A sad story that we hear a lot is when a ball-loving dog is no longer able to play fetch due to arthritis or some other orthopedic injury. That was the case for Sherlock, a nearly 100-pound Staffordshire terrier/rottweiler mix. Though Sherlock loved to chase his ball, as he got older, his body started slowing down and he was diagnosed with arthritis in all four limbs. In an effort to not take away his favorite activity, his owners continued to play ball with a little less intensity. And then he tore his cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Fortunately for Sherlock, his veterinarian recommended using VetStem Cell Therapy in conjunction with surgery. Stem cells have the ability to reduce pain, inflammation, and minimize the formation of scar tissue. In addition to his injured knee, Sherlock’s veterinarian treated both of his elbows and his non-injured knee to give him some relief from the arthritis in those joints.

Sherlock’s owner reported that he responded well to his initial stem cell treatment but that shortly after, he injured the cruciate ligament in his left knee. Unfortunately, this is more common than you may think. According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, 40-60% of dogs who injure one cruciate ligament will go on to injure the other cruciate ligament in the future. This time, Sherlock’s veterinarian was able to request doses from his stored stem cells, which she administered during the surgery on his left knee. Sherlock once again received an injection of his own stem cells into each knee and each elbow.

After treatment, his owner said that his recovery went from six weeks to three-and-a-half weeks. She stated, “He healed so quickly that it surprised everyone. He was 12 years old by this time and a full recovery seemed almost too hopeful to wish for, but instead we not only got a full recovery but a faster recovery than before.” She went on to state, “Sherlock is now 13 years old and we do not run and chase balls anymore, but we enjoy walks on the beach and lots of snuggles and I am so grateful that he is still here feeling good and enjoying life with me. Stem cell therapy made an immense difference in his ability to live a high quality life in his older years.”

Does your dog suffer from osteoarthritis or have they injured their cruciate ligament? If so, VetStem Cell Therapy may help. Speak to your veterinarian or contact us to receive a list of VetStem providers near you.

Today is Take Your Dog to Work Day and VetStem is no stranger to having our furry, four-legged companions in the office! On any given day, there may be a handful of dogs lounging around the office, offering tail wags, and eagerly requesting ear scratches from passers-by. And we wouldn’t have it any other way!

We of course love the extra puppy snuggles, but there are additional benefits to bringing your dog to work. According to one study, there is a potential correlation between bringing your dog to work and a reduction in stress levels. Scientists found that people who took their dogs to work reported lower stress throughout the day than employees without pets or those who had pets but didn’t take them to work.

Another study found that 90 percent of employees in pet friendly workplaces feel highly connected to their company’s mission, fully engaged with their work, and willing to recommend their employer to others. Additionally, more than three times as many employees at pet friendly workplaces report a positive working relationship with their boss and co-workers and are more likely to stay with a company long term. And the benefits don’t end there! Check out more details of the study here.

We feel super fortunate to work in a pet friendly office, especially since we are in the veterinary field and are all passionate animal lovers! Here are just a few pictures of our dogs hanging around the VetStem office.

As Pet Appreciation Week wraps up, we just wanted to share appreciation for some of the VetStem pack! These critters bring us so much joy and so many laughs!

Thank you Mick for being a great hiking/camping buddy!

Thank you Scarf for the constant laughs.

Thank you Willow for being so loyal.

Thank you Streaker for the best cuddles.

Thank you Darby for providing constant entertainment!

Thank you Ali’i for the best snuggles.

Thank you Wesley for constantly making us laugh.

Thank you Udon for being a yes noodle instead of a nope rope!

The VetStem sales and marketing team just returned from the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) Pain Management Forum in Atlanta, GA. For the past few years, VetStem has sponsored a dry lab at the forum. Additionally, experts in veterinary pain management have discussed the use of regenerative medicine as one approach to managing pain in pets.

Founded in 2001 by a group of veterinarians, including one of VetStem’s earliest users and collaborators, Dr. Jamie Gaynor, the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management unites veterinary professionals across all disciplines from around the world to advocate for best practices in the treatment of pain in animals. The organization is committed to encouraging pain management for all animal species through education and advocacy. They also encourage various veterinary organizations to raise public awareness about pain and pain management as it pertains to veterinary patients. IVAPM is the leading forum and educational resource for veterinary professionals and pet owners interested in animal pain prevention, management, and treatment.

One of the primary goals of IVAPM is to educate the veterinary community to recognize and treat pain in all species of animals. In addition to offering continuing education, they also provide the only interdisciplinary pain management certification program for veterinary professionals. Last year, IVAPM launched the first annual Pain Management Forum where like-minded veterinary professionals can connect to advocate for the best practices in the treatment of animals in pain.

