What you Need to Know about Dog Flu

Posted on June 28, 2017 by admin2

You can get the flu, but did you know your dog can as well? It’s called canine influenza (CIV) – or dog flu – and cases of it have been popping up all over the country. In fact, canine influenza has impacted dogs in more than half the country – just since March 2015 – and new cases are being diagnosed every week. It’s made dogs sick (some very ill) and six dogs have died as a result of CIV.

As a pet parent, here’s what you need to know. There are two strains of canine influenza – H3N8 and H3N2. H3N8 has been around for several years but H3N2, an Asian strain of CIV, is brand new in the United States, which means dogs have not been exposed to it before and have no immunity.

A dog may have the CIV H3N2 for up to 24 days, which means the dog is contagious and spreading the disease throughout that time period. As a result, the infection can spread quickly among social dogs in inner cities, doggie daycares, boarding facilities, dog parks, sporting and show events and any location where dogs commingle. H3N2 is also incredibly contagious. It can be spread easily by direct contact with infected dogs (sniffing, licking, nuzzling), through the air (coughing, barking or sneezing), and by contact with contaminated objects such as dog bowls and clothing.

Protect Your Dog

  • To prevent the spread of disease, wash your hands with soap and water or disinfect them with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after contact with dogs.
  • Dog owners whose dogs are coughing or showing other signs of respiratory disease should not participate in activities or bring their dogs to facilities where other dogs can be exposed to the virus.
  • Consider vaccination against CIV based on your dog’s lifestyle and risk factors. If you answer yes to one or more of the questions below, your dog is greater risk for contracting canine influenza. Does your dog:
    • Visit doggie day care?
    • Board at a boarding facility or pet hotel?
    • Attend training classes?
    • Play at dog parks?
    • Participate in dog-friendly events?
    • Attend dog shows or sporting events?
    • Often greet other dogs during walks?

Signs of CIV
Call your veterinarian immediately if your dog has the following symptoms:

  • Coughing
  • Discharge from the nose or eyes
  • Loss of appetite
  • Lethargy/lack of energy

If you’d like more information about canine influenza, you also will find valuable pet parent information at doginfluenza.com.

The information presented on this web site is not intended to take the place of your family veterinarian’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss this information with your own veterinarian to determine what is right for your pet. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. We can not and do not give you medical advice via this blog. The information contained in this online site and emails is presented in summary form only and intended to provide broad understanding and knowledge. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of your veterinarian. We do not recommend the self-management of your pet’s health problems.

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Meet the NorthStar VETS team: Jennifer Kim, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

Posted on June 23, 2017 by admin2

Dr. Jennifer Kim is a member of the Veterinary Oncology team at NorthStar VETS. In this blog post and video below, she talks about how she got into veterinary medicine, what veterinary oncology is about, and the words from a client that keep her going.

How Dr. Kim got into veterinary medicine
We caught up with Dr. Kim, who was checking up on a patient. Dr. Kim was originally pre-med with a desire to practice medicine on humans, but she fell in love with veterinary medicine and now specializes in oncology. “Human medicine, for some reason, didn’t work for me. That’s when my best friend in college said, ‘Hey, why don’t you become a veterinarian?’ and I thought that was perfect. So I started working in a veterinary clinic and got my first cat, and it just went from there.”


“I went to college at the University of Pennsylvania and then I took a couple years off from school to work at NIH (National Institute of Health) and the National Cancer Institute doing cancer research. That’s where my interest in cancer came in. After that, I applied to PhD programs and veterinary schools and I ended up going to Tufts. And then I did a rotating internship at AMC in Manhattan followed by an Oncology internship at Cornell. I didn’t match for residency, so I came to NorthStar VETS eleven years ago as an emergency doctor, then got offered an oncology residency at Michigan State.”

What veterinary oncology is all about
Dr. Kim works with oncology patients, treating various cancers to extend and improve a pet’s quality of life with their families. “I’m a veterinary oncologist, which means I treat only patients with cancer. A lot of people think that’s sad, and yes, there are sad aspects to my job, but what they don’t realize is that I get to have these incredible bonds with my patients and clients. A lot of my patients live a lot longer than people would ever expect with a good quality of life.”

