Throwback Story: Daysi’s Remarkable Recovery with a Little Help from a Fish
Every once in a while, we love looking back at some of our favorite patient success stories—especially the ones that remind us how innovation, teamwork, and compassionate care can make all the difference.
Today we're throwing it back to Daysi, a sweet 7-year-old Pomeranian whose recovery was anything but ordinary.
When Daysi came to The PARC with a severe thermal burn on her back, we knew healing would take time, patience, and a carefully planned approach. Burns can be incredibly painful and challenging to treat, but Daysi was a fighter from the very beginning.
Her recovery started with hydrotherapy, using gentle wound cleansing to keep the area healthy while encouraging new tissue to develop. Once the wound was ready, Dr. Hall performed surgical debridement, carefully removing damaged tissue to create the best possible environment for healing.
Then came one of the most unique parts of Daysi's treatment: a tilapia skin graft.
While still considered an emerging technique in veterinary medicine, tilapia skin grafts have shown promising results in both research and real-world cases. Rich in collagen and remarkably similar in structure to mammalian skin, tilapia skin acts as a natural protective scaffold, helping support the body's healing process.
For Daysi, the tilapia skin was meticulously cleaned, disinfected, and prepared under sterile conditions before surgery. Dr. Hall carefully placed and secured the graft over the wound, allowing Daysi's own healthy tissue to heal beneath it.
The procedure went beautifully, and Daysi recovered comfortably.
Throughout the process, Daysi's mom shared how grateful she was for Dr. Hall's compassion, creativity, and dedication. She also praised the entire team at The PARC for making a difficult journey feel manageable through their kindness, communication, and exceptional care.
By the following year, Daysi had made an incredible recovery. She was happy, comfortable, and back to enjoying life like any healthy little dog should.
Looking back on Daysi's case reminds us that great medicine is always evolving. Sometimes the best solution means thinking outside the box, embracing new techniques backed by science, and tailoring care to each individual patient.
