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Pets First Monthly
April 2025
PAWS AND PLAY THE BEAUTIFUL BONDS BETWEEN KIDS AND PETS
I couldn’t wait to start writing this month’s cover article!
that came out of that instrument were interesting on their own, Jim’s vocal accomplishment brought the proceedings to the next level!
April is a special month for me, as National Kids and Pets Day is celebrated on the 26th. If you’re unfamiliar with the holiday, it celebrates the special bond between children and pets and helps teach kids the importance of caring for and interacting with animals in general. It also reminds me of how much I enjoy seeing the special relationship young people share with their nonhuman companions. I have three kiddos of my own, and we have a lot of pets, too. Kaleb, my oldest son, was about 2 years old when we got our dog, Jim. They’ve grown up together, and the strong bond they’ve built is beautiful to experience. When Kaleb was younger, he would read books to Jim, and the two of them could often be found sitting together in a laundry basket while watching a Kindle! When Kaleb would go sledding, Jim would always be right there chasing after him to make sure he was okay. One of my most precious memories of the two was when Kaleb took up playing the trumpet. Although the sounds
Jim is a good family dog. He still likes to sleep by the kids, and he’ll move to different bedrooms throughout the night to visit them all. He also loves joining me or our babysitter at the top of the hill to wait for the school bus to pull up and drop them off. As a mom of kiddos and dogs, I know how important it was that my human children understood how to interact with Jim and our other pets properly. I read the book “Tails Are Not for Pulling” by Elizabeth Verdick to them so many times, but it really helped them learn to treat all animals with compassion and respect. Most bites that kids get come from their family dogs, so it’s essential to encourage young humans to be careful and kind when playing with their furry friends. It’s also important to supervise your kiddos’ interaction with their pets and teach them not to pet other animals without asking if it’s okay first, not to take toys away from an animal, and to give them plenty of personal space when they’re eating or drinking from their bowls. If you have a pet who was a part of the family before a kiddo arrived, there are some easy ways to help them get used to your new little one. Try to set up the crib and other baby-related items as soon as possible to help them feel comfortable being around them, and play the sound of a baby crying around them to ease their adaptability to that sound so they don’t get stressed when they inevitably hear it for real in otherwise peaceful moments. A baby’s presence can cause your pet anxiety at first, but that feeling can be lessened with some extra forethought and care. Who knows … maybe they’ll both end up together in your laundry basket someday.
The human-animal bond is one of our world’s greatest gifts. Happy National Kids and Pets Day! May we always cherish the unique joys they bring to our lives.
–Dr. Emily Saunders
KALEB & JIM, 12 YEARS AGO AND NOW
www.PetersenPetHospital.com
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SUBWAY
LITTLE DOG, HUGE VICTORY
A GUIDE TO
Bailey Triumphs Over Blood Disorder
Hello, fellow cats and friendly humans! I’m back with an important message for animal guardians that may help my kitty compadres live healthier and happier lives. If you notice your cat being extra lethargic, not eating well, hiding in places where we normally don’t go, breathing a little heavier than usual, or even fainting on occasion, you need to get them checked for heart disease right away. Heart problems in cats can come on seemingly out of the blue and may not display any symptoms at all. Unlike people or dogs, we don’t always “cough” when our ticker’s in trouble, so our heart disease may go unnoticed until it’s too late. It’s important that you bring your cat(s) to Petersen Pet Hospital at least once a year — and twice annually if they’re 8 or older — for a check-up. If the Petersen team notices a heart murmur or another issue, they will recommend further testing. They may perform a blood test, which will tell them if they have any damage to their heart muscles. They might also do X-rays, an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound), or an electrocardiogram (EKG). Also, cat parents need to watch out for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) — whoa, big cat word! — a disease in which part of the heart becomes thick and can’t pump blood effectively to get oxygen
Bailey is a handsome, 7-year-old Morkie who visited Dr. Knutson and her team last fall for his annual exam. His exam results were great, but he had accumulated enough tartar on his teeth to require dental treatment. However, Bailey had been diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder called Von Willebrand disease (VWD) before being seen at Petersen Pet Hospital. To help keep him safe for this procedure, Dr. Knutson recommended checking his clotting times and Von Willebrand factor to assess the disease’s severity. Bailey has a history of prolonged bleeding, including when he tore a toenail. After blood draws, he develops a massive bruise if proper measures aren’t taken. Bailey came back in for a blood draw for these additional tests. Blood was drawn from his front leg, and the area was wrapped for the next 24 hours to prevent a large bruise from forming. The testing results revealed that although one clotting time was normal, the other was mildly prolonged. Surprisingly, his Von Willebrand factor was normal! Although it turned out he didn’t have VWD, we still didn’t have an answer for his prolonged bleeding.
Dr. Knutson recommended that Bailey return for another special blood draw so that samples could be overnighted to Cornell University, which has a Comparative Coagulation Laboratory that provides comprehensive animal blood coagulation disorders testing. Before long, we had a diagnosis: He had a deficiency in Factor VIII protein, meaning he had hemophilia A. Hemophilia A is a rare inherited clotting disorder in dogs. It most often occurs in males and is caused by a deficiency in Factor VIII, which is critical for normal blood clot formation. Dogs with hemophilia A can spontaneously bleed into joints or muscles, causing lameness and swelling. In severe cases, it can even be fatal if hemorrhage occurs within the chest or abdomen. This disease tends to be more severe in large-breed dogs, so it’s good that Bailey only weighs 5 pounds!
Bailey
Bailey’s hemophilia A diagnosis means that he will need to go to a specialty hospital for any necessary anesthetic procedures. He will require an IV blood transfusion to receive the necessary blood products before the procedure to help his blood clot normally.
