It was recently brought to our attention that a VetStem patient named Argo was featured on the local news for his stem cell treatment.  Argo is a 5-year-old chocolate Labrador with arthritis in several joints.  He received stem cell injections in his shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees by Dr. Angie Zinkus of Germantown Parkway Animal Hospital.  He also received platelet therapy injections in each joint utilizing Veterinary Platelet Enhancement Therapy (V-PET), to further stimulate the natural healing process.

Click on the picture below to watch Argo’s 15 minutes of fame! (scroll down to the second video)

This week’s blog is about Gabby, a ten-year-old Doberman pinscher.  Gabby had a string of bad luck beginning in August 2016 when she tore the cruciate ligament in her left knee.  Though she had surgery to repair the torn ligament, she ended up suffering a partial tear to her right cruciate ligament during her recovery.  Approximately one year later, she stopped using her right rear leg, which was likely due to the arthritis and scar tissue that formed in the joint after she partially tore her cruciate ligament.

Due to the severity of her arthritis and joint swelling, her veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Tate of Sylvania Veterinary Hospital, did not feel she would be a good candidate for surgical repair and instead recommended treatment with VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy.

Gabby was treated with stem cell therapy in November 2017 and quickly showed signs of improvement.  Her owner, Ann, stated that she felt like Gabby was five years younger and that she would bark at her to get up in the morning to play (we’re sorry about that, Ann!).  You can read the rest of Gabby’s story here.

We recently checked in to see how Gabby is doing and according to Ann, “Grabby is still doing great! She hasn’t slowed down at all. She runs zoomies, jumps over the couch, and jumps to greet me when I come home. You would never know she’s 10 years old, and I’m so thankful we did the stem cell treatment!”  Yay, Gabby!!

If your dog has arthritis, VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy may provide some relief.  You can speak to your veterinarian about the treatment or you can request a list of veterinary stem cell providers in your area here.

At 8 years old, Maverick found himself in the unfortunate situation of being at a local humane society.  Fortunately for Maverick, Irene had just lost her beloved 13-year-old golden retriever, Zeke, and was searching for a companion for her other dog, Reilly.  Though Maverick was listed as dog aggressive, he and Reilly became best friends straight away and Irene took Maverick home.

Shortly after adopting Maverick, Irene realized he was showing symptoms of arthritis: he couldn’t jump onto the bed or couch and he bunny-hopped up the stairs.  X-rays revealed that Maverick had hip dysplasia which, over the years, led to severe osteoarthritis in his hips.  After some research, Irene contacted VetStem to request a list of VetStem providers in her area and took Maverick for a stem cell consultation and treatment with Dr. David Monti of Ridge Animal Hospital.

A few months after treatment, Irene noted that Maverick’s mobility was improving.  He was no longer bunny-hopping up the stairs and began jumping on the sofa.  He also began playing fetch with much greater stamina!  You can read the rest of Maverick’s story here.

We recently checked in with Irene and she reported that Maverick continues to do great.  He still goes for his weekly swims and his monthly acupuncture and according to Irene, “going to the dog park and playing

fetch in the pond is still his favorite.”  She also said, “Maverick’s quality of life has improved tremendously. He has a new zest for life and is making up for all the years when he was in pain and so limited in his mobility.”

One might wonder why, at 8 years old, Maverick ended up at the shelter.  Whatever the reason, he and Irene are lucky they found each other.  It is clear they share a special bond.  Irene said, “we’re so grateful to have him. He’s the love of our life.” If I had to guess, I’m sure Maverick feels the same.

This picture is a bit blurry but the expression on Maverick’s face with his ears flapping in the wind says it all!

This week’s blog is about a golden retriever named Harley.  Harley, like many golden retrievers, had arthritis and was living a restricted lifestyle.  Harley was treated two years ago with VetStem Cell Therapy and had great results.  Many dog owners think that traditional arthritis medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other pain medications are the only treatment available for canine arthritis.  These success stories can be a good reminder for some pet owners searching for relief for their arthritic canine companion.

