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Pets First Monthly
September 2025
WHIMPERS AND WARNINGS WHAT YOUR PET’S PAIN LOOKS LIKE
“Ouch!”
environment. You may need to raise the food and water bowl so it’s easier for them to eat. If your pet is overweight, altering their diet to decrease caloric intake will help them drop pounds and reduce the physical pressure on their frames. Of course, taking them for leashed walks or nice swims will also help keep them in good shape. Dental pain is another thing to keep on your radar. Common giveaways that your pet is experiencing discomfort with their teeth include drooling, salivating, decreased appetite, or noticeable changes to how your pet eats, such as moving their jaws differently when chewing. Sometimes, the extent of your pet’s dental pain isn’t obvious until the problem is addressed. I recently spoke with a client who couldn’t believe how much more active his dog became after a tooth extraction. At Petersen Pet Hospital, we see more cases of arthritis in dogs 8 or older and in cats 10 or older. Large- to giant-breed dogs are more prone to hip dysplasia, which is genetic. It generally develops in dogs at least 8 years old, but we’ve also seen it in dogs as young as 2 or 3. Small-breed dogs are genetically prone to pass on patella luxation — a dislocating kneecap — which can lead to arthritis and limping. Large-breed, really active dogs are more prone to injuring or tearing the cruciate ligament in their knee, similar to a common injury among human athletes.
As advanced as human civilization has become, we still feel pain, and often use the above word to express it to ourselves and others. Unfortunately, our beloved animal companions don’t have it so easy when it comes to letting us know when something hurts them. With September being Animal Pain Awareness Month, this month’s article will share ways to recognize and treat discomfort in your dogs and cats. In most cases, behavioral changes will be the first thing you’ll notice when your pet is hurting in some way. Dogs may become reluctant to move or have trouble walking up stairs or jumping up. Sometimes, they’ll whine, whimper, yelp, or become aggressive or irritable when you touch a sensitive area. They might also start licking or chewing on a particular body part. Cats in pain tend to hide more often and not groom themselves as much. They may also become irritated and hiss, growl, or swat at someone trying to touch them. Physical signs of pain in animals include limping, difficulty getting up after lying down, increased respiration, changes in appetite, and changes in sleep patterns. Postural or facial indicators may include a tucked abdomen, an arched back, flattened ears, wide or squinting eyes, dilated pupils, or a pained expression. Once you recognize signs of pain in your pets, treating it can be a menagerie of possibilities. First and foremost, a veterinarian would typically recommend blood work, X-rays, or even an ultrasound — in addition to a physical examination — to identify where the pain is coming from and make a proper diagnosis. From there, various medications and joint supplements can be utilized to treat the issue. Laser therapy, in which painful areas
One more thing: When treating your pet’s pain, never give them ibuprofen or Tylenol. These and other human medications can be very dangerous to them.
Hopefully, these tips will help you be more aware of hints that your pet is hurt. If any of these signs appear, please contact us right away. Also, let us know if you have questions about anything this article discusses. Our pets can’t speak, but they still tell us plenty if we just pay close enough attention to them.
can be isolated to decrease pain and inflammation, is another possible option. Other treatments, such as cold or heat therapy, acupuncture, and physical therapy, may also be effective.
–Dr. Brad Petersen
Sometimes, helping your pet overcome physical pain requires changing their home
PetersenPetHospital.com
SAM’S COR An Autumn Pet Allergy A
Summer Beats Lyme BITTEN BUT BRAVE
For humans, September means back-to-school time and the beginning of fall, but it could mean super-itchy skin for your pets!
If you didn’t know, fall allergies can drive your dogs or cats crazy. If you see us scratching our ears, licking or chewing our feet, or scratching our sides, there’s a good chance we’re allergic to something outside or in the house. If we scratch too much, we could get a secondary bacterial or yeast infection on our skin, making us feel even worse. Since our attempts to make our skin feel better can sometimes hurt us a lot , the vet may make us wear a cone to prevent us from scratching or biting ourselves. That’s never fun! So, what triggers our allergies this time of year? Well, it’s the same stuff that triggers the same reaction in humans — pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and other similar allergens. Fleas are a big problem for dogs and cats, as those little pains in the tail spend all summer long reproducing and getting ready to get on us as soon as possible!
Summer is a very sweet miniature Bernedoodle, just over a year old. She first saw us during an emergency visit for sudden onset lethargy. Her owners noted that she still wanted to be with her family but acted as if she were in pain when touched.
We noticed that she was very dull and depressed for such a young dog. When standing, she had a hunched back, displayed signs of pain when her knees were extended, and limped on her left front leg. She also had a mild fever of 103.5 degrees — a normal dog temperature runs between 99 and 102.5 degrees. Based on Summer’s fever and sudden onset pain in multiple joints, we suspected Lyme disease — a bacterial infection spread to dogs and humans through deer tick bites — as the cause.
Due to her fever and severe lethargy, Summer was admitted for hospitalization. Intravenous fluids were started to help bring down her fever. An anti-inflammatory
If our allergies get bad enough, we could start losing our hair or develop rashes on our skin. Thankfully,
and additional pain-relief medications were also started for her joint pain. Her bloodwork showed a mild increase in white blood cells, but her organ functions were normal. Her urinalysis was also unremarkable. A heartworm-tick test confirmed our initial concerns when it returned positive for Lyme disease. An oral antibiotic called
doxycycline was started with a small breakfast that Summer gladly ate.
By noon the same day, Summer was already walking less gingerly, and her fever had broken due to her medications and IV fluids. With her rapid improvement and a diagnosis of Lyme disease, she was sent home later that evening. A complete 28-day course of doxycycline was continued in addition to a two-week course of rimadyl as an anti- inflammatory for joint pain.
