Dogs, like people, vary in their need and desire for physical activity; while a Border Collie never seems to stop “working” (be that managing an actual herd, or monitoring the goings-on of all living beings in the household), a Great Dane is content to meander outside for a quick potty break and then spend the next several hours power napping on a cushy bed. And like humans, many dogs who thrive on activity would rather suffer through pain and discomfort after the fact than give up the things they love to do.

Tank is just such a dog; even at 10 years old, the Malamute mix was willing to endure a days-long limp after his regular jaunts through the Canadian wilderness where his family spends half their time, rather than relax on the sidelines. Read the rest of this entry »

When arthritis affects the abilities of our companion dogs, we can tailor their activities to their limited stamina and mobility. When a canine member of the police force can no longer perform his duties comfortably, retirement becomes an inevitability. Such was the fate that awaited Dasty, a canine officer for the Chicago Police Department, whose arthritis pain was not reliably controlled by physical therapy or medications. According to Dr. Cheryl Adams at Arboretum View Animal Hospital in Downers Grove Illinois, who performed Vet-Stem Cell Therapy on the German Shepherd in early 2010, “Traditional treatments were just not working for him.” At Dr. Adam’s suggestion, Dasty underwent Vet-Stem Cell Therapy in early 2010; now he and his human partner can look forward to several more years of service to their city without being slowed by pain from arthritis. Read the full story here.

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 »