As our final blog for Animal Pain Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the story of Maggie, a young Rottweiler whose experience demonstrates why recognizing and addressing joint disease early can be so important. At just five months old, Maggie was diagnosed with bilateral elbow dysplasia, including osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and fragmented coronoid process (FCP). She underwent surgery on both elbows at seven months of age, but because of the severity of the damage to her joints, her veterinary team was concerned about her long-term prognosis.

Although Maggie recovered from surgery and was not showing obvious signs of pain or lameness, her owners wanted to take a proactive approach to her joint health. Her veterinarian recommended VetStem Cell Therapy, which uses regenerative cells collected from the patient’s own fat tissue. These cells have demonstrated the ability to reduce pain and inflammation, reduce scar tissue formation, and support the body’s natural healing processes. Research has also shown improvements in lameness and range of motion following stem cell treatment in dogs with chronic elbow osteoarthritis.

Maggie received stem cell injections into both elbows as well as an intravenous dose. At the same time, she also received platelet-rich plasma (PRP), another regenerative medicine modality that can support healing. Given the severity of her joint conditions, Maggie received additional stem cell treatments approximately three and seven months later. Her owners report that Maggie is now two years old and has not shown signs of lameness or pain. She enjoys daily two-mile walks, participates in scent work, and lives an active life on her family’s farm. Her owner stated, “It is our firm belief that Maggie would not be the same without stem cell therapy, and we believe in doing it prophylactically, why wait until she’s symptomatic when we already know she has arthritis?”

Maggie’s story is a reminder that pain management is not always about waiting until an animal is visibly painful. For pets with significant joint disease or a history of injury, veterinarians may consider a proactive, multimodal approach to help manage pain and support joint health. VetStem Cell Therapy may be one part of that approach, providing regenerative cells that can help address inflammation and support damaged joint tissues. If your pet has arthritis, an orthopedic injury, or another painful condition, talk with your veterinarian about whether stem cell therapy may be appropriate. You can also contact us for a list of VetStem providers near you.

Maggie