The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1957, Qupperneq 36

34 THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN Summer 1957
Young Veterinarian Born at Gimli, Popular Doctor in United States
(Based on an article in the Marshalltown-Times Republic February 13, 1957)
Dr. Johann V. Johnson
Johann V. Johnson, veterinary sur-
geon, graduate of the Universi‘y of
Toronto 1952, moved to Marshalltown,
Iowa, in 1955. He took over the Thiele
Animal Hospital, from its founder Dr.
M. I. Thiele. This hospital has every
modern medical facility for treating
animals. The owners bring their pets
at any time during the day or night.
Dr. Johnson treats dogs, cats, monkeys,
squirrels, skunks and parakeets. He
has operated on three parakeets for
breast tumors or cancers. A parakeet,
not much larger than a hummingbird,
needs careful attention both during
and after such an operation. One dog
owner, whose canine hunting compan-
ion was shot in the leg, believes that
the doctor and the care provided
(leg cast and ten day treatment) has
saved the dog’s life. Last February Dr.
Johnson and his assistant delivered
five little Boston Bulldog puppies by
Caesarean section. Late that same day,
the mother and all five youngsters
were on their way home in perfect
health. One of the most delicate oper-
ations, that of taking out a foreign
body from an intestine, removing a
portion of the destroyed organ, and
closing it up again, has been perform-
ed .by Dr. Johnson and his assistant.
Dr. Johnson says: “We don’t care
what kind of dog or animal it is or how
much it cost, we are primarily interest-
ed in its health and welfare”. His as-
sistant, Mr. Bernard Mapes, who has
an affinity for all kinds of animals,
echoes the doctor’s statement.
Most dog-owners bring their puppies
to the hospital for a series of shots
and treatment that last until the dog is
six months old. After that the pets
should remain free of those diseases
which generally threaten their health.
The hospital office manager keeps a
complete file on all patients, just as
in any other hospital, and when treat-
ments are due, owners are notified. Dr.
Johnson advises that quality of pet
food is most important and cautions
pet owners not to overfeed. He also
says that dog’s teeth form tartar
deposits just like those of human be-
ings, that they have bad gums and
can be treated just like people. Eye
trouble in pets can also be treated,
and he does simple treatments him-
self, although he does not perform
eye operations.
Dr. Johann V. Johnson is the son
of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Johnson, well-
known, and highly respected couple,
who farmed for many years at Birki-
nes, near Gimli where Dr. Johnson
was born. His natural love of animals
combined with keen interest in med-
icine led him to enter the veterinary
field, and graduated from the Uni-
versity of Toronto.
Kristin Thorsteinsson,
Gimli, Man.