Hi everyone, its your hostess, Nicole. I am just shy of my two-year anniversary at NorthStar VETS.  Looking back I remember stumbling across this job opening. It was actually titled “Client Relations Liaison.” My college degree says PR/Journalism/Communications, and my talent, well that was TBD. I must admit that when I applied for the position, I was not quite sure what Specialty Medicine for Pets could be.  Quite frankly, I remember searching the website for answers, and seeing a bunch of veterinary medical jargon that I could by no means decipher without the help of Wikipedia and Google.  I remember thinking, if I don’t understand this, than there is a real good chance that many others don’t either.  That was my first mental note, and my first thought to initiate a change, that would be reader friendly to my Bi-lingual Grandmother.  I knew if she could understand it at first glance than so could my 12 year-old brother.  That’s was my first line of business as I drew up my faux marketing plan to present 2 weeks after meeting with Dr. Stobie and Brie.    My second was client service;  I relate client service to places I go…don’t you?  For instance, I truly love how Target calls their customers (sounds blah!) BUT– Guests (happy face, exclamation point!)  Talk about taking it to the next level!   Further, most people HATE taking their car into get worked on.  Let’s face it, it’s usually over your monthly budget, completely unexpected, you have to leave work early to make the service hours, (the list goes on and on).  But when I go to Infiniti I can show up after my work day has ended, valet my vehicle, and pick up a brand new Infiniti to drive home and go to work the next morning, while they work on my car.  Then to top it off when I pick up my car (after my work day) they completely detail it (I don’t even have to ask), offer me something to eat or drink and still bring up my car as if I was some kind of celebrity.  To sum it up, I’ll never leave Infiniti, they have gained my trust, and loyalty because they show they care.  And yes, I pay a little bit more than most, but guess what?  I’m willing to pay that because I know the job will get done right, and I know they will take care of me.

This is how I feel about NorthStar VETS, as a team member and as a pet owner.  You see I have visited other specialty centers as a pet owner, I have been a client, a guest and a customer.  I expect a certain level of care, treatment and compassion.  All of which everyone here strives to do. So 3 interviews later I joined the team not knowing the impact that this decision would have on my professional career and personal life experience.  Needless to say, I wear many fun hats here: Client Relations, Public Relations, Graphics, Social Media Guru, Blogger, Event Planning Extraordinaire lol or in short, the Marketing Director who sees over all communication of NorthStar VETS.

NorthStar VETS quickly and literally became my guiding light. Working at NorthStar VETS has always been unpredictable.  One day I could be up in admin and the next you might find me at a Dog Yappy Hour or Bark at the Park. There rarely is a dull moment at a 24-hour emergency vet hospital, especially at NorthStar VETS.

Today, I am on a mission to educate as many pet owners as possible about knowing where to turn when they are faced with an emergency situation with their pet.

I still can’t believe how far NorthStar has come.  I will celebrate my two-year anniversary here in June and can remember just looking at the building plans.  The next thing you know we were planning a Groundbreaking Ceremony, then a movie night at the Drive-In, and eventually, the Red Carpet Ribbon Cutting Gala that we held on Saturday.  Our biggest turnout yet!  My RSVP list totaled 575 but by show time the total was more like 800 people in attendance.  At one point I looked around in awe of the fans and supporters that came to see our new hospital and share in our celebration. The look on Dr. Stobie and Brie’s face was one of “We Did It!”  Well, we did!  Everyone at NorthStar VETS…did.

For the last three days the entire team has been running around packing, moving, unpacking and organizing.  Today I am writing this on the beginning of a new chapter not only in veterinary medicine but also for NorthStar VETS.  For the last two years we were rising, today NorthStar VETS has risen.

At NorthStar VETS we operate under strict core values (you can read them on our website) but, we also have taken on a new perspective that caters to not only the pet but also you; the pet owner.  With so many choices in front of you, we welcome you to experience the difference at NorthStar VETS, 315 Robbinsville-Allentown Rd, Robbinsville, NJ 08691.

It’s 12:19 AM on Thursday, May 5, 2011 and Nicole, our marketing director, is going to kill me! A handful of us have volunteered to write a blog for her to post on our website to try to capture the essence of the moment as we, the staff of NorthStar VETS, experience the last few days of our time in our current 6,000 square foot veterinary hospital at 34 Trenton-Lakewood Road in Clarksburg, New Jersey. Of course, the deadline for submission was 2 days ago and I obviously missed it. The “hard” deadline she gave me after I missed the first one was yesterday, which I again just officially missed 19 minutes ago. Just one indicator of how busy things are with our pending move. Like I said, she’s going to kill me.

But, life goes on . . . and as Dr. Stobie is so fond of saying, everything happens for a reason. In the past 2 years, despite the hard work of countless people, we have seen many a deadline come and go, and yet, barring any other unexpected last minute set backs, we will be open for business at our new 30,000+ square foot hospital in Robbinsville in just 6 short days. Our Grand Opening Gala celebration is just two, yes two!, short days away.
I think back to a day just shy of 8 years ago and recall the grand opening of our current facility. I remember Dr. Stobie giving his speech thanking all the people that helped make it possible. I remember the smooth and glossy green floors (which became truly dangerously slippery when they got wet – I took a couple of very not-so-graceful headers in the early days!), the pristine green countertops, the newly painted walls, the shiny new surgery tables and lights, and what seemed like such a grandly large, open work space. I remember looking at what seemed to be a plethora of bright new computer screens that responded with lightning speed to your every command and the new comfy-looking office chairs set in front of each screen.