This year, at the second Pain Management Forum, Dr. Gaynor delivered a lecture in which he included information on the topics of VetStem Cell Therapy and platelet rich plasma. You may be surprised to learn that stem cells not only have the ability to down-regulate inflammation, but also to directly affect pain. Current literature supports that stem cells have the ability to address both acute and chronic pain by secreting pain blocking cytokines (small proteins), which can have opioid-like effects. We enjoy attending and supporting the IVAPM Pain Management Forum and look forward to supporting their cause in 2024!

The VetStem Sales and Marketing team just returned from several days at the 2023 Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) in Las Vegas. These veterinary conferences are a great way to meet with existing and potential clients to talk all things regenerative veterinary medicine. WVC is one of the largest veterinary industry shows in the nation and VetStem has exhibited at this show for over 15 years.

Veterinary trade shows allow us the opportunity to speak to and educate veterinarians and veterinary technicians from all over the country about VetStem Cell Therapy and how they can implement this therapeutic modality in their practice. Many veterinarians show interest in our clinical research programs, such as inflammatory bowel disease and renal disease, as these conditions tend to have limited treatment options.

This year, we were excited to give attendees a sneak peak at an upcoming product. Unfortunately, it’s too early to spill the beans here, but it’s definitely something to get excited about! Follow VetStem on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our latest news and announcements.

Perhaps most exciting was the fact that Mick, who belongs to VetStem CEO, Dr. Bob Harman, made his official trade show debut! He did great and was the perfect gentleman in the booth. Though still a puppy, he is doing wonderfully with his training.

Well friends, here we are again nearing the end of another year. It’s hard to believe 2022 is almost over. This has been a big year for VetStem, one with a lot of change but also a lot of growth; a new building, new employees, and many new opportunities to educate veterinarians and pet owners about stem cell therapy. As our last blog of the year, we like to give our readers an overview of all that has happened with VetStem in the last 12 months. So, without further ado, here is VetStem’s 2022 year in review.

• Towards the end of 2021, VetStem announced that we spun out our veterinary division, splitting off from our contract manufacturing division. With this separation, came a new corporate office. While the laboratory remains in the same buildings, our administrative offices have moved for the first time since VetStem opened their doors! Check out some pictures of the new space below.

• In February, VetStem CEO, Dr. Bob Harman, was invited to present stem cell data at the Global Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) Symposium. VetStem Cell Therapy has been successfully used to treat this deadly virus in multiple elephants.

• In March, we announced that we had reached an industry leading milestone: VetStem has processed over 15,000 patient samples and has provided over 35,000 stem cell treatments.

• In April, we announced our new Chief Development Officer Dr. Anne Hale. Dr. Hale has significant experience in product development and regulatory approval and has led the charge in the development of upcoming VetStem products.

• In June, Dr. Harman once again had the opportunity to present stem cell data for exotic animals. This time it was at the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM) conference. Dr. Harman discussed the use of VetStem Cell Therapy for various aquatic animals including dolphins, sea lions, and sea turtles!

• In August and October, we announced that two of our biggest proponents reached VetStem milestones. Equine vet, Dr. Martin Gardner, reached 500 VetStem cases and small animal vet, Dr. Jeff Christiansen, surpassed 225 VetStem cases.

• Also in October, Dr. Anne Hale delivered a lecture at the annual American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) conference all about the use of VetStem Cell Therapy in cats.

• Lastly, in November, Dr. Harman was invited to present about the use of real-world evidence in biological treatments at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons second annual Biologics Symposium. Though Dr. Harman officially represented our human counterpart, Personalized Stem Cells, his talk centered on his use of veterinary stem cell data from VetStem that helped guide the development of our human stem cell clinical trials.

And there you have it. Another year in the books. We thank you for your continued support, without which we couldn’t be here, improving and saving the lives of animals. We wish everyone the happiest of holidays and look forward to seeing what 2023 has in store for VetStem.

Lately, we’ve shared news about our work with several species of exotic animals. VetStem has worked with a number of exotic animal organizations around the U.S. to provide stem cell therapy to sick and injured animals. You may remember our recent blogs about elephants and aquatic animals.

We’ve also discussed our work with bears, including Francis and Brody. Francis is a sun bear from the San Diego Zoo that received VetStem Cell Therapy for arthritis in several joints. Brody, a juvenile black bear in Florida, received VetStem Cell Therapy in conjunction with surgery for a condition that is similar to hip dysplasia in dogs. In addition to degenerative and congenital diseases, VetStem Cell Therapy has been used to treat traumatic injuries such as a sea turtle who was injured by a propeller as well as viral diseases as discussed in our blog about elephants.

