Yesterday, March 13th, was K9 Veterans Day—a day dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifices of American military and working dogs throughout history. This date holds special significance, as it marks the anniversary of March 13, 1942, when dogs first began training for the War Dog program, officially becoming a part of the U.S. Armed Forces.

At VetStem, we’ve had the privilege of helping several working K9s, including Lex, a bomb-sniffing German Shepherd who served two tours in Iraq. Lex’s story is a powerful reminder of the loyalty and sacrifices made by working dogs in service to their human companions.

A Hero’s Legacy: The Story of Lex

In 2007, Lex was on duty in Iraq with his handler and best friend, 20-year-old Corporal Dustin Lee. On March 21, 2007, tragedy struck when a 73 mm rocket explosion hit their base, killing Cpl. Lee. Despite being injured himself, Lex remained by his handler’s side, attempting to protect him even as medics worked to save him. Heartbreakingly, Cpl. Lee passed away shortly after being taken to a nearby hospital, just six weeks before he was due to return home.

Lex suffered serious injuries in the attack, including burns and shrapnel lodged in his back and spine. After returning to the U.S. and attending Cpl. Lee’s funeral, Lex resumed duty at the Marine Corps base in Georgia. However, Cpl. Lee’s family tirelessly petitioned to adopt Lex, and in December 2007, he was officially discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps and went home to Mississippi with his fallen handler’s family.

A Second Chance with VetStem

Lex’s journey didn’t end there. Due to the shrapnel lodged in his body, he developed degenerative joint disease, leading to osteoarthritis, pain, and mobility challenges. Determined to improve his quality of life, Lex’s new family sought the help of Dr. Lee Morgan at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital, who recommended VetStem Cell Therapy.

In 2010, Lex received stem cell injections in his left hip and knee, as well as an intravenous injection. The results were remarkable—Lex regained his mobility and even the ability to climb stairs once again. You can watch a video about Lex here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGvsJWCc9dg

Remembering Our K9 Heroes

On this National K9 Veterans Day, we honor not only Lex but all military and working dogs who have served our country with unwavering loyalty and courage. Their sacrifices and contributions deserve to be remembered and celebrated.

Thank you to all K9 veterans—past and present—for your bravery and service.

Valentine’s Day is all about showing love and appreciation, and one of the best ways to do that for your pet is by ensuring they live a happy, healthy life. If your pet suffers from arthritis, joint pain, or other chronic conditions, VetStem Cell Therapy may be the perfect gift to improve their quality of life. Stem cell therapy works by harnessing the body’s natural healing power to repair damaged tissues, reduce inflammation and pain, and promote healing.

For pets, especially those in their senior years, chronic pain can become a daily struggle. Whether it’s difficulty jumping onto the couch, climbing stairs, or going for walks, you can see the toll it takes on their overall happiness. VetStem Cell Therapy offers a non-invasive option that targets the source of the problem rather than masking symptoms with medication. By stimulating healing at the cellular level, stem cells can help your pet live more comfortably with less pain and increased mobility. According to surveys answered by owners and veterinarians, greater than 80% of dogs who were treated with VetStem Cell Therapy for orthopedic conditions experienced an improved quality of life!

This Valentine’s Day, consider the long-term benefits of stem cell therapy as a way to show your pet just how much they mean to you. Whether your pet is battling arthritis, recovering from an orthopedic injury, or suffering from a chronic condition, this innovative treatment has the potential to transform their life. After all, nothing says “I love you” more than ensuring your pet can enjoy their golden years pain-free, with plenty of tail wags and snuggles along the way.

Stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are two invaluable regenerative medicine tools that utilize natural cells to expedite and improve healing. Both therapies have their place in veterinary medicine however when stem cell therapy and PRP are used together, the two therapies complement each other to create a synergistic effect that enhances the overall healing process.

Stem cells and PRP share similar mechanisms of action such as the ability to reduce pain and inflammation and stimulate wound healing. Stem cells, however, are unique in their ability to differentiate into various types of cells including cartilage, bone, muscle, and more, allowing them to respond to specific tissue and injury needs. This regenerative approach is especially beneficial for conditions like osteoarthritis and tendon and ligament injuries where healing through traditional methods can be slow or incomplete.

PRP therapy, on the other hand, uses concentrated platelets to enhance healing. Platelets are rich in growth factors and cytokines that play a key role in tissue repair. When injected into an injury site, platelets release their growth factors and cytokines to reduce inflammation and attract stem cells and other healing cells to assist in the tissue repair process.