What one client said to Dr. Kim that keeps her going
Dr. Kim is one of more than forty veterinarians at NorthStar VETS who work to provide world class care to you and your pets. “The thing that makes our hospital special is the team we have here. There is not a single person you will meet who doesn’t honestly love what they do, and you feel it. You can walk into other hospitals, and it feels cold, but you will never feel cold here, you will always feel like everyone cares.”

Working in Oncology has its tough days, but Dr. Kim enjoys the chance to help give pets and their families a longer and better quality of life. “I received this beautiful email from a client that essentially read, ‘Thank you so much!’ Even though her pet died, it was this beautiful way of saying, ‘Hey, I know that you’re sad, too, but you gave my dog another two years of life that we wouldn’t have otherwise had.’ It’s really the clients and their support, and of course my coworkers, I couldn’t live without my coworkers.”

Learn more about the Oncology service at NorthStar VETS

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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NorthStar VETS Cool Case Fiona

Posted on June 21, 2017 by admin2

The team at NorthStar VETS is doing innovative and amazing things every day as they work to advance the level of care available to your pet. This series of posts highlights cool cases at NorthStar VETS and the types of things done to save pets and improve their quality of life. These are cases using innovative and cutting-edge medical techniques, and/or stories of pets beating the odds. Read the story below in the doctor’s own words about the case. This is the story of Fiona, a patient of Dr. Laura Culbert of our Surgery team, and how she repaired this dog’s leg deformation.

About Fiona
IMG_2741Fiona presented to the Surgery team in Robbinsville in January as a 5-month-old female intact Boxer with a right forelimb angular limb deformity. She had an abnormal curvature of the right radius and ulna which was causing her limb to curve to the inside (carpal varus). She also had a shortened right forelimb due to the premature closure of her distal medial radial growth plate.

About angular limb deformities

Before and after radiographs showing Fiona's limb straightening

Before and after radiographs showing Fiona’s limb straightening

The radius and ulna bones develop and lengthen in a growing animal as a two bone system. If the growth plate of one of the bones is compromised by injury or disease, and closes prematurely, then the bone will have asymmetrical growth. Depending on the exact situation, this will cause the limb to angle in or out, or have cranial bowing. This will depend on which growth plate, or portion of the growth plate, is injured and not growing. The ulna is particularly vulnerable to injury because it has a conical distal growth plate. Any impact to the cone could cause premature closure and therefore arrested growth. This is what secondarily causes the angulation.

Angular limb deformities are challenging cases to correct because straightening the bone is of concern, but lengthening the bone is also of concern. Depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the deformity, we sometimes need to perform more than one surgery to accomplish our goals. The list of procedures to correct angular limb deformity include an ulnar osteotomy, a dome osteotomy, a closing wedge osteotomy, an opening wedge osteotomy, and distraction osteogenesis as the most common. These procedures involve cutting the bones to straighten the limb, and then procedures to lengthen the bone.

How things went for Fiona
IMG_2742
With Fiona, we performed an ulnar osteotomy, an opening wedge radial osteotomy, and distraction osteogenesis. Both radius and ulna were cut, the limb was straightened and then a circular external fixator was applied to hold the bones in place. The rings were connected with threaded rods and motors which allowed us to distract the bones across the cut each day and therefore lengthen her now straight bones.

Fiona’s parents had to follow specific instructions on how to do the distractions. What we know is that if we distract the bone at 1/4mm every 6 hours, we can achieve new bone growth that will keep up with our distractions. Therefore, a trail of bone will form in the space that we create and this bone will eventually form and harden to whatever length we need. We maintain the fixator for as long as that takes. Often the length of time in a fixator will be 8-12 weeks at minimum.

There is a tremendous amount of time put into one of these cases and a fair amount of expense. We have had a number of cases done at NorthStar VETS that have resulted in great success.

IMG_2740Fiona has done very well and she now has a straight limb and a limb that is approximately the same length as her other forelimb. This allows her to be functional and pain-free. She is now 10-months old and enjoying life as an active puppy!