We’re so grateful Bailey is the best boy for his visits to Petersen Pet Hospital!
—Dr. Krystal Knutson
Contact us! 319-743-0554
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Y’S CORNER
O CAT CARDIAC CARE
to the body. It can cause congestive heart failure or, in rare cases, sudden death, and the condition does not always come with noticeable warning signs. Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer … err … I mean Sad Sack Subway, but I only get to put my paws on the keyboard every other month, so I want to make it count in helping keep other felines as healthy as they can be. If you have any questions or concerns about anything in my message, please contact Petersen Pet Hospital for more info.
Everyone likes to believe their canine companions would jump into action if they noticed someone or something in danger. However, most dogs will never be in a position to save a life or avert a catastrophe. That’s probably a good thing, as watching one of your best friends risk their life for others would be incredibly stressful. In 2021, a Virginia family experienced precisely that as they witnessed their goldendoodle attempt a heroic rescue with a heartwarming aftermath. During an early summer evening, Ralph Dorn’s dog, Harley, was gone. He started surveying the lake behind his Culpepper, Virginia, home when he spotted the goldendoodle about 200 feet from shore. At first, he wondered what his dog was doing in the water, but he soon realized his trusty pup was not alone. Harley was swimming alongside a tiny baby deer. RESCUE, COMFORT, AND REUNION How Harley Became a Real-Life Hero
Make these delicious treats if your pup is showing symptoms of gluten intolerance. Dogs say they’re tasty! Gluten-Free Peanut Butter and Bacon Dog Treats Inspired by TidyMom.net
“Not sure how the fawn got out there, but Harley obviously didn’t ask why. He just jumped into action,” Dorn, 62, wrote in a Facebook post.
Harley helped the fawn to shore, where Dorn greeted the animals and helped them climb back onto dry land. Once the deer was out of the water, Harley immediately started licking the fawn to comfort and calm it down. Harley didn’t want to leave the fawn, but after spotting the deer’s mother, Dorn escorted his heroic canine indoors. The fawn and mother walked away, seemingly never to be seen again. That was, until the next morning. Harley appeared restless that morning, running from window to window. Dorn opened the front door to see what was happening when he heard the fawn bleating. The deer had returned, eager to thank its rescuer! The two ran toward each other, touching noses and sniffing one another before Harley returned indoors. The brief reunion was enough to calm the fawn and Harley down, and Dorn has not seen either deer since that day. But that’s not Harley’s only heroic feat. The proud pup has also spent time as a certified therapy dog, providing comfort and companionship to seniors in care facilities and children reading at the local library. We can all hope our dogs would take the same actions as Harley if presented with a similar opportunity!
INGREDIENTS • 1/2 cup peanut butter • 1 tbsp honey • 1 egg • 1/2 cup water DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2.
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2–3 pieces bacon, cooked and crumbled
• • •
1 carrot, shredded
1 cup oat flour
1 cup brown rice flour
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except flour and mix well. Gradually add flours to the wet mixture to form a dough. 3. Dust a clean counter space with flour. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Using a cookie cutter, cut out individual treats. 4. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place dog treats on top. Bake for 20–25 minutes, then cool on a wire rack. 5. Store cooled treats in an airtight container. Freeze any extras.
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www.PetersenPetHospital.com
1031 Kacena Road Hiawatha, IA 52233 www.PetersenPetHospital.com 319-743-0554
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
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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Little Hearts, Magical Moments
PMS4655
BLACK 50% BLACK Our Little Blood-Clotting Champion
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A Feline Heart Fix
PMS292 Heroic Goldendoodle Saves Baby Deer in Heartwarming Rescue PMS5635 PMS1215 Gluten-Free Peanut Butter and Bacon Dog Treats
SECONDARY
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PMS258
Naval Combat Inside the Roman Colosseum?
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The Colosseum’s Wildest Spectacle ROME’S AWESOME AQUATIC BATTLES
The Roman Colosseum is famous for its gladiator combat, but did you know it was once flooded with water for full-scale naval battles? While this might sound like Hollywood fiction, it actually took place and is one of the more epic tales from Roman history. Known as naumachiae, a Greek term that translates to “naval combat,” these battles were a feat of ancient engineering and showcased Rome’s appetite for over-the-top entertainment. For a society captivated by lions and gladiators, transforming the iconic Colosseum into an aquatic battlefield was the ultimate flex — a bizarre yet undeniably brilliant display of Roman ingenuity and excess. The Spectacle of Naumachiae Imagine thousands of spectators cheering as tiny warships clashed in a flooded arena. Dating back to the third century B.C., these mock sea battles weren’t small staged skirmishes; they were elaborate naval reenactments complete with ships, soldiers, and condemned criminals and prisoners of war forced to play the role of combatants.
to such lengths? More than entertainment, naumachiae was a statement of imperial power. Such Roman spectacles entertained the masses while reinforcing the empire’s might. The Challenge of Arena Battles Of course, flooding the Colosseum was not easy. It’s believed the same aqueducts used to supply the city with water were also used to fill up the arena, and special flat-bottomed ships capable of navigating shallow waters made the events possible. The discovery of an ancient drainage system also provided new insights into how Roman engineers may have efficiently removed water from the arena to prepare it for other events. Why It’s More Than Just a Weird Story The logistical challenges of flooding an arena to a depth sufficient for floating ships eventually led them to abandon the naumachiae after only a handful of events. Yet, these extravagant displays reveal much about Roman culture. They highlight the empire’s unmatched ability to combine practicality and imagination to create spectacles that continue to captivate and inspire us centuries later.
In some cases, these spectacles recreated historical battles or mythological scenes. One naumachiae held by Nero in 57 A.D. even included seals and hippos. So, why did Romans go
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