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Pets First Monthly
April 2021
Reminiscing on Easter Hi everyone! Dr. Emily Saunders here, partner veterinarian at Petersen Pet Hospital. I’m pretty thrilled about getting a chance to chat with you all this month. With Easter landing in April this year, I’ve been reminiscing about my family. This holiday season has to be one of my favorites.
Why? Waking up on Easter morning. A long time ago, I used to work as a kennel assistant, and I’d have to work on Easter morning (even if hiding treats in pet kennels made it a little more fun!). These days, I get to experience my favorite part of waking up on Easter: seeing my kids wake up on Easter.
They’re always so thrilled because they know that our family Easter traditions have just begun! We have plenty of traditions you might expect, like a big family breakfast before we go to church. Then, after we all get home, there’s egg dying and Easter egg hunts. That’s when our family gets a little serious. At our big family Easter hunt in Minnesota, which is a six-hour drive north from home, my uncle dressed up in a huge Easter bunny costume and hopped into the woods to hide all the eggs. It’s not a straightforward path into the woods, either! There are tall bushes and ponds, but it always brought the grandkids a lot of joy to see the Easter bunny in action. Now that my uncle is older, my brother and cousins carry on the tradition, hopping around in the same Easter bunny costume.
Perhaps what makes Easter especially neat was that I announced to my parents that I was pregnant with my third kid on Easter. I wrote it on an Easter egg with crayon, then dipped it in dye, which helped the writing appear clearly. My parents loved it! My mom must’ve kept that egg for two months afterward. Oddly enough, the egg even predicted the future. I’d dyed it without knowing or thinking about whether the third would be a boy or girl. Looking back, the egg was pink and she turned out to be a girl! After two boys, that was a relief and a wonderful coincidence!
Of course, in recent times, we haven’t been able to gather to do it. It’s one of the many family activities that we look forward to participating in again soon, including the city’s Easter egg hunt. However, we’ll still be having a roasted ham dinner and a little hunt of our own at home. In a way, we’ll still have a mini Easter bunny with us — I have a bunny costume I’ve dressed up each of my three kids in as they’ve grown.
Thanks for reminiscing with me, friends. From our family to yours, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!
–Dr. Emily Saunders
www.PetersenPetHospital.com
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Border Collie Corner Why Cones Are Essential to Your Pet’s Recovery
Meet Taunia
Hi newsletter friends! Hopefully, this April doesn’t bring too many showers, but I know, sometimes, we all need a little rain — especially the flowers! That’s why this month, I wanted to talk about the importance of Elizabethan collars — also known as an e-collar or “the cone of shame.”
Our Longtime Client and New Hospital Manager!
Pets often receive these collars when they’ve had injuries on their torso or tail, because the cone will
Hi everyone! I’m Taunia Bradley, and I’m thrilled to be the new practice manager at Petersen Pet Hospital. My role is to ensure the practice runs smoothly, assisting Dr. Emily and Dr. Brad with anything they need. I managed a chiropractic practice for 15 years, but like many others, I lost my job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That was a scary moment. I wasn’t sure what would come next. But then, I got extremely lucky. Dr. Brad, who’d been my veterinarian for 18 years and knew about my work, gave me a call to ask for candidate recommendations. They had an opening, and I told him, “Actually, I just saw your posting!” It felt like destiny came ringing. My family and I have loved Petersen Pet Hospital since our first dog, Max. Even as Max passed, it struck me that their customer service was so excellent. Perhaps what has surprised me the most about Petersen so far — although it didn’t come as a major shock — is just how genuine their love and care for their patients is behind the scenes. It’s pretty scary when your pet has to undergo surgery. However, I was able to observe a few surgeries during my first few days. And I can tell you with 100% certainty: If your animal needs surgery, they’re getting the absolute best care at Petersen Pet Hospital. It’d warm your heart to see just how attentive and loving the staff is! Overall, that’s what I love about Petersen Pet Hospital the most — the positive environment. I love that we can be a place where people don’t dread taking their pet; we can be a place where clients and patients feel at ease, even at home. I can’t wait to help do my part! When I’m not working, I’m a busy mom, although our home isn’t as crazy as it used to be. I have three children, two in college and one in middle school. You could say I have a fourth child —my 4-year-old dog Bear, who is a very spoiled boy. He sits at the dinner table and wants to be part of everything. We love it, and he’s definitely a treat to come home to.
help prevent the pet from chewing up their wounds or loosening any stitches. Conversely, cones can protect pets in the reverse situation! If a pet has an ear infection or a scratch on their eyelid, a cone can help prevent pets from scratching their face and worsening the wound.
Homemade Dog Food You’ll Want to Try
This dish will become an instant classic for your pup! Use as a meal or treat. Consult with your veterinarian before committing exclusively to homemade food for your pet.
Thanks so much for reading, everyone. See you around during your next checkup!