Learn more about the Surgery service at NorthStar VETS

Laura Culbert, DVM, MS, DACVSLaura Culbert, DVM, MS, DACVS
Dr. Culbert has been part of the surgical team at NorthStar VETS since 2006. She received her veterinary degree from Cornell University in 1992, and completed an internship and surgical residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. She has conducted research in the areas of developmental biophysiology and muscular biochemistry, and her residency project focused on neurologic diseases in dogs and complications associated with steroid therapy. Dr. Culbert’s areas of interest in veterinary surgery include cardiothoracic surgery, oncologic surgery, plastic surgery and fracture repair, and she offers the tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) procedure for large dogs and cranial cruciate ligament repair. Dr. Culbert has worked with various rescue groups over the years including Greyhound, Australian Shepherd, Jack Russell Terrier, Golden Retriever and Boxer rescue.

The information presented on this web site is not intended to take the place of your family veterinarian’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss this information with your own veterinarian to determine what is right for your pet. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. We can not and do not give you medical advice via this blog. The information contained in this online site and emails is presented in summary form only and intended to provide broad understanding and knowledge. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of your veterinarian. We do not recommend the self-management of your pet’s health problems.

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NorthStar VETS Cool Case Buster

Posted on June 16, 2017 by admin2

The team at NorthStar VETS is doing innovative and amazing things every day as they work to advance the level of care available to your pet. This series of posts highlights cool cases at NorthStar VETS and the types of things done to save pets and improve their quality of life. These are cases using innovative and cutting-edge medical techniques, and/or stories of pets beating the odds. Read the story below in the doctor’s own words about the case. This is the story of Buster, a patient of Dr. Kelly Kraus of our Surgery team, and how she repaired this dog’s fractured leg.

About Buster
buster-hankinsBuster is a 1-year-old boxer puppy who jumped over a fence and unfortunately landed incorrectly on his hind leg. He sustained a fracture to his tibia and fibula. He came to see us for a consultation regarding fracture repair.

How things went for Buster
Fractures of the tibia are not uncommon in dogs and cats, and most likely result from some sort of trauma (falls, road accidents.) Some of these fractures are amenable to treatment with a splint, which allows the bones to heal on their own. However, in a larger and active dog with a fracture such as Buster’s, surgical repair with open reduction and internal fixation with stainless steel surgical implants is a more stable option.
buster-rads
The implants allow the bones to remain in position for optimal healing. In most dogs, implants are not removed unless there are problems (like infection, implant migration, or implant failure.) Complications with fracture repair are more likely to occur if a dog does too much activity too soon after repair. In dogs and cats, bone healing typically takes at least 8 weeks – sometimes sooner in a very young dog.

Buster had surgery with a bone plate, screws, and cerclage wires to stabilize his fracture. He did very well under anesthesia and was able to go home to his parents the next day. Buster will be due back for follow-up xrays in 4 weeks to check on his bone healing and progression.

Learn more about the Surgery service at NorthStar VETS

Kelly Kraus, VMD, DACVSKelly Kraus, VMD, DACVS
Dr. Kraus is originally from Connecticut. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland in 2003 before moving to Philadelphia, where she did molecular genetics research for two years at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kraus then completed veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania in 2009. After graduating, she completed a rotating internship at Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, NJ. She then moved to Texas to complete a one-year internship in surgery at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists. She was fortunate to then move back to New Jersey for a three-year residency in surgery at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, which she completed in 2014.

She is excited to be part of the surgery team at Northstar Vets. Her special surgical interests include, but are not limited to, wound management and reconstructive surgery, surgical oncology, cardiothoracic surgery, and hepatobiliary surgery. Dr. Kraus also enjoys management of orthopedic conditions. She is trained in the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) for cranial cruciate ligament disease. Outside of work, Dr. Kraus enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, traveling, and helping her local SPCA.

The information presented on this web site is not intended to take the place of your family veterinarian’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss this information with your own veterinarian to determine what is right for your pet. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. We can not and do not give you medical advice via this blog. The information contained in this online site and emails is presented in summary form only and intended to provide broad understanding and knowledge. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of your veterinarian. We do not recommend the self-management of your pet’s health problems.