When we called to check in on her the next morning, her owners were happy to report that she was back to acting like her usual self and they had no trouble giving her the medications. At her recheck appointment two weeks later, she had returned to her normal, energetic self. To protect her from future infections, we started the two-part Lyme vaccination series, and her owners also started her on bravecto , a flea and tick preventive that lasts for 12 weeks. It was great to see her improve so quickly! —Dr. Steven McGinty
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RNER Alert
there’s great stuff on the market to help us out, including safe oral or injectable allergy medications that block our itch receptors on a molecular or cellular level.
When a 10-year-old basset hound fled from her neglectful home, she didn’t just rescue herself from abuse and poor conditions; she ended up saving more than 30 other animals from unimaginable suffering. Hero, as she’s since been named, was in bad shape when animal rescuers first discovered her. Emaciated and dirty, her overgrown nails had twisted, making it painful for her to walk. She had a painful bladder infection and heartworms. Despite the pain she was in, she made a daring escape, and her ID tag led animal control to a house of horrors. Officers found 36 other dogs, a chicken, and a cat at the location, suffering from various ailments and signs of abuse. Some animals lived in small, dirty cages; others had injuries and signs of malnutrition. All of them were dirty and had a medical issue of some kind. It was clear they needed help. The Humane Society of Concord took in 15 of the dogs, including Hero, and other local rescues housed the rest. When the sad story of these neglected dogs reached the community, people heard the call and donated funds to help cover their medical and care costs. If it had not been for Hero’s life-saving feat, there’s no telling what would have become of her furry friends. The shelter that named her Hero even gave her a last name, Salvare, which means to save and protect. They described her as “a friendly girl with the softness of a sweet old lady” who deserved a quiet home as she recovered. Hero has since found her forever home and was adopted the next day after the shelter searched for a new owner. Thanks to the kind and persevering hound, many other dogs from the home have also been adopted. Jailbreak for Justice HOW A SENIOR HOUND’S ESCAPE CHANGED DOZENS OF LIVES
How’s that for high-tech?
There are also soothing shampoos that our humans can give us to make us feel better, and special diets can sometimes help us as well. Of course, keeping the house as clean and free of dust as possible is a huge way to keep us from having a bad reaction. And don’t forget to put us on a good flea preventative!
Until next time, may your fall be fun and your sneezes and scratches be slight!
–Sam
Hairball Control Cat Treats Inspired by Vitacost.com
• 1 1/4 cup brown rice flour • 1/3 cup canned pumpkin • 1 brown egg • 3 tbsp ground flax INGREDIENTS
• 3 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp water • 1 tbsp catnip (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F and set aside a sheet of parchment paper. 2. Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a medium bowl. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it cool for 5 minutes in the fridge. 3. Unwrap and knead. On parchment paper, roll dough out to 1/4- inch thickness. 4. Use a pizza cutter to cut narrow strips of dough vertically, then repeat in the opposite direction, creating a patchwork grid. 5. Transfer parchment paper and dough to a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. 6. Remove from oven and break up the treat grid. Spread pieces evenly and return to oven for another 10–15 minutes or until golden brown. 7. Let cool and give your feline friend a treat they deserve.
“Despite Hero’s sad backstory, she’s proof that dogs are resilient creatures that only show love that is unconditional,” the shelter wrote.
Hero may have started as a victim, but she ended a chapter of abuse as a rescuer. Her quiet bravery saved her and transformed the lives of dozens of others, proving that even in the darkest places, hope can come on four legs and floppy ears.
PetersenPetHospital.com
1031 Kacena Road Hiawatha, IA 52233 PetersenPetHospital.com 319-743-0554 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
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PRIMARY Inside This Issue
Clues Your Pet Isn’t Okay
PMS4655
BLACK
50% BLACK
A Fast Fever Fix
Fall’s Furry Fallout
SECONDARY
Hairball Control Cat Treats
PMS292 One Dog’s Daring Escape Uncovered a Nightmare PMS5635 PMS1215
PMS258
5 Stunning Fall Hikes to Take This Season
LEAF LOVERS WELCOME The Ultimate Fall Hiking Bucket List
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, TENNESSEE AND NORTH CAROLINA The Smoky Mountains are a fall favorite known for their endless ridgelines and misty valleys. Mid-to-late October is peak foliage season, especially along trails like Alum Cave or Clingmans Dome. COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, OREGON If you’re looking for some of the most gorgeous waterfalls you’ve ever seen, the Columbia River Gorge is the spot! Trails like Multnomah Falls or Eagle Creek offer pretty fall colors, mossy cliffs, and cascading waterfalls. SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, VIRGINIA Just a short drive from Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a hidden gem for fall hiking. The Dark Hollow Falls Trail offers a challenging climb with stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For something gentler, the Stony Man Trail is perfect for families and still offers breathtaking scenery. With over 500 miles of trails, Shenandoah is a fall favorite on the East Coast.
There’s something special about getting outdoors and hiking this time of year. The air is crisp, the bugs are (mostly) gone, and the trees show off their fiery red, yellow, and orange leaves. Whether you’re a seasoned trekker or just looking to enjoy leaf-peeping and fresh air, fall is the ultimate season to hit the trails. And the U.S. is brimming with stunning places to do just that. ASPEN, COLORADO Come September, the mountainsides come alive with beautiful golden aspen leaves, hence the name! Hikes like the Cathedral Lake Trail or Maroon Bells Scenic Loop offer beautiful views of alpine lakes with gorgeous foliage and snow-dusted peaks. Just be sure to bring layers — mountain weather can be moody! ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, MAINE If you want coastal charm mixed with fall colors, Acadia National Park delivers. Right along Maine’s gorgeous coastline, this park is full of color and stunning ocean views — a rare combination!
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