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1031 Kacena Road Hiawatha, IA 52233 www.PetersenPetHospital.com 319-743-0554
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Inside This Issue
Another Very Merry Holiday Season
PRIMARY
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Meet Dr. Knutson
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PMS4655
BLACK
50% BLACK
Protect Your Dog With Simparica Trio
Holiday Pet Food Gravy
SECONDARY
3 New Board Games to Try This Winter
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PMS292 Meet Kismet, a Dentist’s Toothless Therapy Dog PMS5635 PMS1215
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Meet Kismet, a Dentist’s Toothless Therapy Dog
“The studies are very clear: People who sit and pet animals have lower blood pressure, and that’s what it’s all about,”Dr. Cameron Garrett told TODAY when the world found out about Kismet. Garrett’s dental practice employs the adorable 13-year-old Chihuahua rescue as a therapy animal patients can hold and pet while they get dental work done. Kismet’s life has not been easy. The Muttville Senior Dog Rescue has invested thousands of dollars into Kismet’s health — they diagnosed her with heart disease, removed a cancerous tumor, treated a hernia, and removed all of her teeth due to periodontal disease. Yet, Kismet remains a very sweet dog. She never barks and loves back scratches and being held. It’s especially amazing that the toothless Kismet found such a perfect new home with dental professionals! This past July, Cameron Garrett and his wife, Debra Garrett (a hygienist), adopted Kismet into their home as well as their dental
practice. The serene dog has provided a special experience for patients who come for exams, cleanings, and even root canals. Of course, some patients are scared of dogs. In those cases, Kismet relaxes behind a closed gate. But over 98% of patients happily take Kismet on their laps while they undergo their dental procedure. Cameron Garrett told CNN, “Quite honestly, as a dentist, I’m as much a psychiatrist or psychologist as anything else. Kismet has allowed us to have another tool in our toolbox.”They can even use the toothless pup’s story to teach patients about the effects of periodontal disease. Getting love from patients also helps Kismet. “She just wants to be with us,”Debra Garrett explained. The new owners suspect that she was abused in the past and is still recovering from that trauma. “When she is on a patient’s lap, she’s providing
them comfort, but she’s also getting comfort. It’s hard for me to describe how nice it is for me to be looking at her while I’m working. It’s just a win-win all the way around.”
Our hearts are officially melted. It’s only fitting for a pet hero to have heroic owners, too!
Contact us! 319-743-0554
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