Harley was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in her carpi (wrists) when she was 5 years old.  Approximately 3 years later, she suffered partial cruciate ligament tears in both of her knees which led to severe thickening and arthritis in both joints.  She was on several pain medications and her exercise was restricted.  She had trouble standing up, lying down, and could barely get into a sit position.  When she would go on walks or go to the beach, she would be stiff and sore for several days following.

Harley’s pain was hard for her owner, Jordan, to watch.  Jordan, a veterinary technician, had heard about stem cell therapy form a friend.  Fortunately, the veterinarian that Jordan worked for was already credentialed to perform VetStem Cell Therapy and thus, Harley was treated in December 2015.

Approximately 8 months after her initial treatment, Jordan felt that Harley could benefit from a second round of injections.  At that time, she was working for a different veterinarian who was not VetStem credentialed, Dr. Sunshine Riehl of Advanced Veterinary Care of San Elijo.  After completing the VetStem Credentialing Course, Dr. Riehl administered Harley’s second round of stem cell injections in August 2016.

Jordan reported that Harley’s quality of life improved greatly.  Her need for pain medication decreased and she was able to participate in some of her favorite activities like fetch and swimming at the beach.  You can read the rest of Harley’s story here.

If your dog has arthritis, VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy may help.  You can discuss the possibility of treatment with your current veterinarian or contact VetStem to receive a list of veterinary stem cell providers in your area.

Ruger began experiencing symptoms of arthritis at just four years old.  Being a Labrador retriever, this is not entirely uncommon.  He was primarily limping on and favoring his right rear leg.  An examination and X-rays determined that he had osteoarthritis in both of his knees.

After some online research, Ruger’s owner contacted us via our Locate a Vet website to find veterinary stem cell providers in her area.  From there, she visited Dr. Robert Pierce of North Idaho Animal Hospital who confirmed that Ruger was a good candidate for stem cell therapy.

In March of 2017, Ruger received stem cell injections in both knees and also intravenously.  After some rest, Ruger was able to slowly build up his activity level and his owners reported he was able to get back to some of his favorite activities like swimming.  Approximately six months after his treatment, Ruger’s owners began to reduce his use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) until they were “all but gone.”

We checked in with Ruger’s owners recently and they reported the he continues to do well.  He recently enjoyed a camping trip with his family and his canine brother and lab buddies.

Click here to read the rest of Ruger’s story.

Cooper is a 6-year-old Labrador retriever owned by Dr. Valerie Warmuth of Red Hills Veterinary Hospital.  When Cooper was around 4 years old, he began to show signs of osteoarthritis in his hips.  His hind limbs were becoming lame and he was slowing down on walks.  Dr. Warmuth had started Cooper on NSAIDs but knew this would not solve the issue and that the medicine came with potential dangerous side effects.

She decided to try VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy.  She had recently become VetStem credentialed and Cooper was her first stem cell patient.  Within the first 30 days after treatment, Cooper’s lameness decreased.  Three months after treatment, X-rays revealed improvement in his hip joints.

We recently checked back in with Dr. Warmuth and she reported that Cooper is still doing well and enjoys playing with his canine brothers.

You can read the rest of Cooper’s story here.

Cooper is one of many dogs that have had successful results with VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy.  You can read more stories like Cooper’s here.  If you think your dog may benefit from stem cell therapy, contact us today to receive a list of veterinary stem cell providers in your area.

KC was a fortunate golden retriever.  Though his breed is prone to osteoarthritis, KC managed to make it to 10 years old before he began to show symptoms of the disease.  His owner, Krista, noticed he was limping and knuckling on one of his back paws.  Having seen a news segment on stem cell therapy for animals, Krista visited Dr. Lillian Rizzo who determined KC had hip dysplasia in addition to osteoarthritis in his right hock. 