As our moving process has begun and we begin to empty out the current building, the toll the past 8 years has taken on the building is obvious. The floor is not so very glossy (nor so slippery!), even when freshly mopped. It’s green color is interrupted everywhere by black scratches and gouges. The walls have countless scratches and dents and areas of slightly different shades of paint where similar injuries have been spackled over. The counter tops have their own share of dings, scratches, and stains. Several of the office chairs have bum wheels. Every day the computers seem to get slower and slower and it seems like every other day another hard drive bites the dust. The “grandly large, open workspace” that seemed so spacious years ago dwindles as we add more employees and competition for an open workstation intensifies each day. These are all the signs that we are ready for our pending move; that we need to move.
Today, contemplating our pending move, I think about all the things that have changed. Of course it wasn’t called NorthStar VETS; at that time, we were known as Veterinary Surgical and Diagnostic Specialists, or VSD (a descriptive name but one’s whose initials always reminded me of some types of particularly undesirable diseases; NorthStar VETS rolls off the tongue so much easier and conjures much more pleasant images!). We’ve grown from a staff of about 20 to one of just over 80 employees with more on the way. Back then, we offered only offered specialty surgical services and emergency care. Today, our specialty services also include cardiology, internal medicine, ophthalmology, acupuncture, theriogenology , dermatology, oncology, and physical therapy, (forgive me, if at this late hour, I am forgetting anyone) with plans to add more services in the near future.

It’s funny. I can remember all the details of what we were then and compare it to what we are now but how we got from there to here, and all the details of the journey itself, seems like such a blur. But it is in that journey that the real magic that is veterinary medicine happens. In the past 8 years, we have done so many great things. We have helped countless pets in need, and by helping them, have in turn helped the human beings who came attached to them. Whether it be by diagnosing and curing patients of their illnesses, fixing their fractures and their wounds, or by helping alleviate whatever pain and suffering we can by guiding them, and their families, through the difficult journey of the ailments that we cannot fix; we truly make a difference in the lives of our patients and clients. We make their lives better and in some way guide them to a better place. The true beauty of our profession is that they, in return, do the same for us, and in this regard, our “job” is a self-rewarding endeavor.

It is important to remember also though that this magic does not happen on its own. It requires the concerted effort of a group of genuine, dedicated, compassionate, caring, kind, excellent, professional, selfless, service-oriented, and friendly people working as a team to achieve a common goal. That is what we have at NorthStar VETS and it is our greatest strength.

While the move to our new building will bring many changes and with change comes much uncertainty, anxiety, and stress, we can move forward with the comfort and certainty that we have just such a great team of people. Working together, we can accomplish anything! I, myself, have gone through different stages of anxiety, worry, and stress as we draw nearer to our moving date. In the past week, however, as I recall what we have accomplished in the past 8 years and have watched our team rally together in recent months, I see the collective efforts our awesome team beginning to come to fruition. Suddenly, my anxiety seems to have been washed away by an overwhelming sense of pride and excitement about what is soon to come and I can’t wait to see what we can do!

This is an x-ray from a Total Hip Replacement that Dr. Dan Stobie, NorthStar VETS, Chief of Staff, completed on a German Shepherd that was experiencing hip displaysia.

X-ray of total hip replacement by Dr. Stobie

NorthStar VETS is proud to offer this pain relieving procedure to improve hip function, and allow your dog to return to an active life style.

THR is a procedure designed to eliminate discomfort by replacing the arthritic hip joint with an artificial joint. This is a state-of-the-art surgical procedure, very similar to the one performed on humans. The arthritic femoral head and neck are removed and replaced with a metal implant made of stainless steel and titanium. The arthritic socket is also removed and replaced with a silicone cup. Both components are held in place with sterile bone cement. The metal head and silicone cup fit and function like the original ball and socket joint, providing a pain-free, mechanically functional joint.

When Should Surgery Be Performed?

Surgery to replace the hip joint is recommended when chronic pain or limping are present. Radiographs of the hips are performed to confirm the diagnosis of degenerative arthritis. Surgery is indicated if conservative therapy via pain medication is not sufficient in relieving the limping or pain associated with the arthritis.

Are There Alternative Surgeries to THR?

Yes, a femoral head and neck ostectomy can be performed as an alternative procedure. The ball part (femoral head) is removed allowing a “false-joint” to form. Eventually, new tissue fills in between the bones allowing support and function of the limb. This surgery has a variable success rate with 20-25% of owners reporting low-grade gait abnormality or trouble jumping. Results are satisfactory to good, however, typically not as optimal as a total hip replacement. A triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO), a hip rotation procedure, can only be performed on young dogs (less than 12 months of age) with hip dysplasia prior to the development of arthritis. This surgery preserves the dog’s hip joint and prevents the progression of hip dysplasia. Results are good to excellent.

How Do Dogs Feel with Total

Hip Replacement?

Most dogs walk on their new hip immediately after surgery. Most pet owners report their dog’s personality improves and that their dog feels great. Gradual return to normal function occurs between 8-12 weeks after surgery. A long-term study found THR to be a very effective method for treating disabling conditions of the canine hip. The majority of dogs displayed marked improvement in walking, sitting, climbing stairs, standing, running, playing, and exercise following surgery. THRs have been performed in both pet and working dogs with equal success.

Is My Dog a Candidate for THR?

If your dog is over 12 months of age, weighs more than 45 lbs., and has clinical signs associated with hip arthritis or dysplasia, or has had a traumatic hip luxation, your dogis a potential candidate for hip replacement.  A thorough examination to rule out other problems is always an important part of the preoperative evaluation.

NorthStar VETS’ team of board-certified surgeons have the experience and expertise to perform this advanced procedure.

*DISCLAIMER: If you feel you may be experiencing an emergency please contact us immediately at 609.259.8300