Dr. Coggeshall watches over Magic in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

Jose was beside himself after thinking that he lost his dog, then miraculously getting him back. “A piece of my heart went away when I tried to find him, but couldn’t. I had a dream that he was still with me, but I was starting to think he was gone.” Jose still remembers the flood of emotion that came over him when the construction crew called him to tell him they uncovered Magic and he was still alive. “I immediately broke down crying. He’s always been a fighter, I just had to keep the faith and give him a chance.” Jose called his family to rejoice.

Jose and Magic leaving the hospital to go home

“It’s about helping each other,” said Dr. Coggeshall, “because I’d want someone to do that for me.” Jose felt similarly. “I help people with their cars. Helping others is so important to me, which is why I was so grateful for Dr. Coggeshall and my neighbors who rallied around me. Magic is like a son to me, I am so attached to this dog. I trained and taught him to be kind and he loves other people the way I love him. I am so happy he’s home.”

Learn more about the Surgery service at NorthStar VETS.

Jason 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.

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 Ranger, a patient of both our Oncology and Surgery teams.

Ranger’s Story
Ranger is an eight and a half year old Golden Retriever who was diagnosed with a bone tumor. It was in an unusual location involving the right ulna, which in dogs is a non-weight bearing bone. The radius in the front limbs bears most, if not all, of the weight. Because of this, Ranger did not have to undergo a forelimb amputation. Instead, he had an ulnar ostectomy which allowed us to remove just the affected bone. Biopsy was diagnostic for hemangiosarcoma. This tumor arises from blood vessels and is mostly seen affecting the spleen and heart. Ranger is doing well since surgery and just received his third dose of chemotherapy in hopes of delaying disease recurrence for as long as possible.

The middle of Ranger’s ulna is less bright in this radiograph due to disease in the bone.

In the post-operative radiograph, Ranger’s ulna is removed to prevent the spread of cancer. You can also see little circles near where the bone used to be. These are implantable beads that deliver medicine to the area.

This CT image confirmed the extent of Ranger’s disease.

Ranger’s diseased ulna can be seen in cross section on this CT image. It is the one on the bottom left.

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

Dorothy Jackson, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Originally from the South, Dr. Jackson attended Mississippi State University for her undergraduate studies and veterinary school. Following veterinary school in 2009, she completed a rotating internship at the University of Missouri followed by a specialty internship at Georgia Veterinary Specialists in Atlanta. Dr. Jackson was lucky enough to obtain both academic and private practice experience during her residency, training at the University of Pennsylvania and Veterinary Cancer Center in Connecticut. Following her residency, Dr. Jackson obtained board certification in Oncology and worked at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital for 2.5 years before joining the Northstar VETS team.

Being an Italian from the South, Dr. Jackson loves food. She loves cooking new recipes and trying new restaurants with her wife…another Italian. When not traveling to new places, they enjoy their time at home with their 3 cats who keep them quite entertained.

Daniel Stobie, DVM, MS, DACVS – 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.

Following his residency, Dr. Stobie headed a surgical service at the Animal Medical Center in New York City for two years, joining a specialty practice in New Jersey as a staff surgeon in 1996. In 2000, he formed Veterinary Surgical and Diagnostic Specialists (a mobile surgical and ultrasound practice) that evolved into what is today, NorthStar VETS, where he serves as Chief of Staff.

Committed to helping advance the veterinary industry, Dr. Stobie participates in many organizations and is a member of the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association (where he has served on the executive board), the South Jersey VMA, Jersey Shore VMA and the Metropolitan VMA.

He also has served as an adjunct clinical instructor in small-animal surgery at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He is widely published in veterinary journals and textbooks, and lectures locally, nationally and internationally. Dr. Stobie also participates in veterinary management groups, providing guidance on veterinary economics and practice management.

In addition, he is involved in development of new and novel surgical techniques including the dome trochleoplasty for patellar luxations in dogs, and is currently helping an implant company to develop a new hip replacement prosthesis. In March 2013, he led a group of veterinarians to Malawi, Africa to help improve animal health in local villages there.

Dr. Stobie is a strong advocate for child welfare and the more than 60,000 children in New Jersey’s foster care system. He lives on a farm with his husband, their three children and enough animals to fill Noah’s Ark. He enjoys spending time with his family and loves the beach. His hobbies include horseback riding, gardening, and beekeeping.