When used together, stem cell therapy and PRP work synergistically to amplify the healing properties of each. In multiple studies across several disease processes and injuries, the combination of stem cells and PRP proved to be more effective than the individual therapies alone. Stem cells provide the building blocks for new tissue formation, while PRP delivers the necessary growth factors and cytokines to optimize the regenerative environment. This combined approach not only accelerates healing but can also improve the long-term outcomes for pets suffering from chronic or acute injuries. By leveraging the strengths of both therapies, veterinarians can offer a more comprehensive and effective treatment plan, helping pets return to their normal activities faster and with less pain.

While VetStem Cell Therapy has been around for over 20 years and used in over 16,000 animals, many pet owners are new to the idea of stem cell therapy. As pet owners explore this innovative therapeutic modality, it’s natural to have questions about its effectiveness, safety, and applications. Here, we address some common FAQs to provide clarity and insight into what stem cell therapy entails for your beloved companions.

1. What is stem cell therapy and how does it work for pets? Stem cell therapy involves using the regenerative properties of stem cells to promote healing and repair damaged tissues in pets. VetStem Cell Therapy utilizes a pet’s own stem cells from a sample of fat tissue that your veterinarian collects during a minimally invasive anesthetic procedure. After processing in our GMP compliant stem cell laboratory, the stem cells are prepared and shipped to your veterinarian for injection into the area(s) of injury/disease. (Learn more about the laboratory process here.) This process aims to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and improve overall mobility and quality of life in pets suffering from conditions like osteoarthritis, tendon or ligament injuries, and even certain internal medicine and immune-mediated conditions.

2. Is stem cell therapy safe for pets? Stem cell therapy is considered safe for pets when performed by trained veterinary and laboratory professionals. VetStem Cell Therapy involves minimal risk because the stem cells are sourced from the pet’s own body, reducing the likelihood of rejection or adverse reactions. Additionally, stem cells processed at VetStem are minimally manipulated and undergo strict quality assessments. VetStem employs stringent processing protocols and quality control methods to help ensure the safety and well-being of the animal. However, as with any medical treatment, potential risks and benefits should be discussed with your veterinarian before proceeding.

3. What conditions can stem cell therapy treat in pets? Stem cell therapy has shown promise in treating a variety of conditions in pets, primarily those involving musculoskeletal and joint issues. Common applications include osteoarthritis, joint dysplasia, ligament and tendon injuries, and muscle injuries. Research is ongoing to explore its potential for treating other ailments such as kidney disease, gingivostomatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and more! While results can vary depending on the severity of the condition and individual pet responses, many owners report improvements in their pet’s quality of life following stem cell treatment.

4. How much does stem cell therapy cost and is it covered by pet insurance? The cost of stem cell therapy for pets can vary widely depending on factors such as the type of condition treated, the clinic’s location, and the specific treatment protocol used. On average, pet owners can expect to invest several hundred to several thousand dollars per treatment session. It’s important to check with your veterinarian and inquire about potential financing options or payment plans that may be available. Regarding pet insurance coverage, policies can differ significantly, so it’s advisable to review your insurance policy or consult with your provider to determine if stem cell therapy is covered under your plan.

VetStem Cell Therapy has improved the lives of thousands of pets suffering from various medical conditions. By understanding the basics of this treatment option and discussing it with your veterinarian, you can make informed decisions about whether stem cell therapy is suitable for your pet’s specific needs. Click here to receive a list of VetStem providers near you.

VetStem patient, Bella, receives her own stem cells via intravenous infusion

Happy National Dachshund Day! In this week’s VetStem blog, we’re sharing the stem cell success story about a Doxie named Floppy who was suffering from severe arthritis in his hips and knees. In a video his owner shared with us, Floppy showed extreme difficulty getting up from a down position and moved very slowly. His owner also stated that he limped and was very stiff.

Floppy was 8 years old when his veterinarian recommended treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy. To begin the process, his vet extracted fat from his abdomen during a minimally invasive anesthetic procedure. The fat was shipped to the VetStem laboratory where lab technicians extracted and concentrated Floppy’s stem and regenerative cells. Five stem cell injections were prepared and shipped to Floppy’s veterinarian for treatment. He received one injection into each hip, each knee, and an intravenous injection.

Floppy’s results were really remarkable. His owner stated, “We are extremely pleased with the results. The level of pain/stiffness decreased dramatically. It’s almost like he’s a puppy again! There is a night and day difference in his ability to move and perform everyday tasks.” His owner also sent a video of Floppy after the treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy and well…you just have to see it to believe it. Check out a short video detailing Floppy’s story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJRUBYyDtqw

If you have a dog who suffers from arthritis, VetStem Cell Therapy may help. Speak to your veterinarian or contact us to receive a list of VetStem providers near you.

Today is German Shepherd day so we thought we’d share a special VetStem success story about a bomb sniffing German Shepherd named Jax. Like many large dog breeds, German Shepherds are predisposed to hip dysplasia and arthritis. And unfortunately, Jax was diagnosed with the condition at a young age.

