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Pets First Monthly
August 2025
TOXIC TROUBLE Summer Hazards for Happy Pets
Summer!
pet eats a tomato plant that hasn’t ripened, they can experience stomach irritation, vomiting, drooling, weakness, and a lack of coordination. Consuming rhubarb leaves, garlic plants, or onions can lead to kidney disease or kidney failure and destroy red blood cells to the point of causing anemia. Additionally, eating grapes can cause kidney failure in pets. MUSHROOMS You should also be mindful of any wild mushrooms growing on your property, as identifying which ones could be toxic is often tricky. Eating poisonous mushrooms can lead to stomach irritation, neurological abnormalities, and even liver failure. MULCH Eating mulch can lead to obstruction, the introduction of foreign bodies, and a host of other
That word often inspires joy and excitement for humans, but it also holds special meaning for our pets. Like us, our cats and dogs love playing outside in the fresh air under a clear sky. Although this season can be a delightful time of year for our beloved animal companions, it can also be dangerous if their curiosity leads them to get into things that could harm them. Here is a short list of common summer toxins you should help your pets avoid over the next several weeks. GOPHER AND MOLE BAIT Not surprisingly, this bait can be highly toxic to your pets. Ingestion — even in a small amount — can cause vomiting, seizures, heart issues, and respiratory distress. Common signs of ingestion include vomiting and excessive drooling. In extreme cases, it can cause death. Although supportive care is available when pets ingest this bait, no definitive antidote exists.
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE This threat isn’t as commonly acknowledged as some of the others, but it’s equally essential to consider. This algae is often
found in stagnant water, and its presence frequently results in signage being placed around the affected area as a warning. Blue-green algae is especially risky for pets, as it can cause stomach pain, weakness, blistering, seizures, and difficulty breathing. In extreme cases, it can lead to comas and possibly death. These eight points are just a few common summer dangers for your pets. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about anything discussed in this article or would like information on additional things to consider to help keep your cats and dogs happy and healthy. The outdoors should be enjoyable for everyone — including your pets. Please do what you can to ensure they enjoy the great weather as safely as we do.
issues. Cocoa bean mulch can cause seizures and heart and stomach issues. FERTILIZERS If you use fertilizer on your property, ensure it is dry before
COMPOST BINS AND WASTE Compost can build up dangerous mold, so it’s best to keep your compost spots fenced off and away from pets and area wildlife. Mold consumption can cause
letting your pets go outside again. Ingesting fertilizer can cause stomach upset and lead to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). PESTICIDES Pesticides should always be a concern for pet owners, as most of them cause vomiting and diarrhea when consumed. In large doses, they may lead to neurological abnormalities.
stomach upset and even neurological issues. Contact us urgently if you suspect or know that your pet has eaten mold on compost. GARDENING Gardening can be fun for the whole human family, but it can pose threats to our furry friends. If your
–Dr. Emily Saunders
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A BERNEDOODLE’S BIG JOURNEY TO HEALTH In February, Bernie — a sweet, little bernedoodle — was brought to us after experiencing unusual episodes of foaming at the mouth, snapping his jaw, and seeming agitated. He was only 18 months old at the time. His first episode was in April 2024, when he was excited over a new toy. A second episode happened in October after grooming. The February episodes were more frequent and occurred over two days, so his mom scheduled him for an exam with us. His exam in February was normal, and it was difficult to tell if he was lip-smacking from nausea or pain or if the unusual activity was due to focal seizures. We sent out complete bloodwork to ensure that his blood counts, electrolytes, and organ functions were okay. Over the next several hours, Bernie started having more frequent and worsening episodes. His mom sent us videos of the episodes, and I was consulting veterinary neurologists over this increasingly concerning seizure activity. FROM DROOL TO DIAGNOSIS
SUBWAY
CAT NAPS A
Yawn!
Please excuse my sleepiness; I’ve been pretty lazy lately. If I didn’t have to write this article, I’d still be napping on the windowsill.
Perhaps you’ve noticed that your cat has been more lethargic than usual these days. Before you panic, let me assure you that summertime is typically a very sleepy season for feline friends. Generally, cats tend to sleep more during warmer months, sometimes up to 16 hours a day! It’s common for me to be in the same spot in the evening when my human mom returns from work as I was when she left in the morning! In most cases, this tendency for cats to sleep a lot in summer is completely normal — it’s something we inherited from our ancestors to conserve energy and regulate our heat during the warmest times of the day. We may also eat less on really hot days.
In August, you’ll likely find us lying near a fan, in a sink, on cool floor tile, under
Bernie ended up going to the emergency clinic and was hospitalized for two days to get his seizures under control. He was started on oral anti-seizure medications, which he will need to take for the rest of his life. There are many causes of seizures, but he likely has epilepsy given his normal bloodwork and toxin- and infection-free history.
Bernie’s mom was very astute in noticing the unusual behavior. She was invaluable in sending the videos that we and the neurologists were able to assess to determine that seizures had caused his behavior. Videos can be very helpful in situations like Bernie’s, as his seizures weren’t apparent in the exam room. Seizures can look like the stereotypical grand mal seizure — where dogs fall over, paddle, and lose control of their bowels — but can also be less obvious, like Bernie’s, where his facial muscles were twitching, his mouth was chattering, and he was fly-biting and drooling. Bernie is doing great on his anti-seizure medications, and his seizures are currently under control. We have to keep a close eye on him for any breakthrough seizures and monitor his bloodwork, but he’s living his best life! If you notice any unusual behaviors in your dog or cat, take videos and let us know! We’re happy to help.
—Dr. Sarah Young
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Y’S CORNER AND COOL CORNERS
a bed or sofa, or stretched out in a shady corner somewhere. We’re not being weird (well, at least not weirder than usual); we’re just doing what we can to not overheat.
