If you are considering VetStem Cell Therapy for your pet, you may be wondering if it is the right fit. While this treatment has helped many animals, not every pet is an ideal candidate. Understanding a few important factors can help guide your decision.

First, consider the type and severity of your pet’s condition. Stem cell therapy is often used for issues involving inflammation, tissue damage, or degeneration, such as osteoarthritis, soft tissue injuries, and certain chronic diseases. Pets with mild to moderate disease may respond more predictably than those with end stage conditions. That said, even pets with more severe issues may still experience improvements in comfort and quality of life.

Next is your pet’s overall health. Pets that are otherwise healthy are typically better candidates. Stem cell therapy works in part by supporting the body’s natural repair processes, so a healthier baseline can help improve outcomes. Additionally, your pet needs to be healthy enough to undergo anesthesia for the fat collection process. Stem cell therapy is also not recommended in pets with active cancer.

Age is less important than many people think. While younger pets may respond more quickly, older pets can still see improvements in comfort and mobility. Many owners pursue treatment for their senior pets to help them live their golden years in comfort. In fact, over 80% of older dogs treated with VetStem Cell Therapy for osteoarthritis showed an improved quality of life.

Finally, it is important to think about your goals and expectations. Stem cell therapy is not a cure, but it can be a valuable tool. Some pet owners hope to restore activity levels, while others want to reduce pain or delay more invasive procedures. Results can vary, and improvements may take time, but many pets show positive changes in mobility and comfort.

Every pet is different, and the best way to know if stem cell therapy is right for your pet is to talk with your veterinarian. Together, you can review your pet’s condition and decide on the best path forward.

When Auggie, a Great Pyrenees, was adopted at around three years old, his family quickly noticed he didn’t seem very comfortable. He was panting more than usual and struggling to make it around the block on walks. His veterinarian diagnosed him with bilateral hip osteoarthritis resulting from hip dysplasia, a condition commonly seen in large and giant breed dogs.

To help improve his comfort and mobility, Auggie’s veterinarian, board-certified veterinary surgeon Dr. Kim Carlson of Lenity Vet Specialists and Emergency Care, recommended treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy. Stem cells can help reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and support the repair of damaged joint tissue. Auggie’s owners were also relieved to learn the procedure was covered by their pet insurance, making the decision to move forward an easy one.

Auggie responded very well to treatment. According to his owner, “Auggie went from not being able to walk around the block, to playing with our Newfoundlands and increasing his mileage to a 45-minute walk.” Since his initial treatment, Auggie has also received several follow-up injections using his own cryopreserved stem cells, allowing for convenient retreatment without the need for another fat collection procedure.

Unfortunately, 1 out of 5 dogs experience joint pain and mobility issues. As a giant breed, Auggie was predisposed to joint dysplasia/arthritis. With VetStem Cell Therapy, however, pet owners have another option to help reduce pain, improve mobility, and support a better quality of life for dogs dealing with osteoarthritis. If you think your pet may benefit from VetStem Cell Therapy, speak to your veterinarian or contact us to receive a list of VetStem providers near you.

Auggie

Spring is finally here! Warmer weather, blooming flowers, and longer days make it a favorite season for many of us, and our pets love spending more time outside, too. But along with all that fresh air comes something less enjoyable: seasonal allergies. Just like people, dogs and cats can react to environmental allergens like pollen, grasses, and mold, and those allergens tend to peak during the spring months.

Pets with allergies often show their symptoms through their skin. You might notice increased itching, licking or chewing at the paws, red or irritated skin, or frequent ear infections. For some pets, these symptoms can become a recurring seasonal struggle that requires ongoing management. While medications, special diets, and topical treatments can help control symptoms, they don’t always address the underlying inflammation that drives allergic disease.

That’s where regenerative medicine may offer another option. VetStem Cell Therapy uses a pet’s own stem cells to help reduce inflammation and modulate the immune system. Because stem cells have natural anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, they may help calm the overactive immune response that contributes to allergies. For some pets, this can mean improved skin health and fewer allergy flare-ups.