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NorthStar VETS Cool Case Patches

Posted on June 13, 2017 by admin2

The team at NorthStar VETS is doing innovative and amazing things every day as they work to advance the level of care available to your pet. This series of posts highlights cool cases at NorthStar VETS and the types of things done to save pets and improve their quality of life. These are cases using innovative and cutting-edge medical techniques, and/or stories of pets beating the odds. Read the story below in the doctor’s own words about the case. This is the story of Patches, a patient of Dr. Laura Culbert of our Surgery team, and how she repaired this dog’s fractured elbow.

About Patches
Patches presented to the NorthStar VETS Emergency service with unknown trauma presumed to be a hit by car case. The one-year-old spayed female cat sustained chest trauma and a fracture of the left olecranon.

How things went for Patches
pre-post-patches-lat
The chest trauma caused a mild pneumothorax (air in the chest cavity), a pneumomediastinum (air in the space between the lungs) and subcutaneous emphysema (air under the skin). She was also very anemic. Patches spent 2 days in ICU recovering from her chest trauma and building up her red blood cells. As soon as she was stable for anesthesia, she had her fracture repaired.

An olecranon fracture is a fracture of the proximal (upper) portion of the ulna. This type of fracture is categorized as an avulsion fracture. An avulsion fracture is a fracture of a bone that has a muscular tendon attached to the bone. In this case it was the triceps muscle tendon of insertion. The muscular attachment acts to pull the fractured bone away from the point of reduction. Therefore these fractures require surgical fixation for the bone to heal. The hardware that we utilize for the repair will counteract the force of the muscular pull on the bone. Dr. Culbert used a simple pin and wire to achieve this.

This repair is called a tension band fixation. The pin and the wire are placed in such a way that they counteract or neutralize the force of the muscular contraction of the triceps muscle. This causes the triceps muscle to stretch back to its normal length and allows the fracture to be reduced so that the bone can heal.

Patches will have to be very calm and quiet while she heals. She will have an X-ray at 6 weeks post-op and if the fracture is healed, she will be allowed normal activity.

Learn more about the Surgery service at NorthStar VETS

Laura Culbert, DVM, MS, DACVSLaura Culbert, DVM, MS, DACVS
Dr. Culbert has been part of the surgical team at NorthStar VETS since 2006. She received her veterinary degree from Cornell University in 1992, and completed an internship and surgical residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. She has conducted research in the areas of developmental biophysiology and muscular biochemistry, and her residency project focused on neurologic diseases in dogs and complications associated with steroid therapy. Dr. Culbert’s areas of interest in veterinary surgery include cardiothoracic surgery, oncologic surgery, plastic surgery and fracture repair, and she offers the tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) procedure for large dogs and cranial cruciate ligament repair. Dr. Culbert has worked with various rescue groups over the years including Greyhound, Australian Shepherd, Jack Russell Terrier, Golden Retriever and Boxer rescue.

The information presented on this web site is not intended to take the place of your family veterinarian’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss this information with your own veterinarian to determine what is right for your pet. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. We can not and do not give you medical advice via this blog. The information contained in this online site and emails is presented in summary form only and intended to provide broad understanding and knowledge. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of your veterinarian. We do not recommend the self-management of your pet’s health problems.

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NorthStar VETS Cool Case Casey

Posted on May 12, 2017 by admin2

The team at NorthStar VETS is doing innovative and amazing things every day as they work to advance the level of care available to your pet. This series of posts highlights cool cases at NorthStar VETS and the types of things done to save pets and improve their quality of life. These are cases using innovative and cutting-edge medical techniques, and/or stories of pets beating the odds. Read the story below and watch the doctor tell you the story in their own words via the video at the end. This is the story of Casey, a patient of Dr. Steven Berkowitz of our Emergency and Critical Care team, and how a relatively new technique helped save this dog’s life in an innovative way.

About Casey
Casey was an 8-year-old Labrador Retriever that presented to NorthStar VETS late one morning after her owner found her laying on her side and minimally responsive. After a little investigation, they realized that she had eaten an entire bottle of her phenobarbital that she was on for seizures secondary to a brain tumor. Unfortunately, she had ingested just under 100mg/kg of body weight (her actual dose was 2mg/kg)!

