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Pets First Monthly
November 2024
Why These Items Ensure Your Pet’s Safety and Speedy Recovery Introducing Our New Surgery Tools
No pet owner wants to hear that their pet will need surgery. The risks that come with any surgery coupled with the recovery time and cost can cause anxiety for all pet owners. Our team at Petersen Pet Hospital knows this all too well. As pet owners and animal lovers ourselves, we fully understand the amount of love and care for your pet’s well-being that goes into the decision to operate. We never take that decision lightly. Yet, we are lucky enough to regularly see the benefits of surgery. Operations can prolong an animal’s life, cure diseases, establish a prognosis, and ultimately lead to a healthier, happier pet in your home. There are few moments we enjoy more than seeing a healthy pet months after their surgery. Those success stories are why we do what we do. To continue offering quality surgical care for our furry, feathered, and scaled friends, we have recently acquired a new endoscope and laparoscope system for our operating room!
Laparoscopy is when we use a camera to look in the abdomen for possible issues. This device allows us to make a smaller incision, which can allow for faster healing and less pain. Because of this equipment, we can offer more advanced operations for spaying, exploratory abdominal surgeries, and gastropexy, which is when we suture an animal’s stomach to prevent the life-threatening twisting of a stomach. We also use this tool to remove an undescended testicle in dogs and cats because this method is far less painful than traditional methods. We’re incredibly grateful to be able to bring this tool to our veterinary clinic. Unfortunately, many clinics around the U.S. don’t have this option because of the expense of laparoscope. We are honored to fill that gap for our patients in Iowa. Our endoscope is a more flexible camera that we can use when the pet is under anesthesia. We typically snake the camera down through the esophagus and into the stomach to see if there are any blockages. It’s common to find hair ties, plastic, and other small household items in a pet’s stomach. (Side note: If you notice something small is missing from your home, there is a chance your pet ate the item! Call our team if you are concerned.) With the endoscope, we can remove these items that same day. We can also take biopsies of the esophagus and stomach to diagnose potential concerns with minimal pain to your pet. The bottom line is our team knows how stressful and worrying surgery can be for your pet and your family. We want to make this process as smooth and safe as possible to ensure your pet has the quality of life they deserve. Thank you for trusting us with your pets and their surgical needs. It’s because of that trust that we were able to update our operating room in order to provide more high-quality care for our community’s pets.
If your pet needs surgery, please know that our team is using the most advanced equipment possible to take care of your pet — they’re in good hands with us.
www.PetersenPetHospital.com
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SAM’S CORNER
Juneau is an 8-year-old, sweet, exuberant Siberian husky who is a regular patient at Petersen Pet Hospital. One weekend last December, his owners saw he was bleeding from his mouth and into his eyes. He was taken to Blue Pearl for an exam, hospitalization, and diagnostic testing. Blue Pearl did a great job stabilizing Juneau and working up his case with bloodwork, X-rays, and an abdominal ultrasound. Juneau was diagnosed with immune mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) and immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA). ITP is a serious disorder where the immune system attacks the platelets that help blood clot. Juneau’s platelet count was extremely low and was the reason he was spontaneously bleeding. This disease can be triggered by infectious disease, recent vaccinations, cancer, etc. IMHA is when the immune system attacks the red blood cells (RBC) in the body, which made Juneau very anemic and lethargic. Juneau was started on immunosuppressive medications as well as an herbal supplement called yunnan baiyao that helps blood clot. INTENSIVE CARE CURES HUSKY OF IMMUNE DISORDERS A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY
Why Walking Your Dog Outside Is Powerful!
Oh, boy, am I excited! I just got back from a long walk with my owners, and I had the BEST time. I smelled new smells, stretched my legs,
and burned a lot of energy. I love going on hikes and walks with my owners; it’s one of my favorite activities to do with them! And it got me thinking: I’m told the weather in Iowa isn’t perfect this time of the year. (I wouldn’t know because I’m always wearing my best fur coat.) But that doesn’t mean you or your pet should stay indoors! Even a small walk down the street can provide great health benefits for your pet. Walking outside can boost your dog’s mood, help them burn off energy for better sleep, and help them soak up this thing called vitamin D. Apparently, it’s very good for our brain
health! Outdoor walks and hikes at any time of the year can also help your pet burn calories and stimulate their cardiovascular system (I’m told that means their hearts!), which can be great for longevity!
Once discharged from Blue Pearl, Juneau came back to Petersen Pet Hospital and saw Dr. Knutson and her team for follow-up
Plus, we dogs love getting outside! Our brains are energized and exercised when we sniff outside, especially when we get to leave our
bloodwork. He was still lethargic, not eating well, had bruising on his belly and blood in his eyes from his autoimmune diseases. Over the next couple weeks, Juneau’s red blood cells and platelets rebounded beautifully on the immunosuppressive medications, prednisone and mycophenolate. His eyes and bruising resolved. Once he was eating regularly and tolerating more oral medications, he was also started on an antibiotic to cover any infectious diseases.
Throughout his treatment, Juneau unfortunately suffered some of the negative side effects of prednisone since he needed to be on
high doses for an extended period of time. He was more lethargic than usual, his rear legs weakened, and his skin and coat quality declined. Dr. Knutson worked diligently with Juneau’s family to taper him off the prednisone in a quick but safe manner. This involved bloodwork every 2–3 weeks while slowly tapering the prednisone to ensure his RBC and platelets didn’t start to regress. Once off the prednisone, Juneau greatly improved. He was acting like a puppy again and his coat filled back out. Over the next several months, Juneau was slowly tapered off the mycophenolate. He’s currently doing great on no medications! While Dr. Knutson and her team loved seeing Juneau and his family on a regular basis, they are glad he’s doing well at home and look forward to seeing him back for his annual exam later this year!