Hip dysplasia is a deformity in the ball and socket joint of the hip that eventually leads to osteoarthritis. It is a painful condition that can greatly reduce a dog’s quality of life. And of course, it affected Jax’s ability to perform on the job.

Jax’s veterinarian, Dr. Jeff Christiansen of Superior Veterinary Surgical Solutions, recommended treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy. Dr. Christiansen has been utilizing VetStem Cell Therapy for over a decade and has previously provided stem cells for working police dogs. To begin the process, fat was collected from Jax’s abdomen in a minimally invasive anesthetic procedure. The fat was processed at the VetStem processing laboratory to extract and concentrate the cells contained therein. Three injectable doses of Jax’s own stem cells were shipped to Dr. Christiansen for treatment. Jax received one injection into each hip and one intravenous dose.

According to his owner and handler, Jax responded well to the treatment. He stated, “Jax is a year and a half and, well, to say he’s a fantastic pup is an understatement. His limping is gone and he’s a typical GSD.” Jax has been maintained on a yearly intravenous injection of his stored stem cells for the past couple of years. Last we heard, Jax is rocking the bomb work! Way to go, Jax!

Jax

Many animals have received VetStem Cell Therapy without, or sometimes instead of, surgery. There are numerous cases where stem cells can help the body to heal naturally without having to undergo an invasive surgery. That being said, there are times when surgery is absolutely necessary. In these cases, VetStem Cell Therapy is great to use in conjunction with surgery to help improve and expedite healing.

Raven, an Italian Greyhound, was just a puppy when she got her front leg caught in a fence, resulting in a broken radius and ulna. The break required extensive reparative surgery, which included a steel plate and eight screws to anatomically reduce the bones and to prevent shortening and angular and/or rotational deformity. Fortunately, Raven was in the very skilled hands of veterinary surgeon and VetStem proponent, Dr. Jeff Christiansen of Superior Veterinary Surgical Solutions.

We wrote about Dr. Christiansen in a few weeks ago. He is one of VetStem’s most prolific users and has provided this service to over 300 patients. While Raven was anesthetized for her leg repair, Dr. Christiansen collected fat for stem cell therapy. The fat was shipped to the VetStem laboratory where technicians processed it to extract and concentrate the stem and regenerative cells contained therein. Two injectable doses of Raven’s stem cells were prepared and shipped to Dr. Christiansen for treatment and the remaining cells were put into cryostorage for potential future use. Raven received one injection into the fracture repair site and one intravenous injection.

Stem cells have multiple mechanisms of action that can be beneficial when recovering from a major surgery. Stem cells have shown the ability to directly modulate acute pain, down regulate inflammation, and also to reduce the formation of scar tissue. Taken together, stem cells may improve and expedite healing when used in conjunction with surgery.

Since recovery, Raven’s owners stated that you would never know she had a broken leg and that she has “full on Italian Greyhound zoomies with no limp or complaint of pain.” Her owner also stated, “Raven just turned 2 years old and to date has no evidence of pain or difficulty moving around. Between the stem cells and Dr. Christiansen she is as good as new. The VetStem Therapy was highly recommended by the surgeon and for my peace of mind, well worth the money. We now have VetStem keep the stem cells in the event we would ever need them again.”

Raven’s surgically repaired leg

Raven healed after surgery and VetStem Cell Therapy

On last week’s VetStem blog, we shared what happens to your pet’s fat after it is collected for stem cell therapy. This week, we’ll go into some detail about what to expect after your pet receives their stem cell injections.

The standard VetStem process takes place in approximately 48 hours. On day 1, your veterinarian collects fat from your pet. On day 2, the fat is processed at the VetStem laboratory to extract and concentrate your pet’s stem cells. And on day 3, your pet receives their stem cell injections. But what happens after they are injected? Well, each veterinarian has different protocols. For instance, some pets may stay overnight for monitoring, while other pets may go home the same day. After that, your vet may recommend various rehabilitation exercises at home or back at the hospital, depending on what was treated.

Many owners want to know when they should expect to see results. While we can give basic expectations based on 20 years of experience, every pet is different, and some pets require longer or even additional treatments before they experience noticeable results. We generally say to wait for about 90 days after treatment. If there are no noticeable results after 90 days, this can be due to several reasons. We will usually recommend that your veterinarian do a full work up on your pet (if not already done) to make sure that there are no additional problems that may be inhibiting your pet’s healing. We also offer vet-to-vet consults with VetStem’s staff veterinarians to go over your pet’s case and help to determine if another round of stem cell doses may help.