Though the research is currently limited, several studies involving dogs treated with stem cells for atopic dermatitis have shown encouraging results. That being said, additional research is needed to further explore and confirm the effectiveness of stem cell therapy for allergic conditions.

If your pet tends to struggle this time of year, you’re not alone. Seasonal allergies are incredibly common. As spring allergens ramp up, it may be worth having a conversation with your veterinarian about all available treatment options, including VetStem Cell Therapy. With the right plan in place, your pet can spend less time scratching and more time enjoying the season.

Every year on March 13th, we celebrate National K9 Veterans Day, a day dedicated to honoring the incredible military, police, search and rescue, and working dogs who serve alongside their human partners. These dogs put their lives on the line to protect and support us. This day recognizes not only their service, but also their sacrifice.

At VetStem, we have been fortunate to be a small part of several working dogs’ journeys. Over the years, we have worked alongside dedicated veterinarians and handlers who are committed to keeping their canine partners comfortable, active, and able to do the jobs they were trained to do. In fact, a published study involving police K9s treated with VetStem Cell Therapy for semitendinosus myopathy, a muscle injury that can significantly impact performance, showed that stem cell treatment supported healing and helped these dogs return to full duty. It is always an honor to support these teams and witness firsthand the impact regenerative medicine can have on dogs who give so much of themselves in service to others.

One such unforgettable hero is Lex, a military working dog who served in Iraq as a bomb detection dog. After losing his handler, Corporal Dustin Lee, in combat, Lex sustained injuries and later developed degenerative joint disease. As he aged, mobility became more difficult. With VetStem Cell Therapy, Lex received injections of his own stem cells to help address joint inflammation and discomfort. Following treatment, he experienced improved mobility and comfort, an outcome we are always honored to be part of.

We have also seen stem cell therapy make a difference for dogs like Jax, a working explosive detection dog diagnosed with hip dysplasia at a young age. Hip pain could have ended his career early, but after treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy, Jax’s lameness resolved and he was able to continue working. For Yana, a dedicated search and rescue K9 who suffered a muscle injury, stem cell therapy supported healing so she could return to the job she loves. In another inspiring story, a hardworking service dog named Walter Beaux who struggled with inflammatory bowel disease was able to return to his daily duties after stem cell therapy helped resolve his symptoms.

On National K9 Veterans Day, we are proud to celebrate these remarkable dogs and to support veterinarians and handlers with regenerative medicine options that can help improve quality of life and, in many cases, help these heroes get back to work.

Officer Washington with K-9 Jago, who received VetStem Cell Therapy for semitendinosus myopathy

March 3^rd was Tripawd Awareness Day, a project of Tripawds.com and the nonprofit Tripawds Foundation. According to their website, Tripawds shares helpful resources for pet parents coping with pet limb amputation, and Tripawd Awareness Day is a day to celebrate “animal amputees and the people who care for them by celebrating pet amputation awareness among pet lovers and the veterinary community.”

While tripawd pets often adapt remarkably well after limb amputation, their bodies do face unique physical challenges. With only three limbs bearing weight, the remaining joints, muscles, and soft tissues take on increased mechanical stress. Over time, this can contribute to increased wear and tear on the joints which can lead to earlier onset of osteoarthritis and/or increase the risk of soft tissue strain or injury. For these reasons, proactive joint support becomes especially important for these pets to help protect their long-term comfort and quality of life.

VetStem Cell Therapy has proven especially helpful for multiple three-limbed pets. One such example is Everest who lost her right front leg as a puppy. When she was approximately 6 years old, she suffered partial tears in both cruciate ligaments in her knees. With only three legs, she was not considered a good surgical candidate, so her veterinarian, Dr. Jeff Christiansen of Superior Veterinary Surgical Solutions, recommended treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy.