HOMEMADE TURKEY DOG FOOD Inspired by DamnDelicious.net
Contact us! 319-743-0554
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When Marine William “Bill” Lins returned home from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, he felt ruined. He wasn’t the same man anymore and felt like he didn’t fit in anywhere. After sustaining multiple injuries and witnessing the horrors of battle, he never thought he would be able to go back to living a normal life. A Warrior’s Best Friend HOW A RESCUE DOG CHANGED A VETERAN’S LIFE
yard. We get to smell new things and see new creatures. This keeps our brains active while also reducing stress and keeping us calm. Did you know that sniffing is actually a lot like exercise for us dogs? It can be exhausting when we are done, but when we do so, we are stronger, happier, and calmer. Finally, it’s easy to keep your dog entertained and safe on walks. Always use a leash, so you can keep control during the walk. Listen, I love to run free sometimes, but I don’t always know when to stop or when there is danger ahead! By staying on leash, I know my owners are making sure I’m safe! I also practice my commands, like sit, heel, and stay, on walks, which keep me sharp when these skills are necessary to protect me and my owners.
Whew, I’m tired! After a long walk and jotting down all these thoughts, I’m ready to collapse into the best nap ever. –Sam
That is until the nonprofit K-9s For Warriors helped him find his missing link — a rescue dog appropriately named Link.
K-9 For Warriors has been pairing highly trained service dogs with military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma since 2011. The free program strives to better the lives of veterans through special canine bonds and ultimately end veteran suicide, which claims the lives of roughly 20 veterans every day. When Bill returned from deployment, he had to recover from two surgeries and realized he had PTSD. He had developed severe alcoholism, drinking every day nonstop as his only coping mechanism. In a hopeless place, the Marine felt like he was losing every piece of his identity and had nothing left. After seeing a friend at the VA bring in his service dog, he noticed a remarkable change in him and decided to apply for the program. Bill felt an instant connection to the goofy rescue dog Link, who was recovering from his own trauma after living a rough life in a kill shelter. Bill said his canine companion is his 24/7 therapist, providing him with support and safety at all hours. Link doesn’t just impact Bill’s life; he makes a difference with everyone he encounters, from Bill’s children to the youth athletes he coaches.
“Together, we kind of make each other whole,” Bill said. “He makes everyone’s world better, and he makes it seem effortless.”
INGREDIENTS • 1 1/2 cups uncooked brown rice • 3 cups water • 1 tbsp olive oil • 3 lbs ground turkey
• 3 cups baby spinach, chopped • 2 carrots, shredded • 1 zucchini, shredded • 1/2 cup peas, canned or frozen
Link has inspired Bill to help others and spread a message of awareness that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a symbol of strength. Bill has since earned his master’s in social work and provides mental health services with his tail-wagging companion by his side for every session.
Together, the pair are showing veterans everywhere that there is hope and that life can get better with a little help from a four-legged friend.
DIRECTIONS 1. Add rice and 3 cups of water to a large saucepan over medium-high heat. 2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until cooked through, about 35–40 minutes; set aside. 3. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook until browned, using a slotted spoon to break apart the turkey as it cooks, about 3–5 minutes. 4. Stir in all vegetables and cooked brown rice. Cook until the spinach has wilted and the mixture is heated through, about 3–5 minutes. 5. Let cool completely before serving to your pup.
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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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The Power of Good Surgical Tools
PMS4655
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50% BLACK
Juneau’s Journey Back to Health
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Sam’s Top Reasons for Walking Your Dog Outside
SECONDARY
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Homemade Turkey Dog Food
PMS292 Paws of Hope
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PMS5635
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Discover the Fascinating ‘What-Ifs’ of State Names
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Names That Almost Were THE BIZARRE AND CREATIVE TITLES THAT NEARLY DEFINED OUR STATES
One of the first things you likely learned was the name of your home state, but what if everything you knew about your state’s namesake could have been different? Prepare for a journey through the quirky and bizarre world of almost-names for states! The early days of American statehood were filled with creative, peculiar, and downright odd suggestions. Let’s look into history and uncover the surprising stories behind the names that could have been. Kentucky Kentucky’s famous horse race was almost known as the Transylvania Derby, but it has nothing to do with vampires. In 1775, a businessman named Richard Henderson established the Transylvania Company and signed a treaty with the Cherokee tribe, securing land known as the Transylvania colony. However, Henderson’s treaty failed as Virginia had already claimed the land. Years later, in 1792, those
living on Henderson’s attempted purchase broke away from Virginia to become Kentucky. Despite naming the state themselves, the residents couldn’t decide whether the state’s new name meant “prairie,” “land of tomorrow,” or “river of blood.” Utah When Brigham Young, the leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (widely known as the Mormon church), moved the congregation west, they settled in the Salt Lake Basin. He petitioned Congress to create a new state for them and settled on Deseret, after a name in the Book of Mormon, one of their scriptural texts. The government declined the request until 1896, granting them statehood in a smaller area than they had originally hoped for. They still didn’t get their desired name, though; the government named the state Utah after the Ute tribe that called the area home.
Nevada The name Humboldt almost became the name of the state of Nevada. It comes from explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, who helped popularize scientific exploration. Though he traveled thousands of miles across Central and South America, he never made it to the Western United States. So, when Nevada became a state in 1864, they used the Spanish word for “snow-covered” instead. History is full of “what ifs” and whimsical alternatives that could have shaped our country. These almost- names remind us of the rich tapestry of the past and the imagination that defines our nation.
Contact us! 319-743-0554
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