Here are some statistics we have gathered over the years to help give you a better picture of how VetStem Cell Therapy has helped dogs and horses who were treated for orthopedic conditions:

Dog Stats:

• At 30, 60, and 90 days post stem cell therapy for orthopedic conditions, greater than 80% of dogs showed an improved quality of life.
• In young dogs (1-4 years old) with osteoarthritis, 84% showed an improved quality of life after treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy and 78% were not re-treated in the first year.
• When it comes to osteoarthritis in older dogs (9-18 years old), 81% showed an improved quality of life after treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy and 63% were not re-treated in the first year.

Horse Stats:

• 76% of horses treated with VetStem Cell Therapy for suspensory ligament injuries returned to full work at their prior level.
• 77% of horses who were treated with VetStem Cell Therapy for tendon injuries returned to full work at their prior level.
• 57% of horses treated with VetStem Cell Therapy for joint disease returned to full work at their prior level.

As we discussed in last week’s blog, after sending the initial stem cell injections to your veterinarian, all of your pet’s additional stem cells are put into cryopreservation. This essentially means that the stem cell will be “asleep” in sub-zero temperatures and ready to “wake up” should your pet require an additional treatment. One of the many benefits of VetStem Cell Therapy is our ability to store and also grow more of your pet’s stem cells so that one fat collection procedure provides a lifetime supply of doses.

We always get excited when one of our clients reaches a stem cell milestone and we recently announced that Dr. Kim Carlson, a small animal surgeon based in the Bay Area of Northern California, surpassed 300 stem cell processes! She is the first small animal veterinarian to achieve this number of VetStem patients.

Dr. Carlson is a board-certified surgeon who has been utilizing VetStem Cell Therapy since 2007. As one of VetStem’s most prolific users, Dr. Carlson consistently advocates for the integration of stem cell therapy in conjunction with orthopedic surgeries such as cruciate ligament repairs, luxating patella surgery, and fracture repairs.

Many of Dr. Carlson’s patient’s experience great success after treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy, including Oliver, a young Shih Tzu who was successfully treated with stem cells in conjunction with surgery for arthritis in his elbows. One of Dr. Carlson’s most memorable stem cell success stories was that of a search and rescue K9, Yana, who was able to return to work after receiving VetStem Cell Therapy for a partial iliopsoas tear.

Yana, a search and rescue K9 that was able to return to work after Dr. Kim Carlson treated her with VetStem Cell Therapy for a muscle injury

Stem cells, with their regenerative capabilities and ability to differentiate into various tissue types, play a pivotal role in reducing pain, inflammation, and the formation of scar tissue. Additionally, they aid in restoring range of motion and stimulating the regeneration of tendon, ligament, and joint tissues. VetStem is proud to partner with veterinarians like Dr. Kim Carlson to provide solutions for animals facing degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis and traumatic injuries such as torn ligaments and injured tendons.

As we wrap up Animal Pain Awareness Month, we wanted to share a VetStem Cell Therapy success story. As you may remember from last week’s blog, stem cells have the ability to directly modulate pain, thereby leading to increased comfort and an improved quality of life. This particular patient was treated by the President-Elect of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, Dr. Douglas Stramel. Dr. Stramel, who owns and practices at Advanced Care Veterinary Services, is the first and only Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

As the President of IVAPM, Dr. Stramel takes pain management very seriously and has made it a primary focus of his veterinary practice. He employs advanced multi-modal pain management protocols including physical therapy, acupuncture, shock wave, laser therapy, and, you guessed it, regenerative medicine. Dr. Stramel has been a longtime user of VetStem Cell Therapy and has treated nearly 50 patients. Thus, when Kim, a German Shepherd and trained agility dog, presented with a partially torn cruciate ligament, he recommended treatment with stem cells.

To begin the VetStem process, Dr. Stramel collected a sample of fat tissue from Kim’s abdomen during a minimally invasive anesthetic procedure. The fat was shipped to the VetStem laboratory where technicians processed the fat to extract and concentrate the stem and regenerative cells contained therein. Three doses were prepared and shipped to Dr. Stramel for injection and the rest of Kim’s cells were put into cryopreservation for potential future use. Approximately 48 hours after the initial fat collection procedure, Kim received an injection of her own stem cells into each knee as well as an intravenous injection.

According to her owner, Kim had a great response to stem cell therapy and her knee is still doing well. She was even able to return to competition! Her owner stated, “Kim’s stem cell injection has provided her an opportunity to live her best life. We decided to change sports, so she now does AKC Rally and UKC Nosework. She continues with rehab to keep her knee in the best possible shape. Her rehab includes cold laser, underwater treadmill, and acupuncture therapy every 2-3 months.”

While stem cells have many mechanisms of action, studies focusing on the ability to directly affect acute and chronic pain have been relatively recent. Stem cells can also down-regulate inflammation and contribute to tissue regeneration, all of which helped to get Kim feeling better.

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.