After receiving injections of her own stem cells into both knees, the change was dramatic. According to her owner, Everest went from struggling to stand and walk to running and having her zoomies again. Now, years later, she continues to thrive and has additional stem cells stored for future use to help keep her comfortable and active.

Everest is just one of several tripawd stem cell success stories we have heard! Mandy received stem cell therapy for hip and ankle arthritis after her front limb was amputated due to a bad break and multiple failed surgeries. Kingsley, a sweet tripawd boy owned by a veterinarian, received multiple treatments for elbow arthritis and far exceeded his life expectancy with the help of VetStem Cell Therapy. Jackson, a rear-leg amputee, was treated with his own stem cells for a partial cruciate ligament tear and arthritis in multiple joints. And Reggie, who lost his front limb due to cancer, was able to get back to playing after receiving stem cell therapy in his hips, knees, and remaining elbow and shoulder.

If you have a tripawd (or four-legged!) pet who is struggling with arthritis or other orthopedic issues, VetStem Cell Therapy may help! Speak to your veterinarian or contact us to receive a list of providers near you.

Everest

Veterinary Assistant Appreciation Week is a great excuse to celebrate the people who do a little bit of everything in the clinic. From patient care to clinic support to customer care, vet assistants often wear many hats throughout a typical day in the clinic. The job isn’t easy, but it’s absolutely essential and this is a week to give our thanks to all veterinary assistants.

This week is especially meaningful to us at VetStem because several of our team members started their careers as veterinary assistants, gaining hands-on experience in clinics long before stepping into their current roles. That background shapes how we do what we do every day. It keeps us connected to the realities of clinical life and reminds us how important teamwork, compassion, and attention to detail truly are.

On top of everything else, veterinary assistants often handle the coordination of stem cell shipments for pets! They make sure forms are filled out and submitted correctly and stay in touch with the VetStem team to keep procedures on schedule. We truly couldn’t do what we do without them!

So this week, we just want to say thank you. To every veterinary assistant past and present, including those who helped shape VetStem along the way, we see you and we appreciate everything you bring to the profession.

VetStem was thrilled to exhibit at WVC 2026 in Las Vegas, NV. This year, we shared a booth with our distribution partner, PetVivo Animal Health. Together, we highlighted a multimodal approach to osteoarthritis treatment through regenerative medicine products.

Throughout the conference, we showcased how VetStem Cell Therapy, our off-the-shelf PrecisePRP, and PetVivo’s Spryng can work together to provide a tailored, effective approach for managing osteoarthritis. Attendees learned how these therapies can complement one another and enhance patient outcomes.

It was great to connect with veterinarians, answer questions, and demonstrate how a multimodal osteoarthritis protocol can fit into a practice. WVC 2026 was an exciting opportunity to share the latest advances in regenerative care and we’re already looking forward to continuing these conversations in the future!

When it comes to stem cell therapy, timing matters. While most people think about treatment after a dog starts showing signs of pain or injury, the VetStem StemInsure is all about planning ahead. It allows pet owners to bank their dog’s own stem cells while they’re young and healthy, so those cells are ready if they’re ever needed later in life. It’s a simple way to be proactive about your pet’s future care.

VetStem’s StemInsure process fits easily into a routine procedure like a spay, neuter, or dental. A small amount of fat is collected, sent to VetStem’s lab, and the stem cells are processed and cryopreserved for long-term storage. Those stored cells can be expanded and used when the time is right. That means no extra fat collection procedure down the road.

What pet owners like most about the VetStem StemInsure is the peace of mind. Instead of scrambling for options after an injury or diagnosis, the cells are already there. For dogs that may be prone to orthopedic issues or age-related joint problems, having stem cells banked early can make future treatment simpler and less stressful for both pets and their people.

Speak to your veterinarian or contact us for a list of VetStem providers near you.

National Cat Health Month is a perfect reminder that cats are masters at hiding pain and illness. By the time a problem becomes obvious, it’s often been present for quite a while. Fortunately, advances in regenerative medicine are giving veterinarians new ways to support feline health and comfort. Many veterinarians have used VetStem Cell Therapy to help manage a variety of chronic inflammatory conditions commonly seen in cats.