In 2008, KC was treated with VetStem Cell Therapy and Krista reported it took less than 2 weeks before he started to show signs of improvement such as swimming, running, and chasing his ball.

Approximately 1 year after KC’s initial treatment, he received a second round of stem cell injections because he had begun to slow down a bit.  Stem cell therapy helped him to live comfortably for the last 5 years of his life.  Read more details about KC’s stem cell therapy here.

Contact VetStem for more information about stem cell therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis or to receive a list of veterinary stem cell providers in your area.

Just another day, just another golden retriever with arthritis…

Today’s blog is about Baxter, a golden retriever that was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both of his hocks, or ankles, at just 1 year of age.  He began displaying some of the common symptoms of arthritis early on such as trouble with stairs and jumping, difficulty getting up from a lying down position, and not wanting to go on walks.  Luckily his owner sought treatment and at 2 years of age,  Baxter received VetStem Cell Therapy under the care of Dr. Joey Yazer at Cobequid Animal Hospital.

After treatment, Baxter was able to resume his normal activities including walking on the beach and jumping on the couch to snuggle with his canine companions.  Baxter responded so well to stem cell therapy, that he hasn’t required a re-treatment since March of 2015!  According to his owner, he continues to live a normal and happy dog life.  Read the rest of Baxter’s story here.

Golden retrievers are not the only dogs that are prone to arthritis.  Statistics show that an estimated 1 out of 5 dogs will get arthritis.  If your dog is displaying some of the symptoms of arthritis or has already been diagnosed, contact VetStem today to get a list of veterinary stem cell providers in your area.

We know one out of five dogs suffer from arthritis.  Is your dog the one out of five?  This blog will focus on the risk factors and symptoms of arthritis to help you to determine if your dog should be evaluated by your veterinarian.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition in which low-grade inflammation results in pain in the joints and wearing of the cartilage that covers the bones of the joints.  When cartilage becomes worn down, the joints are no longer able to move smoothly and shock absorption is reduced making things like walking, running, and jumping more painful.  Increased pain can lead to decreased movement which may cause muscles to atrophy and ligaments to become more lax.

So, what are the risk factors for OA?  Unfortunately, a common cause of OA is dysplasia (when the joints are misshapen) which is a congenital condition that many large breed dogs are prone to.  Additional risk factors include being overweight, broken bones, infection, or just wear and tear from repetitive motion.  Your dog is also more likely to get OA as he/she ages.  Add to this the fact that pets are living longer due to the advances in veterinary medicine and we can understand why the 1 in 5 statistic is so high.

Common symptoms of OA include limping, decreased activity, and a reluctance or inability to jump.  There are several other signs of OA however it is best to consult with your veterinarian if your dog may be at risk of getting OA.  Annual exams can be a good way to catch the disease early and if any of these symptoms have a sudden onset, a visit with your vet may be in order.

If your dog has been diagnosed with OA, contact VetStem today to receive a list of veterinary stem cell providers in your area.

Our stem cell success story this week hails from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.  Meet Sheldon, a 4 year old Bernese mountain dog.  Sheldon suffered from pain and lameness in his front legs since he was a puppy.  His owners recognized his discomfort and took Sheldon to be examined by Dr. Robert Landry of Colorado Center for Animal Pain Management.  Dr. Landry determined that Sheldon had arthritis in both elbows as a result of Fragmented Coronoid Process (FCP).  As part of Sheldon’s treatment plan, Dr. Landry recommended VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy so in December of 2016, Sheldon received stem cell injections into each elbow and also intravenously.

Fast forward just over one year later and Sheldon’s owners remain pleased with his improvement since receiving VetStem cell therapy.  He is more active and is able to participate in some of his favorite activities once again.  His owners state they “are so happy with how the stem cells worked for him.”

You can read the rest of Sheldon’s story here.

Does your dog suffer from orthopedic pain, lameness, or discomfort?  Has your dog been diagnosed with arthritis?  If so, contact VetStem to find VetStem providers in your area.