About Phenobarbital
According to multiple sources, the elimination half-life of phenobarbital in dogs is anywhere from 12 hours to 2 days. In other words, it could remain active in her body for up to 5 times the half-life, or up to 10 days in her system, and thus have harmful effects.

For years, the treatments for phenobarbital and other barbiturate intoxications was to merely treat the symptoms with supportive care and IV fluids, and there was some literature that recommended using activated charcoal to speed the gastrointestinal clearance of the medications, with limited success.

How things went for Casey
On presentation, Casey was found to be minimally responsive, had a heart rate of 60 beats per minute with poor pulses, and a respiratory rate of 20, and had lost her gag and swallowing reflex. At the dose of phenobarbital she got into, she was at risk of severe central nervous system (CNS) depression, including cessation of breathing and heart contractions secondary to medullary depression.

About the new procedure
Due to recent studies and case reports, Dr. Berkowitz of the Emergency and Critical Care team opted to try a novel therapy of giving her intravenous lipid emulsion. This is a product made of 100% soybean oil that has been purified and approved for parenteral nutrition and some intoxications. The exact mechanism of action of this therapy is not well established, but in cases of highly lipophilic (fat soluble) medications, it has been surmised that there is a “lipid sink” effect as well as an “extended lipid phase.” In these two theories, we suspect that by giving a substance with a high fat content, that we prevent the toxins from leaving the vasculature, and therefore preventing it from reaching the neurological tissue, thus preventing the effects of the drug. The extended phase theory also intimates that it can actually cause the bound medication/toxin from the tissue, and back into the highly lipid filled vasculature, thus removing the toxin from the affected tissues.

Within 1 hour of initiating the intravenous lipid emulsion, Casey was not only more alert, but she was wagging her tail and trying to stand up and walk to the nursing staff. Now that she was able to swallow, she was then also given an oral dose of activated charcoal. Approximately 4 hours later, she started to become very dull again. She was given a second round of intravenous lipid emulsion, and within hours, she was walking around, barking at other dogs and eating well. By the next morning, which was less than 18 hours after presentation, Casey was doing so well that she was discharged and walked herself out of the front door! Beyond the obvious success, what is so wonderful with this result is that in cases where lipid therapy was not given, many of these dogs passed away as a result of intoxication and the inability, even with CPR, to maintain a respiratory drive. In addition, those patients that did make it, often needed to be hospitalized for several days and Casey left in less than 1!

NorthStar VETS had recent success with the lipid emulsion technique when a dog got into insecticide.

Be prepared for pet emergencies at home. Download your free copy of the NorthStar VETS Pet Emergency Care Handbook.

Learn more about the Emergency and Critical Care service at NorthStar VETS



Steven Berkowitz, DVMSteven Berkowitz, DVM
Dr. Steven Berkowitz attended St. Georges University and did his clinical year at the University of Illinois. Berkowitz joined NorthStar VETS after serving as the Chief of Emergency and Critical Care at another specialty hospital. Prior to that, he completed a three-year residency in Emergency and Critical Care medicine at the Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, NJ. His residency was completed at one of only a few recognized veterinary trauma centers in the United States. Prior to his residency, he was a staff Emergency Veterinarian at Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers, NY as well as serving as an emergency doctor at Animal Emergency and Referral Associates in Fairfield, NJ for 3 years. Dr. Berkowitz can be seen on seasons 5 and 6 of “Animal Precinct” on Animal Planet, which was filmed during his internship at The Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital of the ASPCA in New York City.

Dr. Berkowitz has special interest in the management of metabolic and endocrine derangements, trauma, as well as management of the septic patient.

The information presented on this web site is not intended to take the place of your family veterinarian’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss this information with your own veterinarian to determine what is right for your pet. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. We can not and do not give you medical advice via this blog. The information contained in this online site and emails is presented in summary form only and intended to provide broad understanding and knowledge. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of your veterinarian. We do not recommend the self-management of your pet’s health problems.

