-
Recent Posts
Archives
- October 2022
- August 2022
- May 2022
- March 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- September 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- June 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- June 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- December 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- November 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- March 2013
- January 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- July 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
Categories
Case Success: Gaby
Gaby was suffering from a host of medical issues, and came in through the NorthStar VETS Critical Care service for hind-limb swelling, weakness, and an inability to urinate. A urinary catheter was placed to relieve that issue, but he had another problem with his blood. Normal packed cell volume (which is the percentage of red blood cells per unit volume,) is 35-55% and his was only 15%. An emergency blood transfusion was needed to save his life. Allison is a cat that donates to the NorthStar VETS blood bank, and recently gave blood that ended up saving Gaby by bringing his PCV back up to 26%, an exceptionally large jump! This was good enough for him to go home a couple days later while continuing to heal.
Gaby’s return home meant the world to his family because of the journey he took to get to this point. Gaby was born in Robbinsville with his brother, Buddha, in 2007. Three years later, he jumped through a screen on the second floor of his home, not to be seen again for the next ten years! About two years ago, his family received a call from a local animal hospital. A lovely woman took him in and noticed he stopped eating and was losing weight. That animal hospital scanned him for a chip, and discovered it was Gaby! He was finally reunited with his litter mate and his other pet siblings, and is catching back up with them! During his decade absence, he lost his tail, developed diabetes and heart/kidney diseases. He’s had numerous medical emergencies since his return, and NorthStar VETS has helped him manage some of those issues. His family is in gratitude for little Allison, the former stray cat who saved his life with her blood donation, and for the time they’ve had with Gaby (named after the Angel, Gabriel).
Click here to learn more about the NorthStar VETS Blood Bank and how you can get involved.
Steven Berkowitz, DVM, DACVECC
Dr. Steven Berkowitz attended St. Georges University and did his clinical year of training at University of Illinois. Dr. Berkowitz joined NorthStar VETS after service 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 Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, NJ. His residency was completed at one of the first level one veterinary trauma centers in the United States. Prior to his residency, he was a staff emergency veterinarian at Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers, New York, as well as at Animal Emergency and Referral Center in Fairfield, NJ. Dr. Berkowitz can be seen on seasons 5 and 6 of “Animal Precinct” on Animal Planet, which was filmed at the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital of the ASPCA wherein he did his rotating internship after completing veterinary school. Dr. Berkowitz’s professional interests include management of metabolic and endocrine emergencies, as well as management of septic patients. He is published as the primary author in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care with his article “Resolution of spontaneous hemoabdomen secondary to peliosis hepatis following surgery and azithromycin treatment in a Bartonella species infected dog.”
This entry was posted in Pets, Veterinary Medicine and tagged blood bank, blood donor, blood transfusion, Gaby, NorthStar VETS, Steven Berkowitz. Bookmark the permalink.
Leave a Reply