Osteoarthritis is far more common in cats than many people realize, especially as they age. Subtle changes like reluctance to jump, decreased grooming, or a change in litter box habits can all be signs of joint pain. Stem cell therapy may help by reducing inflammation within affected joints and supporting the body’s natural repair processes, potentially improving mobility and comfort in affected cats.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects a significant percentage of senior cats and can be challenging to manage long-term. While not a cure, many vets have incorporated VetStem Cell Therapy as a supportive option aimed at modulating inflammation and supporting kidney function. Some cats receiving stem cells have shown improvements in appetite, energy levels, and overall quality of life, along with improved blood kidney values.

Inflammatory conditions such as gingivostomatitis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can significantly impact a cat’s quality of life. Gingivostomatitis causes painful oral inflammation, often leading to difficulty eating, while IBD can result in chronic vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. Stem cell therapy may help regulate the immune response driving these conditions, offering relief for cats that don’t respond well to conventional treatments alone.

As we recognize National Cat Health Month, it’s a great time to remember how important early awareness and proactive care can be for a cat’s comfort and quality of life. For cats living with chronic inflammatory conditions, VetStem Cell Therapy may offer a supportive option when traditional treatments alone are not enough. If you think your cat may benefit from VetStem Cell Therapy, speak to your veterinarian or contact us for a list of VetStem providers near you.

At just one and a half years old, Hex, a Cardigan Welsh Corgi, was already proving herself as a standout in the agility world. In only a few short months, she advanced rapidly through the Novice, Open, and Excellent levels of AKC agility and was just about ready to start competing against more experienced dogs at the Master level of competition. Then, just one week before her first Master-level competition, Hex came in from the yard limping.

Although initial treatment with NSAIDs provided some relief, Hex continued to show reduced range of motion in her left front leg. Her owner sought out Dr. Sherman Canapp of Canapp Sports Medicine, a board-certified veterinary surgeon internationally recognized for diagnosing and treating complex soft tissue and orthopedic injuries in canine athletes. After a thorough evaluation, he diagnosed Hex with multiple soft tissue injuries in her left shoulder, along with abnormalities in both elbows.

Dr. Canapp recommended arthroscopy of both elbows and the left shoulder, followed by VetStem Cell Therapy to support healing and recovery. After completing the surgical repairs and subsequent stem cell injections, Hex began a carefully structured rehabilitation program with a veterinary physical therapist. About three months later, she was cleared to return to agility training.

Her owner reported, “I am grateful and excited to report that Hex is back running agility at the highest levels! One year after her injury, we returned to agility competition. We took things slowly, but she has never looked back – running better than before with a visible improvement in her jumping form and in her performance of the obstacles. Agility is a tough sport and can be even harder for dogs (like Corgis) that aren’t really built for lots of jumping or running up and down A-frames at high speed, but with careful strength and fitness training and stem cells from VetStem, Hex is holding her own competitively, trialing almost every weekend. Hex completed her Master Agility Champion title (MACH) and she will be competing in the AKC Agility Invitational. Most importantly, though, Hex is happy and sound. I know that VetStem Cell Therapy has been a critical part of Hex’s return to sport and I sleep better at night knowing that Hex’s stem cells are banked and ready should we need to use them in the future.”

Stem cells are regenerative cells that can differentiate into many tissue types and release growth factors and proteins that help reduce inflammation, stimulate tissue repair, and promote healing. VetStem Cell Therapy has been used in the treatment of orthopedic injuries, arthritis, and tendon and ligament damage in dogs, cats, and horses. By helping injured animals heal, stem cells can improve quality of life and, in many cases, allow canine athletes like Hex to return to competition.

Whether your dog is a competitive athlete or a beloved companion, VetStem Cell Therapy may help with a variety of conditions and injuries. Speak with your veterinarian or contact us to find a VetStem provider near you.

Hex