Cool Case Ceili


The tumor on Ceili's right elbow was cancerous and needed to be addressed.

The tumor on Ceili’s right elbow was cancerous and needed to be addressed.

Ceili, a rat terrier, has had fatty tumors before, but this one was different. This time around, Ceili’s growth was firm and she reacted when touched. Ceili’s veterinarian at Garden State Animal Hospital checked it out for her and determined that this one was cancerous. Ed and Nancy were told they needed to see a Veterinary Oncologist.

Ed and Nancy would do anything for Ceili, so their next step was to research veterinary specialty hospitals in the area. They read Yelp reviews and combed through websites. Ultimately, they settled on NorthStar VETS. “When we looked up NorthStar VETS, we felt like they were a great blend of experience and compassion. That’s why we chose to go there.”

When they came in for their appointment in the Maple Shade location, they met with Dr. Jennifer Kim of the Oncology service. Ed and Nancy didn’t know what to expect or what the diagnosis and prognosis would be when they came to the hospital. In the hour they spent, they built a great rapport with Dr. Kim as they explored the options. Dr. Kim performed additional tests to determine that it was a non-invasive, low-grade tumor and referred them to Dr. Daniel Stobie of the Surgery service to discuss removing it.

These innovative skin expanders allowed for removal of Ceili's tumor with enough skin to close the site afterward.

These innovative skin expanders allowed for removal of Ceili’s tumor with enough skin to close the site afterward.

At the second appointment, this time in Robbinsville, Ed and Nancy discussed the options with Dr. Stobie. “There were basically three,” they remembered, “chemotherapy, full amputation of the leg, or removal of the tumor with the innovative use of skin expanders to allow the site to close properly after surgery.” Ed, Nancy and Dr. Stobie felt that the skin expanders in combination with surgically removing the tumor would be the best option, and it would allow for the use of chemotherapy beads which would improve Ceili’s post-surgery prognosis.

Now Ed and Nancy were faced with their next big decision. Because Ceili is thirteen and has a known heart murmur, she is a higher-risk patient for anesthesia. they made an appointment with Dr. Ryan Keegan of the Cardiology service to have Ceili checked out. Ceili’s heart looked pretty good, so Ed and Nancy moved forward with scheduling her first surgery.

The skin expanders under Ceili's skin stretched the skin to allow for a successful phase 2 procedure.

The skin expanders under Ceili’s skin stretched the skin to allow for a successful phase 2 procedure.

To be fully successful, Ceili would require two surgeries. The first would be simple and involve the insertion of two little flat disks, each about the size of a nickel, under her skin near the tumor. These disks are designed to pull fluid from the surrounding tissue and soak it up like a sponge, inflating as they go. The slow pace of growth allows the disks to stretch the skin above it, which makes it more useful in the second surgery when they have to stretch that skin over the surgery site after the tumor is removed. This is exactly what happened and the first surgery was a complete success. Three weeks later, the skin expanders had done their job and Ceili was ready for phase 2.

Still confident, Ed and Nancy moved forward in the process. “Other than a luxating patella (loose kneecap), Ceili is active and healthy, especially for her age.” Ceili is Ed’s second dog, but his wife was raised with dogs. Their family has expanded to include Chance, a Black Labrador Retriever, and Lola, an Australian Shepherd. Years ago, when Ed and Nancy’s first dog, a Newfoundland named Max, passed away, their daughter wanted another dog and that’s when they discovered Ceili as a puppy. She shared a birthday with Ed, and it just felt right. It wasn’t long before the entire family fell in love with her. “Ceili is friendly and independent, but loves to be pet. She barks at every noise she hears and despite being the smallest of the three dogs in the house, is definitely the one in charge. As a pup, she loved snuggling into our laps, and learned lots of great tricks like playing dead. She’s a perfect blend of smart and loving mixed with a healthy dose of independence.”

The second surgery was a success, with the expanders and the tumor gone, there was room to implant chemotherapy beads into the site and close the skin with appropriate tension.

The second surgery was a success, with the expanders and the tumor gone, there was room to implant chemotherapy beads into the site and close the skin with appropriate tension.

Ed and Nancy were nervous on the day of the big surgery, but it came and went successfully. Dr. Stobie performed the procedure to remove the tumor with good margins along with the skin expanders, inserted chemotherapy beads into the site, and closed the skin with just the right amount of tension to heal well. Dr. Stobie called Ed and Nancy to give them the good news while Ceili woke up from her anesthesia and they were ecstatic. The next day, she went back home. “Ceili is fine at home. She doesn’t love this cone she’s got to wear, but she’s using the leg more and more. We’ll be back soon to get the sutures removed, and she seems much more comfortable.” Now Ceili and her family look to the future. “Hopefully, things will be good. Both locations (Maple Shade and Robbinsville) were honest and compassionate, and cared about our emotional state through the process. Plus, the entire team seemed completely smitten with Ceili! We’ll be back!”
Ceili woke up from surgery feeling much more comfortable thanks to the good decisions of Ed and Nancy along with the expertise of the NorthStar VETS team.

Ceili woke up from surgery feeling much more comfortable thanks to the good decisions of Ed and Nancy along with the expertise of the NorthStar VETS team.

Learn more about the Surgery and Oncology services at NorthStar VETS.


Daniel Stobie, DVM, MS, DACVSDaniel Stobie, DVM, MS, DACVS – Founder and Chief of Staff
A New Jersey native, Dr. Stobie completed his undergraduate work at Cook College/Rutgers University and is a 1990 cum laude graduate of the University of Missouri-College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed an internship in small-animal medicine and surgery at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, then went on to complete a three-year surgical residency at the University of Minnesota and earn a Master’s Degree in Veterinary Surgery, Radiology, and Anesthesia in 1994. Dr. Stobie became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1995. In 2007, he completed the mini-MBA certificate program at the Rutgers School of Business. Read the full bio for Dr. Stobie.

Jennifer Kim, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)Jennifer Kim, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Dr. Kim grew up in New York and received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania. After two years at the National Cancer Institute performing cancer genetic research, she attended veterinary school at Tufts University. Dr. Kim completed a rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan, New York, and an oncology internship at Cornell University. She began at NorthStar VETS as an emergency clinician in 2005 and returned in 2010 to treat oncology patients after completing her residency in medical oncology at Michigan State University School of Veterinary Medicine. In her free time, Dr. Kim is an avid foodie and knitter.

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