Recently, VetStem Chief Development Officer, Dr. Anne Hale, visited The Preserve in Texas to discuss the use of stem cells in some of their older elephants and giraffes. According to their website, “The Preserve is dedicated to expanding elephant education, knowledge, and conservation. These efforts have brought about numerous professional accolades and recognition. We’re committed to doing our part to help save elephants from extinction.”

Dr. Hale stated, “I was honored to meet The Preserve family and look forward to supporting their efforts to keep these wonderful animals healthy and happy.”

At VetStem, we recognize our duty to these exotic and endangered animals. We take our job very seriously when it comes to the research and development of innovative regenerative medicine treatments for animals and diseases that have minimal treatment options. For those who may be interested in having an exotic animal treated or contributing to the exotic animal cell therapy program, we encourage you to reach out to VetStem personnel.

Today is Take Your Dog To Work Day and as most of you know, VetStem has this one down! In fact, every day is Take Your Dog To Work Day at VetStem! We are fortunate to work in a dog friendly office where on any given day, there may be multiple dogs roaming the halls.

We of course love it but there are more benefits beyond all the extra puppy snuggles. According to one study, there is a potential correlation between bringing your dog to work and a reduction in stress levels. Scientists found that people who took their dogs to work reported lower stress throughout the day than employees without pets or those who had pets but didn’t take them to work.

Another study found that 90 percent of employees in pet friendly workplaces feel highly connected to their company’s mission, fully engaged with their work, and willing to recommend their employer to others. Additionally, more than three times as many employees at pet friendly workplaces report a positive working relationship with their boss and co-workers and are more likely to stay with a company long term. Learn more here.

All of that being said, not every work environment can accommodate dogs. So if you’re not able to bring your dog to work, we invite you to live vicariously through us and enjoy these pictures of dogs at the VetStem office:

Last week, The International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) hosted the first Pain Management Forum in Denver, CO. VetStem team members Kristi Hauta, Dr. Amber Vibert, and Dr. Anne Hale attended the conference to provide education on all things regenerative medicine, and to learn more about the most current research in pain and pain management. VetStem also proudly sponsored a dry lab with a long-time VetStem user and current president of the IVAPM, Dr. Douglas Stramel.

The IVAPM seeks to “advocate for best practices in the treatment of animals in pain.” The IVAPM was originally known as the Companion Animal Pain Management Consortium and was co-founded in 2001 by long-time VetStem client and collaborator, Dr. Jamie Gaynor. The Academy provides educational resources including a program to become a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) as well as online resources for veterinary professionals and animal owners. The IVAPM outreach in the veterinary community also consists of research funding and scholarships to help promote the welfare of animals around the world.

What we found at this intimate conference was a passionate group of people who work tirelessly to provide evidence-based education for veterinary professionals and pet owners so we can become more skilled in recognizing, understanding, and alleviating animal pain. We were privileged to have lectures provided by several experts in this field including multiple members of the IVAPM board of directors.

VetStem’s mission to improve the quality of life of animals and humans starts with understanding, treating, and preventing pain through regenerative medicine. Only through open communication of ideas, research, and collaboration with our colleagues throughout the world can we achieve this goal. Attending the Pain Management Forum and connecting with IVAPM members certainly brought these goals further into fruition.

If you think your pet may be in pain, you can use these online resources to help you learn more: Animal Owners – IVAPM, The Feline Grimace Scale, The Horse Grimace Scale, and Canine and Feline Pain Scales. But as always, your veterinarian is your best resource to assess your pet’s condition. To find out if regenerative medicine can help, click here.

As leaders in the field of regenerative veterinary medicine, we are proud to announce that we have reached a new stem cell processing milestone. VetStem has processed over 15,000 patient samples resulting in over 35,000 stem cell treatments for animals across the United States and Canada. Over 2,200 veterinarians have utilized VetStem Cell Therapy processing services for their patients.

The majority of these treatments have been for orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis as well as injured tendons and ligaments in dogs, cats, and horses. We have also provided cell therapy services for patients with alternate conditions such as renal disease, inflammatory bowel disease, gingivostomatitis, spinal conditions, and more as part of our clinical research programs.

While most know that we primarily work with domestic animals, we also work with multiple exotic animal organizations and their programs to provide stem cell therapy for several exotic species. To date, nearly 200 exotic animals have been treated. Those animals include elephants, cheetahs, rhinos, several species of bears, giraffes, penguins, dolphins and more.

We are very proud to be leaders in this field of cutting-edge medicine. And we look forward to what the future holds! That being said, we wouldn’t be where we are without all of YOU, our pet owners and veterinary clients, who have trusted VetStem to handle your pets’ and patients’ stem cells over the past nearly two decades. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!