Posted in Pets, Veterinary Medicine | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

NorthStar VETS Cool Case Romeo

Posted on May 10, 2017 by admin2

The team at NorthStar VETS is doing innovative and amazing things every day as they work to advance the level of care available to your pet. This series of posts highlights cool cases at NorthStar VETS and the types of things done to save pets and improve their quality of life. These are cases using innovative and cutting-edge medical techniques, and/or stories of pets beating the odds. This is the story of Romeo, a patient of Dr. Heather Knapp-Hoch and Dr. Kelly Kraus of our Surgery team, and how advanced wound management and a skin graft helped save this dog’s leg.

About Romeo

Dr. Kraus with a healed Romeo

Dr. Kraus with a healed Romeo

Romeo is a 7-year-old male neutered Cock-a-poo who came to NorthStar VETS in January after being hit by a car. After initial stabilization, he was transferred to the Surgery department for management of degloving wounds sustained to the right forelimb.

About this type of wound

Figure 1

Figure 1

A “degloving” wound is one in which a large portion of skin is stripped off the body, and they are a common injury when a high-velocity object (car) shears across a limb. These wounds are notoriously difficult to manage, because as well as skin damage, there may also be damage to the joints, ligaments, vessels, and nerves. Because these wounds are often contaminated with asphalt, dirt, and hair, combined with the damage to the delicate blood vessels supplying the skin, just stitching the skin back together often fails.

Romeo’s initial wound removed approximately eighty percent of the skin from the wrist down (Fig. 1), and also damaged part of the pad tissue. The carpal (wrist) joint was open and several important ligaments were missing. The options at that point were either amputation of the leg, which the surgeons did not recommend, or allowing his body to try and heal the wounds, followed by likely reconstructive surgery, which is what was elected.

How things went for Romeo

Figure 2

Figure 2

Surgeons use a variety of techniques to help severe wounds heal. Some possible methods include surgery for removal of unhealthy tissues (debridement), vacuum-assisted wound therapy (“VAC” therapy), and management with sequential bandaging to allow the body to start to heal. Drs. Kraus and Knapp-Hoch managed Romeo’s initial wounds with a combination of surgical debridement and open wound management with bandaging. In the beginning, part of Romeo’s pad, one of his digits, and a large portion of skin required removal (Fig. 2). Once all the unhealthy tissue had “declared” itself and had been removed, the doctors used various types of bandages, in combination with a splint, for Romeo’s tissue to heal enough to accept a graft. This time also allowed the wrist to scar in place after the ligament loss. The process from initial injury to obtaining a tissue bed healthy enough to accept a graft took approximately 1 month.

About the skin graft

Figure 3

Figure 3

A free skin graft involves removing a healthy piece of skin from another area of the body and transplanting it to a new location. When a skin graft is transferred, it relies upon nourishment from the bed onto which it was placed. That is why it is so important that the tissue bed is healthy, like Romeo’s granulation bed (Fig 3). Drs. Kraus and Knapp-Hoch performed Romeo’s skin graft (Fig 4) using a piece of skin from his side. He was kept in a splint and bandage for 2 weeks while his body finished healing, and the majority of the graft (around ninety-five percent) survived, which was excellent news for Romeo (Fig. 5). After hair regrowth (Fig. 6), Romeo is looking fantastic and living a normal life.

Figure 4

Figure 4
Figure 5

Figure 5
Figure 6

Figure 6

Learn more about the Surgery service at NorthStar VETS

Heather Knapp-Hoch, DVM, MS, DACVSHeather Knapp-Hoch, DVM, MS, DACVS
Originally from New Jersey, Dr. Knapp-Hoch is excited to return home and join the NorthStar VETS surgical team. Dr. Knapp-Hoch earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from Long Island University in 2001. She then traveled across the US to obtain a Masters degree in genetics and cell and molecular biology from Washington State University where she also obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. Dr. Knapp-Hoch then completed a small animal rotating internship at Cornell University in 2008. Following her internship she completed a three-year surgical residency at Cornell University in 2011. She obtained board certification in 2012 and practiced as a small animal clinical instructor at Cornell University from 2011-2014.