Now, here’s the funny thing: We do enjoy warm spots, too. You may see us sit on a windowsill all day long or lie in the sun. We love being warm; we just don’t want to overdo it. We’re a lot like humans in that way. No matter what we do to stay comfortable in the summer, please help us by making sure we have access to plenty of fresh water. And if you find us sleeping, try not to wake us up. We may be in the middle of a dream and get pretty grumpy if pulled out of it. These are the “dog days of summer,” but they can be fun for cats, too! Please help us enjoy the season by doing your part to keep us cool. And with that, it’s time for another nap!
A tiny desert town along Route 66 in Arizona is home to a new hero — a big, shaggy ranch dog who rescued a toddler lost in the desert this past April. Desert Hero Rancher’s Dog Rescues Toddler Lost in the Desert Two-year-old Boden Allen was missing from his Seligman, Arizona, home for 16 hours when a 6-year-old Anatolian Pyrenees named Buford appeared in his master’s driveway with the child at his side — 7 miles from Boden’s home. Buford’s owner, Scotty Dunton, had heard about the child’s disappearance. “I noticed my dog was sitting by the entrance (to his ranch),” he said, “and the little kid’s standing there with my dog!” He calmed the child, who was unharmed except for a few scrapes and nicks, and gave him water and food while calling authorities. Dunton was overjoyed. “I was ecstatic that he was okay and that my dog found him,” he said.
Help your pup stay cool with a tasty, sweet treat you may have to steal a bite of for yourself! This easy, handmade doggie ice cream is a safe way for them to enjoy a cool dessert to help beat the heat, and it takes only moments to prepare. DOGGIE ICE CREAM Inspired by FoodWithFeeling.com
Dunton asked Boden if he had been walking all night, and the child told him no, he had been lying under a tree. “Did my dog find you?” Dunton asked Boden.
He wasn’t surprised when the child said yes. Dunton traced the little boy’s tracks more than a mile from his ranch, with Buford’s paw prints beside them. “That’s what he does,” Dunton said of Buford. “He loves kids. I can imagine he wouldn’t leave him when he found him.” Dunton’s discovery of the little boy ended an anxious 16-hour search by more than 40 search-and-rescue volunteers, sheriff’s deputies, and state public-safety officers. Wearing only a tank top and pajama pants, Boden had wandered away at about 5 p.m. into rugged desert terrain, where two mountain lions were spotted later that night. Boden’s frantic parents had reported his absence to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. Dunton says he wasn’t surprised by Buford’s protective behavior. “He is a guardian dog. He patrols all night and keeps coyotes away,” he says. The Anatolian Pyrenees is a crossbreed, a combination of a Great Pyrenees and an Anatolian shepherd, known for its intelligence, gentleness, and protective nature.
INGREDIENTS • 16 oz plain yogurt • 1 ripe banana •
1/3 cup natural, xylitol-free peanut butter
DIRECTIONS 1. Add the yogurt, banana, and peanut butter to a blender or food processor. 2. Blend until smooth. 3. Pour the mixture into containers or molds and place in the freezer for a few hours to harden.
In appreciation for their neighborhood hero, Buford’s admirers piled chew toys, bones, and other gifts on Dunton’s doorstep for days after the rescue.
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1031 Kacena Road Hiawatha, IA 52233 www.PetersenPetHospital.com 319-743-0554
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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
PRIMARY Inside This Issue
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Warm Weather Woes to Avoid
PMS4655
BLACK
50% BLACK
Fly-Bites and Findings
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Summer Secrets for Sleepy Felines
SECONDARY
Doggie Ice Cream
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PMS292 Against All Odds, a Ranch Dog Brings a Lost Toddler Home PMS5635 PMS1215
PMS258
The Natural Way to Fight Off Summer Bugs (No Harsh Sprays Needed!)
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How to Use Plants and Scents to Repel Insects NATURE VS. NATURE
USE NATURAL AROMAS Many bugs have super-sensitive noses, and certain scents repel them. Essential oils like citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and lemongrass are natural bug repellents. You can make your own spray by mixing a few drops of any of these scents with water and a carrier oil (like witch hazel or coconut oil), then spritzing it on your skin or clothes. Just make sure you’re cautious with essential oils around pets and kids. SMOKE THEM OUT Burning herbs like sage or rosemary in your campfire or fire pit not only smells amazing but also helps keep mosquitoes and gnats at bay. Bugs hate the smoke from these plants, and it’s an easy, low-effort way to keep them off your picnic table.
There’s nothing quite like summer. Backyard barbecues, evening hikes, and late-night stargazing. All of it is magical — until bugs crash the party. Mosquitoes, gnats, and ticks don’t need an invite, and before you know it, you’re scratching your ankles and swatting at the air. But you don’t have to douse yourself in strong sprays and chemicals to keep them away. Here are five natural ways to repel bugs this summer — no chemicals required. CHOOSE LOOSE CLOTHING Believe it or not, your outfit can make a big difference. Light-colored, loose-fitting clothing is less attractive to mosquitoes and helps prevent them from biting through fabric. Covering up exposed skin is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself. It’s specifically helpful to wear long sleeves and pants at dusk and dawn, when bugs are most active.
WATCH YOUR SCENTS Surprisingly, it’s not just about what repels bugs — it’s also about avoiding what attracts them. Fragranced lotions, perfumes, and even certain soaps can lure bugs to you. In summer, it’s smart to go unscented when heading outdoors. KEEP YOUR SPACE CLEAN If you have standing water on your property, it’s a mosquito’s favorite breeding ground. Make sure you dump water from flower pots, birdbaths, or kiddie pools regularly. And if you’re entertaining outside, clean up food scraps and trash — flies and ants will sniff that out fast.
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