Fall/Winter 2014 Newsletter - Hickory Veterinary Hospital

Tel: 610-828-3054
Fax: 610-828-8465
Pennsylvania Veterinary Specialty
and Emergency Associates
Newsletter for
our referring
Veterinarians
Hickory Veterinary Hospital
Hickory Veterinary Hospital
2303 Hickory Road
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Open 24 Hours 7
Days a week all year
ISSUE: VOLUME1
Number 2
Canine Stem Cell Therapy
Chronic pain can lead to a significantly decreased quality of life for many pets. Sometimes
this pain can be managed with medications, dietary supplements, and /or physical therapy,
but other times, this is not possible. Often, owners are looking for a different approach to helping
their pet feel better. Vet-Stem therapy is a new answer to chronic pain for some animals.
Vet News FALL/WINTER 2014
Endoscopy
Laparoscopy
Arthroscopy
Now Offering Endoscopy, Laparoscopy and
Arthroscopy Surgeries
Vet-Stem uses an animal’s own stem cells to actually encourage regeneration in the damaged
tissue. The procedure has been used to relieve arthritis in cases of the knee, hip, and elbow. It can
also be utilized to repair soft tissue in cases of partial tears or to strengthen surgical repair with
Contents
complete tears. Further research is being pursued to determine other areas where stem cells may be
beneficial to animals. The technology used in Vet-Stem Therapy has been commercially available Canine Stem Cell Therapy …. Page 1
since 2003. It was first used in horses with very positive results and now is available for dogs.
Online prescription refill request
at www.hickoryvet.com;
click on “pharmacy”
Hickory Now Offers
News & Events
Medical Boarding
The Process involves harvesting fat from the pet, usually from under the skin. The fat is then
shipped overnight to Vet-Stem where the regenerative cells are purified. The cells needed for the
procedure are then shipped back to the hospital and implanted in the pet the same day they are received. If additional cells are harvested that are not needed for the current procedure they can be
stored free of charge for one year. If needed, they can be retrieved from storage for a small fee. If
not needed, after one year, the owner can decide to continue storage for a fee or to have Vet-Stem
discard the cells.
Oncology and Rehabilitation….Page 2
Welcome Dr. Sarah Nichols ….Page 3
Congratulations Dr. Amy Koterbay Passing
her ACVIM Oncology …Page 3
Hickory Patients Corner……………...Page 3
Sparkie Dipilla
Eighty percent of dogs will have improvement after the Vet-Stem regenerative cells are implantTanner Zibel
ed. This improvement can range from mild to dramatic. Total costs range from $2500 - $3000 for
the procedure. Please schedule an appointment with Dr. Brown or Dr. Dobbins if you are interested in learning more about this procedure and how it may be Beneficial to your pet.
Note: We recently performed a Vet-Stem stem cell therapy procedure in a cat with chronic
Referral Coordinators:
renal disease. Stay posted as we monitor this cat’s response.
Kathleen Smith,
Melissa Prendergast
Stephanie Baron
Fees:
Specialty consult fee $140.00 - $225.00
ER visit $120.00 - $140.00 plus diagnostics
The Pennsylvania Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Associates at Hickory Veterinary Hospital continues to have 24 hour medical boarding. We have doctors and technicians on staff to take care of our medical boarders during their stay at our hospital. We also offer 24 hour emergency services, medical boarding and boarding exotics pets all year round and during the holidays.
Website: www.hickor yvet.com
E-mail: hickor yvet@hickor yvet.com
Oncology
Pennsylvania Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Associates
Kali, a six year old Golden Retriever, presented for a subcutaneous mass (lipoma) near the right
shoulder. It was elected to be removed. At the time of intubation, a mass was noted at the base
of the tongue, localized to the left side. Punch biopsies were taken of the tongue mass and found
to be an intermediate grade fibrosarcoma.
Hickory Veterinary Hospital
Welcomes to our Emergency and Critical Care staff
Dr. Sara Nichols, DVM
A second surgery to remove the entire mass was scheduled and performed 1 month later. The
original diagnosis was confirmed via histopathology with clear margins.
Open 24 hours all
year round
Surgery
Nancy Brown, VMD, DipACVS,
DipACVIM-Oncology Founding
Fellow, Surgical Oncology
Stephanie Dobbins, DVM
Melissa McGrath DVM – Resident
Total Hip Replacement
Stephanie Dobbins, DVM
Michael Kowaleski, DVM, DipACVS
Sara Nichols, DVM is
originally from Mesquite,
Texas.
She earned her
Bachelor of Science degree
in Biology with a Microbiology minor at the University of Texas at Dallas in
2010.
She subsequently
attended Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine where she
earned her DVM before
moving to Philadelphia.
Rechecks were scheduled monthly under short acting anesthetics. Three months later, a firm
nodule was palpated, surgically removed and histopath confirmed clean margins. Again monthly
rechecks were scheduled. Within two months a second recurrence was noted. The surgical protocol was altered with the addition of five Cisplatin beads implanted into the surgical site after
excision.
Kali recovered uneventfully and was followed carefully on a monthly basis.
Four months later Kali suddenly arrested at home and was presented with an obvious mass of the
left ileal wing. On necropsy, masses were found along the gastric wall, omentum, diaphragm and
pleural surfaces. Final diagnosis was histiocytic sarcoma. Biopsy of the tongue mass showed no
residual tumor.