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Contact us! 319-743-0554
Vacation Destinations That Will Pay You to Visit
There are only a few cases when a cone might not help a scratched or injured patient. If a pet has a tip-of-tail injury, they may find a way to bite or lick it, which creates a good environment for bacteria to grow and cause problems. This is especially a problem for cats, who have sandpaper-like tongues! I know it can be a little heartbreaking to see a cone on your best friend. Trust me, we don’t like it any more than you do! But even when we howl, moan, or lie in defeat, it’s very important to keep the collars on until the doctor says you can take them off. Even if you only take it off for a day, a pet can still do significant damage to their wounds in a short time.
In the wake of COVID-19, tourist destinations worldwide have been hit hard. To lure travelers back, some places are offering steep discounts and other incentives throughout all of 2021. With cheap airfare and great deals on accommodations, tours, food, and more, you can take a luxury vacation on a dime this year. Mexican Caribbean Few words evoke the image of beaches, sun, and saltwater like “Cancun” does. This Mexican locale has become synonymous with leisure, as have other destinations in the Caribbean — beautiful places like Isla Mujeres or the Riviera Maya. Tourists can visit all of them at a steep discounted rate until the end of 2021 thanks to promotions from the Hotel Association of Cancun and the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion’s council. Head to En.Come2MexicanCaribbean.com to find vouchers for two free nights in a hotel for every two you pay for, steeply discounted airfare, and even options for free food and drinks. Thai Paradise Although it’s no longer the hidden destination it once was, there are still a lot of good reasons to visit Thailand. In addition to being an affordable place to travel, Thailand also has great food and an amazing climate. To make up for the financial hit due to suspended travel because of the virus, the Cape Fahn Hotel is offering incentives into 2021 including a complimentary upgrade to the next class of care, which gives economy spenders access to executive accommodations. Other incentives include free meals, round-trip airport service, and discounted beach picnics and boat tours. Check out CapeFahnHotel.com/offers for more information. Whistler, British Columbia Although this destination in British Columbia might be known for its winter activities, there’s a lot to love about Whistler in late spring and early summer! One great thing? The amazing array of money-saving options you can find here. The Riverside Resort, for example, is offering mountain-view cabins at a 3-for-2 discount —pay for two nights and get a third for free! Traveling to Canada can be tricky at the moment, but if you use a good travel agent, you can take advantage of some great deals. Other incentives in the region include free meals (or a per diemmeal rebate) as well as discounts on guided tours.
If you feel bad for your bestie while they’re wearing a cone, or if your pet is acting adversely to it, there are ways you can comfort them. First, try your best to comfort them with the ways you know how. Give them a treat, go for a walk, or even play while it’s still on. It’ll take some time for your pet to get used to it, but they will. An important check when your pet is wearing a cone is whether they can eat or drink with it on. On the first day, hold up the food bowl to their mouths before laying it on the ground, and see whether they can continue eating. If the cone prevents them, try elevating the food bowl or use a smaller bowl that’ll fit in the cone. If your pet’s cone really has you and your pet down, make the cone a little more fun! I loved the cow-patterned cone that a schnauzer wore the other day. I thought the cone was moo-nifacient! Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time.
INGREDIENTS • 6 cups water
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1 lb ground turkey
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2 cups brown rice
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8 oz frozen broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower mix
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large Dutch oven, add water, turkey, and rice. Stir until everything is evenly mixed.
2.
Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
3.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Stir in the frozen vegetables and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
5. Allow the food to cool before serving and refrigerate between feedings.
Inspired by AllRecipes.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
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Reminiscing on Easter
PRIMARY
BLACK Meet Our Longtime Client and New Hospital Manager! Border Collie Corner: The Cone of Salvation 50% BLACK
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Homemade Dog Food You’ll Want to Try Vacations That Pay
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SECONDARY
A Tail That Inspired Thousands
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Winter the Dolphin A Tail That Inspired Thousands
Winter the dolphin was only 2 years old when rescuers found her with a crab trap line wrapped so tightly around her tail it was cutting off the circulation to her flukes. Unfortunately, this led to the eventual loss of her tail. In most cases, dolphins can’t survive without their flukes. When Winter first arrived at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, her caregivers worried about her overall health. The infection that had taken over her tail due to loss of circulation was spreading, and if it reached her spinal cord, they knew she would die. Fortunately, her spinal cord remained untouched. Winter adapted to her situation, but then a new problem arose. Without flukes, Winter began moving her body side-to-side to
swim, which caused scoliosis in her spine. However, an expert created a custom prosthetic tail for her, enabling her to swim normally again without impacting her spine. Since then, Winter has thrived! The story of what Winter went through, her struggle to recover, and how she fought to live has inspired thousands of people. Children and adults who have lost their limbs or were born with disabilities travel from around the world to meet her. She encourages people to keep fighting, and many feel that if Winter could overcome her obstacles, they can, too. There was even a film made about her called “Dolphin Tale.” In fact, many of the scenes from the movie were shot at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and Winter starred as herself. The film captures her triumphant story and chronicles how she inspires people around the world. To learn more about Winter, read inspirational stories, or donate to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, visit CMAquarium.org. And, of course, “Dolphin Tale” is a great film for your next movie night!
Contact us! 319-743-0554
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