As we continue Arthritis Awareness Month, we wanted to share a VetStem success story about a dog who lived a better quality of life after receiving VetStem Cell Therapy for arthritis. At just 12 weeks old, Cherry Pie, a cocker spaniel, was hit by a car, breaking her right femur and knee. She underwent multiple surgeries and two rounds of stem cell treatments with another provider. Unfortunately, her initial stem cell supply ran out after just two treatments and her injuries left her with arthritis at a young age, which began to affect her quality of life.

That’s when her veterinarian recommended VetStem Cell Therapy. As we discussed in last week’s blog, stem cells have the unique ability to differentiate into various tissue types and have been shown to alleviate pain and inflammation, restore range of motion, and promote the regeneration of tendons, ligaments, and joint tissues. A peer-reviewed study found that stem cell treatment significantly reduced pain and lameness in dogs with chronic osteoarthritis of the hip.

Unlike her previous experience, VetStem only needs one fat collection to create a lifetime supply of your pet’s own stem cells. Cherry Pie had a small amount of fat collected from her abdomen, which was sent to the VetStem lab in California. From there, her cells were processed, packed into doses, and shipped back for treatment. Cherry Pie received one dose of her own stem cells in her knee, one in her hip, and another was given intravenously. The rest were put into cryopreservation for future use.

Over the next four years, Cherry Pie received yearly stem cell treatments using her banked cells, and the results were amazing. Her owner reported that VetStem Cell Therapy enabled Cherry Pie to remain active and maintain a good quality of life without relying on long-term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). Remarkably, at the age of eleven, Cherry Pie returned to obedience competitions. Her owner stated, “She finished her AKC Obedience Championship and was in the top 50 at the National Obedience Championships at the age of 12. She was also the very first cocker spaniel invited to the Westminster Master Obedience Invitational at the age of 13, securing her place as one of the greatest cockers in the breed history. Without VetStem, none of that was possible.”

Cherry Pie passed away at the age of 14, surrounded by love. Thanks to the long-term benefits of VetStem Cell Therapy, she lived her golden years pain-free and full of purpose. Her story is a powerful reminder of what regenerative medicine can do, not just to manage arthritis, but to truly give our pets the best life possible.

If you think your pet may benefit from treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy, speak to your veterinarian or contact us to receive a list of VetStem providers near you.

Cherry Pie