Bead implantation is a technique used for focal control of disease. Implantation is easy and quick.
Each bead is placed 1.5 cm apart, sutured securely into a small tissue bed and allowed to resorb
over a 2 to 3 week period.
Oncology
Nancy Brown, MA, VMD,
Dip ACVS, DipACVIM-Oncology
Founding Fellow, Surgical Oncology
Amy Koterbay, BVMS
Dr. Nichols’ interests lie in emergency and critical care medicine and feline
internal medicine. In her spare time, Dr. Nichols enjoys camping, skiing, hiking, reading, scrapbooking, and relaxing with her
dog, Peanut, her kitties, Leah and Xena, and her husband, Blake.
Congratulations to
Dr. Amy Koterbay, BVMS, MS in passing her ACVIM
Oncology
Amy Koterbay, BVMS, MS
completed her ACVIM Oncology in 2014.
Amy Koterbay, BVMS, MS,
originally from Rhode Island,
graduated from Auburn University in 1999 with a Masters
degree in anatomy and histology and from the University
of Glasgow in 2006 with a
doctorate in veterinary medicine. After graduation, Dr.
Koterbay pursued further
training, completing her internship at Hickory Veterinary Hospital in 2009. She completed 2 years of her residency at
Michigan State University, and has returned to Plymouth Meeting to
complete the last year of her residency. Her special interests are gastric cancer and transition cell carcinoma, both of which are aggressive
cancers in small animals.
Cardiology
Cecelia Helenski, MS,DVM
Pennsylvania Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Associates
Rehabilitation
Virginia Chambers, DVM, CCRT
Hickory Veterinary Hospital Patient Corner
Ophthalmology
Seth Koch, VMD, DipACVOCritical
Sparkie Dipilla
Pennsylvania Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Associates
Hickory Veterinary Hospital
Rehabilitation Program
Critical Care & Emergency Medicine
Louis DelGiudice, DVM, DipACVECC
Sara Nichols, DVM
Ashley Boucek, VMD
Sara Nichols, DVM
Jae Park, BVSc MRCVS
Megan Mackalonis, VMD
Neurology
William J. Kay, DVM, DipACVIM, DABVP
Dermatology
Kevin Byrne, DVM, MA, DipACVD
Ultrasound
Jennifer Reetz, DVM, DipACVIM, DACVR
Allison Clemens, DVM
Primary Care
Allison Clemens, DVM
Debra Eisenstein, VMD, Ph.D
Virginia Chambers, DVM, CCRT
Ann Mitchell, VMD
Interns
Bridget Dougherty, BVMS
Claire McCaffery, DVM
Lauren Celano, VMD
Dr. Gina Chambers, DVM, CCRT
Hickory Veterinary Hospital is proud to offer physical
rehabilitation of companion animals. Physical rehabilitation
offers a wide range of modalities to return pets to their normal
function. We offer post operative care through strength training,
stretching, treadmill, massage, electrical stimulation, laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, and magnetic field therapy. Our certified rehabilitation veterinarian and certified veterinary technician, and a veterinary assistant are available to support you and
your pet through the entire process. We also offer rehabilitation
for treatment of orthopedic and soft tissue injuries, neurological
conditions, degenerative joint disease, arthritis, and weight management.
"Sparkie", a 14 year old border collie
mix is a testament to a life long lived
with care and love throughout these
many years. In January 2014 Sparkie
presented with a 3x3x2cm mass on
his distal right forearm. Cytology and
surgery soon followed with a final
diagnosis of hemangiopericytoma.
Because of the need for a large complete resection, wet to dry dressings
and then nonadherent dressings were
applied with frequent changes as indicated. Three weeks later
Sparkie was completely healed. On July 27, 2014, Sparkie appeared
with a large infected elbow sore. After 3 days of debridement,
flushing and antibiotics Sparkie returned home.
As of August 2014, there was no
recurrence and he returned to his
normal activities of daily living.
Sadly on September 25th 2014
Sparkie parted with us due to other
complications. He will be missed by
all.
Tanner Zibel
Tanner, a 15 month old mixed breed dog, presented in the early morning hours as an acute
emergency. He had awakened the owners during the night in a restless, uncomfortable state.
He was hypersalivating and unable to sit or lie
down. On presentation Tanner had severe
abdominal discomfort and was mildly dehydrated. Radiographs showed generalized ileus
(gas). Bloodwork showed low potassium.
Emergency surgery was recommended.
After stabilization, Tanner was taken to surgery where an intestinal volvulus was discovered. Resection of a large portion
of his small bowel with anastomosis (reconnection) was performed. Supportive care was provided for the following four days after which Tanner was happily discharged to his owners.
Intestinal volvulus – or torsion – causes the intestine to twist at the mesenteric root causing a
strangulation obstruction. Rapid events that
occur include: vascular obstruction, tissue compromise and death, loss of motility and increased bacterial flora. Death rapidly ensues.
Early intervention is essential and should be
done in as few hours as possible after suspicion
is raised.
Tanner was taken to surgery four hours after the
initial symptoms were recognized. We hope that he will have a comfortable
and happy life for many years to come.