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