of the hill, they watched an enormous wave wash over their home. The house was destroyed, but Akanuma and Babu escaped with their lives. How did Babu do it? People have long suspected that animals can predict natural disasters, but the truth is elusive. Scientists agree that animals aren’t psychic

but disagree on whether something else might be at play. Some attribute the supposed phenomenon to the “psychological focusing effect,” or a human tendency to emphasize one detail in our memories while discarding others. But others point to dogs’ heightened senses of hearing and smell, suggesting animals may be able to detect small atmospheric changes that humans can’t. No matter the explanation, Akanuma credited her dog with saving her life, and the two gratefully celebrated Babu’s 12th birthday from an evacuation shelter only weeks later.

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