Dr. Knapp-Hoch’s special areas of interest include surgical oncology and minimally invasive surgery including laser ablation of ectopic ureters. She is proficient in advanced wound management and has a special interest in the use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) to treat difficult surgical and traumatic wounds. She is trained in both the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and the tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) surgical procedures for cranial cruciate ligament disease.

Kelly Kraus, VMD, DACVSKelly Kraus, VMD, DACVS
Dr. Kraus is originally from Connecticut. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland in 2003 before moving to Philadelphia, where she did molecular genetics research for two years at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kraus then completed veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania in 2009. After graduating, she completed a rotating internship at Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, NJ. She then moved to Texas to complete a one-year internship in surgery at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists. She was fortunate to then move back to New Jersey for a three-year residency in surgery at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, which she completed in 2014.

She is excited to be part of the surgery team at Northstar Vets. Her special surgical interests include, but are not limited to, wound management and reconstructive surgery, surgical oncology, cardiothoracic surgery, and hepatobiliary surgery. Dr. Kraus also enjoys management of orthopedic conditions. She is trained in the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) for cranial cruciate ligament disease. Outside of work, Dr. Kraus enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, traveling, and helping her local SPCA.

The information presented on this web site is not intended to take the place of your family veterinarian’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss this information with your own veterinarian to determine what is right for your pet. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. We can not and do not give you medical advice via this blog. The information contained in this online site and emails is presented in summary form only and intended to provide broad understanding and knowledge. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of your veterinarian. We do not recommend the self-management of your pet’s health problems.

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Meet the NorthStar VETS Team: Jason Coggeshall, DVM

Posted on April 26, 2017 by admin2

Dr. Jason Coggeshall is a member of the Veterinary Surgery team at NorthStar VETS. In this blog post and video below, he talks about the first big decision of his career, the kind of cases veterinary surgeons typically see, and the thing that gets him excited about working on this team.

The first big decision of Dr. Coggeshall’s career
We caught up with Dr. Coggeshall, who was checking up on his patients. Dr. Coggeshall is relatively new to NorthStar VETS, but brings a wealth of experience from working in veterinary surgery throughout the country. “I always knew I wanted to do surgery, but didn’t always know I wanted to be a veterinarian. I had to make the choice between human surgery and veterinary surgery, and ultimately decided to go the route of veterinary surgery. I went to Tuskeegee University down in Alabama, did a few internships, then did a residency, and now I’m here at NorthStar VETS.”

_AD_8087_RT2What surgeons like Dr. Coggeshall see from day to day
Dr. Coggeshall and the surgical team at NorthStar VETS perform a wide variety of procedures. “Typically we do orthopedic and soft tissue procedures and some neurologic procedures. Mainly, for orthopedics, we look at a lot of dogs with tears of their ACL and fractures. For soft tissue procedures, it’s mainly mass removals, and dogs who swallow things and need intestinal surgery.”

The thing that gets Dr. Coggeshall excited about working on this team
NorthStar VETS sees hundreds of pets each week, and Dr. Coggeshall really enjoys people’s passion for their pets. “What I like about being a veterinarian is the interactions with the clients. I think it’s always nice to bring a smile to a client’s face, make them happy, and make them feel like their dog or cat is getting the best of care.”


Dr. Coggeshall enjoys working with the team at NorthStar VETS and he is excited for the chance to help you and your pets. “Everybody here is extremely friendly, outgoing, and it really seems to be a collaborative effort which is something I’d like to be a part of.

Learn more about the Surgery service at NorthStar VETS

Jason Coggeshall, DVMJason Coggeshall, DVM
Dr. Coggeshall is a Maryland native with a passion for veterinary surgery, research and teaching. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland and his doctorate in veterinary medicine at Tuskegee University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Coggeshall completed internships at the Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center and Iowa State University. He also completed a Comparative Orthopedic Research fellowship at the University of Florida. Dr. Coggeshall completed the first year of his surgical residency at the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and the subsequent two years at the Veterinary Referral Center in Malvern, PA. Dr. Coggeshall has a strong interest in clinical research, orthopedic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and trauma surgery.

