As someone who has seen his own dogs age and lose their vitality as arthritis sets in, I know just how it feels to wistfully recall the puppy days, when walks could never be too long, couches were never too high, and stairs were never a challenge. We’re even able to forget all the potty accidents in the house and all the things that were chewed beyond salvation, longing to have that energetic, pain-free soul back. Here’s a story about hope fulfilled. Read the rest of this entry »

We tend to think of larger breeds such as Labradors and Shepherds when talking about hip dysplasia, but smaller dogs can be afflicted with the joint abnormality as well. And although the defect is present at birth, some dogs go undiagnosed for many years because they don’t outwardly appear to have a problem; it’s only as they get older and have difficulty rising or getting around that owners seek treatment. The pain that Raina, a nine year old Cocker Spaniel with hip dysplasia, was suffering from had progressed to the point that her owner had to carry her outside on her bed so she could relieve herself. Read the rest of this entry »

The use of stem cells in veterinary medicine is spreading rapidly as evidenced by the training offered at the Annual Meeting of the American Veterinary Medical Association last month in Atlanta.  Vet-Stem alone has now trained over 4,000 veterinarians in regenerative medicine techniques.  There are now trained vets in almost every community in the US!  This last weekend, Dr. Matt Barnhart, an experienced veterinary surgeon (Med Vet Ohio), and I co-taught an entire day training session (course outline) at The Ohio State University on stem cell medicine. Veterinarians from all over the US attended to receive this advanced training and received their certifications.  We were invited by the College of Veterinary Medicine at OSU to come on campus and offer this course as part of their continuing education program.  Several students and residents also participated. Read the rest of this entry »

Last month I shared the story of Ruggles, the Deutsch Drahthaar whose arthritis had kept her from accompanying her owner on the hunting trips she loved. Rather than relying on lifelong medications for pain relief, her owner opted for Vet-Stem Cell Therapy with Dr. Jim Mathias at Tipp City Veterinary Hospital and Wellness Center in Ohio. Now Ruggles’ return to full performance, as both a hunting companion and a family member, is featured on People Magazine’s peoplepets.com.

I haven’t heard every story and I haven’t met every dog, but life experience as a vet and a dog lover has shown me some basic truths that are sometimes hard to swallow.  Like how our four-legged friends don’t live as long as we do.  As a matter of fact, they typically accompany us on this earth only a fraction of our lives, yet their impact is immeasurable and even hard to explain.  They love unconditionally.  When we need a friendly ear they listen with doe eyes.  They are always waiting for us right by the door when they hear the car pull up in the driveway.  They even sense when we are blue and give us some extra slobbery kisses to make us feel better.  Dogs are truly man’s (and woman’s) best friend. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the benefits of Vet-Stem Cell Therapy is our ability to store your dog’s stem cells for future use beyond the initial treatment.  Although about 65% of even old dogs are not retreated in the first year and some are now three years without retreatment, each dog is different and new injuries do occur.

Case in point: Zeus, a 10 year old German Shepherd who suffered from hip dysplasia and the accompanying arthritis in those joints. In July of 2009, Zeus’ owner decided to have Dr. Michael Hoelzler of Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls, New Jersey perform the Vet-Stem procedure on the 10 year old German Shepherd.  Read the rest of this entry »

No matter your belief, we all know that the human race has played a major role in creating some of the diversity we see in our canine companions.  From working dogs like the Border Collie to our Rottweiler protectors, with Chihuahuas and Shih Tzus in between, there is seemingly no end to the list of dog breeds in the world today. 

Because of this rich history in the decades of progression into our present day dog breeds, National Geographic is doing a two-hour special on the evolution of dogs over the ages called “And Man Created Dog,” airing Sept 8.  Read the rest of this entry »

I have posted a lot recently about the benefits that older dogs receive from Vet-Stem cell therapy, so now I’d like to share an actual case with you. Maggie was adopted from a shelter at five months old. A Doberman mix, Maggie was an extremely active girl who reveled in long walks and car trips to new places with her mom and her dog-buddy Hopey. Read the rest of this entry »

It is easy to rely on diagnostic tools like the x-ray as the whole story when evaluating a dog with arthritis.  But x-rays are only part of a complete examination and often the x-rays do not really tell the whole story.  Arthritis in dogs is a serious and complicated disease that can be caused by many factors.  Hip dysplasia is a conformational problem with the shape of the hip bones and a shallow “socket” for the ball and socket joint.  This can be seen on x-rays and helps a veterinarian determine if the hip shape is causing abnormal wear and tear on the joint surfaces. Read the rest of this entry »

Chronic arthritis can be very debilitating and painful.  The story of Ruggles, a Deutsch Drahthaar (a rough-haired pointer dog) illustrates the common dilemma for an owner in deciding whether to subject their buddy to a lifetime of pain drugs or a new procedure.  I present here the complete story of Ruggles as told by her owner, Byron Dashnaw, so you can get the complete picture. Read the rest of this entry »