The Ultimate Pet Wellness Checklist: Keeping Your Furry Friend Healthy in Iowa City

• Puppies/Kittens: “So, the puppy ate the same food from a puppy all the way through the senior. Well, what the dog food industry has done… have different life stage meals already set up for them… for the puppies and kittens, especially for the kittens, it is a high meat protein-rich diet.” “If you don’t have that going into them on a regular basis, and I’m talking puppies and kittens right now, hypoglycemia is a common issue which doesn’t need to be… it’s just by keeping them giving them more frequent meals.”
• Seniors: “And then as you get into seniors, another thing happens in that they slow down… they don’t need as much proteins and fats as they used to… we’re now bulking those senior foods up with antioxidants, more glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.”

Topic: Exercise and Mental Stimulation Ron: “So, talking about exercise… I intentionally exercise little 7 lb multi-poo Suzie every day because she needs it. If I didn’t do it, she would lay around and sleep all day long.” Doug/Ron: They discuss activities like fetch, agility, and running. Ron: “Get the interactive toys that are out there as well for mental stimulation. Uh you’ve got puzzles. We have a full line of puzzles now in the store… There’s like first stage dogs where you kind of like they kind of try to figure it out… Stage two, they’re starting to like really hunt.”, “My kennel manager even brought it out… she also uses those what’s called a slow feed bowl… it slows them down, but it also makes them think more.”

• Cat Exercise: “Use, hey, laser pointers. If you have not used a laser pointer with your cat, you need to start doing it.” “Feather wands, especially the ones with the light string and you can whip it around. I did not know my cat could do a backflip until I started whipping that thing around.”

Conclusion Doug: “Until next Sunday morning, everybody, thanks for listening to Petland Iowa City’s Positivity Petland.”

Part 2: Vet Care and Enrichment (October 20, 2024)

Introduction Doug: “Hey hey back with you on positive the petland… Doug Wagner along with Ron Solsrude co-owner proprietor of Petland Iowa City with his wife Wendy.” Ron: “So today we’re open from noon until 6 and then Monday through Saturday we’re open from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.”

Topic: Veterinary Care & Vaccinations Ron: “So, on the veterinarian side, just the basic that regular uh visit to your veterinarian, whether it’s once a year, twice a year… heartworm is a is a big one.” “Know that the wild all around your house… you’ve got foxes and wolves coming through… they’re leaving… a little bit of something while they’re in your yard and your dog then goes out and licks it.” Doug: Discusses the risks of HPAI (bird flu) and migrating birds affecting local animals. Ron: “We also have there’s a large influx of international dogs… carrying things from other countries that we don’t even know exists or we thought we eradicated.”

Topic: Pet Insurance Ron: “And then just to close out the vet thing, if you don’t have pet insurance, get it. Um we’ve uh got a really unique uh uh link with Congruo insurance.”

Topic: Mental Health & Home Enrichment Ron: “So now it’s mental health and what you’re doing at home… If you have not gotten the puzzle toys that you know dispense the treats or even your kibble… Great way to slow your dog down in eating, but also mental stimulation.” “We just added another line and it’s all these like buttons that your dog can push… I’m also learning about AI. That’s something that they’re starting to use on these toys.”

Topic: Training and Safe Spaces Ron: “Our kids trained our dogs how to play dead… the dog would come into the room and they would… have their little finger pointed at the dog… and they go bang.” “If you’re dealing with aggression issues… Have them go to their kennel where their bed is where it’s safe and nobody’s going to touch them if they’re in the kennel.”,

Part 3: Safety, First Aid, and Seasonal Care (October 27, 2024)

Introduction Doug: “And we’re back like a bad penny. Welcome back to Positively Petland… It is Rod Souls Route Petland Iowa City.”

Topic: Pet Proofing and Safety Ron: “The pet proofing your house is step number one in pet safety… Make sure that you have like the cabinet secured.” Doug: “I was watching a uh a reel on Instagram… The dog’s like, ‘I can’t not touch this.’ Ate the chicken foot and then walked around, opened up the cabinet, grabbed another chicken foot, put it on top of the same spot, and then closed the cabinet door.” Ron: “That’s the lesson learned right there… don’t train your dog to do things that you don’t want them to do.” “Toxins, so you’ve got your cleaners… put all those at in higher in the cabinet… Toxic plants. Do your research.”

Topic: First Aid Ron: “First aid kits… I keep it simple in my house and that we have bandages and antiseptic wipes. Hydrogen peroxide is my favorite because it doesn’t sting.” “Vinegar is a great cleaner… not toxic to uh dogs or cats.” Ron: “Learn basic skills for CPR… We’re going to actually invite uh our veterinarian in and he Dr. Nelson is going to teach CPR.” “If you’re doing nail trims, have stipic powder. Stipic is a blood coagulant.” Doug: Shares a home remedy: “I’ll stand him in the sink with a one:5 vinegar ratio… and just get that in there for the bottom part of his feet… then triple antibiotic ointment and then slap a sock over the top of it.”

Topic: Seasonal Care Ron: “There is such thing as a bed season… in the fall… that’s when everybody goes, ‘Oh, little Poochie needs another bed.'” “Know that it’s so prevalent now that ice melt that is for dogs… That is an easy one to do and that just saves their paws.”

Conclusion Ron: “So, Sundays are over from noon until 6:00 and then Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. And that phone number 319-351-9451.” Doug: “The preceding program was a paid advertisement by Petland Iowa City.”