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NorthStar VETS Cool Case Ozzie

Posted on April 14, 2017 by admin2

The team at NorthStar VETS is doing innovative and amazing things every day as they work to advance the level of care available to your pet. This is a new series of posts to be shared highlighting cool cases at NorthStar VETS and the types of things done to save pets and improve their quality of life. These are cases using innovative and cutting-edge medical techniques, and/or stories of pets beating the odds. Watch the doctor tell you the story in their own words via the video below. This is the story of Ozzie, a patient of Veterinary Internist Dr. Deborah Ward and Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Daniel Stobie, who received an innovative cryotherapy technique on his adrenal glands that eliminated both his Cushings disease and Diabetes.

Learn more about the Internal Medicine service at NorthStar VETS


Deborah Ward, DVM, DACVIMDeborah Ward, DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Deborah Ward received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University in 1996. After completing a rotating small animal internship at Southwest Veterinary Specialists, she completed her residency in small animal internal medicine and Master’s degree research in gastrointestinal disease at Virginia Tech in 2000. Since obtaining her board certification in Internal Medicine in 2000, she has been practicing in the Northeast for the past 14 years, and in New Jersey since 2005. Dr. Ward’s special interests include diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disease, renal and immune-mediated disease. She is an experienced endoscopist and ultrasonographer.

Daniel Stobie, DVM, MS, DACVS, Chief of Staff and FounderDaniel Stobie, DVM, MS, DACVS, Chief of Staff and Founder
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.

The information presented on this web site is not intended to take the place of your family veterinarian’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss this information with your own veterinarian to determine what is right for your pet. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. We can not and do not give you medical advice via this blog. The information contained in this online site and emails is presented in summary form only and intended to provide broad understanding and knowledge. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of your veterinarian. We do not recommend the self-management of your pet’s health problems.

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What to Expect when you have to Say Goodbye

Posted on April 4, 2017 by admin2

What is Euthanasia?
Euthanasia, a Greek word that literally means “good death,” is performed to end a pet’s terminal illness and painful suffering. Many pet parents ask the difficult question . . . “Am I keeping my pet alive for me, or do I really think he/she is going to be okay?” This is the controversial debate we confront when we love and are loved by these wonderful creatures. To make such delicate medical decisions, pet parents need to reach deep into their hearts and understand what is truly best for their beloved animal companion.

NSV-rainbow1BIn critical veterinary situations, pet parents needing to visit an emergency hospital (such as NorthStar VETS) will discuss options with the emergency doctor and/or specialist. Based on the severity of the case, a NorthStar VETS professional will help the pet parent consider the pet’s future quality of life.

What to Expect During This Difficult Process
Should the decision be made to euthanize a pet, please know that NorthStar VETS treats all cases as compassionately as possible. On most occasions, the pet and extended family members are directed to our “family room” — a private, quiet and relaxing environment. This thoughtfully-designed suite was created to silence the sounds, commotions and overhead pages of a busy animal hospital.

The euthanasia process begins when an emergency doctor or veterinary technician takes the pet to a treatment area and places an IV catheter, allowing easy access for medication administration. The pet is then returned to the family for an open-ended visitation with their loved ones. Once the family is comfortable, a simple phone call to the front desk moves this peaceful process forward. Arrangements for the pet’s “after care” are discussed with a NorthStar VETS Client Service Representative. Final preferences and details are determined by the family’s wishes and are executed with the utmost care, dignity and grace.

Euthanasia is oftentimes a conflicting subject, but making informed decisions can help reduce pet-parent remorse and guilt. To assist families through difficult transitions, NorthStar VETS offers a complimentary pet loss service. Certified bereavement counselor, Ann Rooney, helps grief-stricken pet parents cope with the passing of their cherished family member.

For more information on NorthStar VETS pet loss support and bereavement service, please visit the Pet Loss and Bereavement service page at northstarvets.com.

Ann RooneyAnn Rooney
For over 16 years, Ann Rooney has worked in the veterinary field comforting pet parents in times of crisis. Certified by the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement in 2016, Ann has committed her career to supporting the emotional needs of clients who have lost their trusted animal companion. By working with veterinarians, connecting with various pet cemeteries, and even experiencing her own pet loss, Ann is a terrific resource for helping clients navigate the difficult part of mourning a pet.

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