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Equine Testimonials
Small Animal Testimonials
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The following testimonials have been submitted by owners on behalf of their pets. Vet-Stem wants you to remember that similar to other treatment options, not all pets respond to Vet-Stem cell therapy. Approximately 25% of dogs treated for arthritis had no improvement in quality of life according to voluntary owner surveys.
Pet owners should discuss appropriateness of treatment for their pet including potential complications of surgery, potential outcomes, a comprehensive treatment plan and associated costs with their veterinarian prior to treatment. A checklist of points to consider can be found here to take to your veterinarian.
Chester was what veterinarians would call a lame dog. He had OCD in both elbows diagnosed at 8 months. Unfortunately, this disease is progressive. Improvement is expected with a treatment of medical and surgical management, but NOT normality because varying degrees of arthritic change already exist and will progress.
Chester was treated with one or more anti-inflammatory drugs once a day, plus something to protect his tummy from the medicine, as well as having the arthroscopic surgery in both elbows before he was a year old. Months after the surgery he was slow to get up and would often cry if we left him alone in a room. We knew he was still in pain.
At about 2 years old he had the stem cell treatment and he was back to his pre-diagnoses self!
Because Labs can act like puppies for a long time, he is now a big 100 lb baby and is full of energy . With the stem cell treatment Chester can again happily run and swim. He gets a walk to the park and to chase his ball daily. In the winter he goes with me to the beach and loves to body surf, something we used to have to moderate so he wouldn't get too sore.
Since Vet-Stem's treatment Chester has been off all drugs too! It's truly amazing.
Although Chester is 4 years old now, it's fun to see our "puppy" running around and acting like the goofy Lab that he is.
Our family is truly grateful for the Vet-Stem treatments, it's been a little miracle for our family and for Chester!
- Tabitha & Graham Unterberger & Chester
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Granite, our 8 year old Chocolate labrador, has suffered from degenerative bone disease and arthritis in both front elbows.
Before stem cells, Granite walked bow legged and with a limp. He acted as though he was in great pain, and since he is a service dog he was unable to go on long walks with his owner.
He didn't play much, and would not even chase squirrels. The improvement was fantastic after he recieved his stem cell therapy. We now go out more and people remark how well he now walks.
You made Granite's life and my life a whole lot better! Thank You
- David and Jane Hoover & Granite, a Service Dog
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Honey, our 13 year old retriever-shepherd mix, had ruptured ligaments in both her shoulders and her knees. She had an increased lameness over the years, thus having to take all kinds of medication for lameness. She had all but stopped walking.
Dr. Carolyn Kohn, of River Forest Animal Hospital in Sarasota Florida, told us about Vet-Stem and how Honey could be treated with her stem cells.
Honey received stem cell therapy in March, and we saw immediate results. After coming out of sedation she wasn't even limping -this was the first time in seven months. Within a month she was climbing back up to her favorite spot on the couch, and once, excited by children playing, took off and ran like the wind. Honey is no longer taking any NSAIDs or medication, and shows no more signs of lameness.
Honey loves to play again like a much younger dog, she loves being handled by children and is able to work as a pet therapy dog once again.
Thank you Vet-Stem!
- Laura and John McCabe & Honey, a Therapy Dog
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Buck is a 4 year old English Pointer, and is an active hunting dog. He has had knee problems from the beginning, and had TPLO surgeries on both knees (3 times each knee – he is quite an energetic dog, causing problems in healing post surgery).
We then discovered he was starting to have hip problems. Expecting to hear “anti-inflammatories and reduce physical activity for the rest of his life”, we were almost too depressed to go in to see Dr. Marcus. When Dr. Marcus said that we now had an alternative, and that this was the first time he was able to offer some positive choice, we were all very excited.
We did the Vet-Stem Cell Therapy on him in June– and Dr. Marcus decided to inject both his hips and both knees too. He has done incredibly well in this program – and he is running with more grace than he ever had. Now in October we have just finished a 3 week hunting trip in Montana and North Dakota, requiring extensive endurance, and he did just great! Never a limp or hitch. Our hope is that he will never require additional surgery, and it looks like this will certainly be the case!
- Douglas & Linda Avery & Buck
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Strike is a 7 year old English Pointer – and also an active hunting dog. He has been incredibly graceful from birth, and never had any problems. However, this summer he started to limp – and under a scope we discovered he had a torn ligament in his right front shoulder.
Given the lack of success with surgery to repair this, and that Dr. Marcus had recently done Vet-Stem Cell Therapy so successfully on Buck, we decided to do the same with Strike in July. He has also done very well on the program, and during the 3 week hunting trip, he performed as well as ever – and never showed a limp. We are so happy that he seems fully recovered!
- Douglas & Linda Avery & Strike
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Doc, our beloved 12 year old Giant Schnauzer, has suffered from deterioration of the right hip for some time now. He is unable to stand for any length of time, and spends most of the day laying down. Doc used to visit children in the hospital, working as a Therapy Dog, but since he has trouble standing and moving about we have had to discontinue his work.
In October '08 we decided to bring Doc in to see Dr. Hoelzler at Garden State Veterinary Specialists, in Tinton Fall, NJ. Dr. Hoelzler performed the Stem Cell Therapy on Doc, and since then he has been improving immensely. Thirty days post surgery he has shown improvement, as well as in his ability to stand for greater lengths of time.
He has been on extended house arrest, keeping his rehab schedule at the top of our priority list. He is now re-gaining his ability to walk and trot better, and does not have such labored movement.
We have seen an improvement in his ability to climb steps and walk around with more ease. It is great to see him being able to get up into his bed and jump up on the couch again, since it is his favorite napping spot.
Since he enjoys Pet Therapy Work so much, we are hoping that he can return to work in the near future.
- Barbara Crisafulli & Doc
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Lili’s Vet-Stem treatment was performed by Dr. Ian Voelzel at Westlake Animal Hospital in Austin, Texas.
Lili was diagnosed with arthritis before she was 4 years old, following a bout of Lyme disease. Two months following treatment we were able to take her on a 3 mile hike and swim. Judging by her activity level and health, we feel that Lilli has plateaued in the benefits she will receive.
The net takeaway is that Lili is much improved overall, and that the treatment was a success. We would recommend this treatment to others.
- Mike Carnahan & Liliana
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Bart has always been a very intense
retriever. He lives his life solely to retrieve. It broke our hearts to see the pain he was experiencing due to osteoarthritis in his elbow after only a short period of playing fetch. The pain became so severe we
stopped his daily routine of playing.
My wife and I couldn’t stand seeing Bart suffer,
so we decided to try Vet-Stem to see if it
would alleviate his problems, and it did. Bart is now 6 months post surgery and he is totally like a puppy again. Just like when I first received him.
- Jim Williams & Bart
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In March of 2006 my 5 year old German Shepherd, Keno, blew his left ACL while swimming in the ocean. Ten days later he blew his right ACL while simply walking in for dinner. Since then he has had 6 knee operations in total; this gives you a good idea how badly his knees were pitted and riddled with arthritis. During this two year period Keno was on Metacam daily and occasionally either Tramadol or codeine, when he was having a painfully bad stretch.
Dr. Janice Crook got word of Vet-Stem and decided to do her research. This research convinced both of us that it was worth a shot and on August 7th, 2008 Keno received his stem cell therapy.
It had been over two months since Keno walked on all four paws. Well, you can imagine everyone’s surprise when 4 days after receiving his stem cells, that Keno started to walk with all paws on the ground. He started to manage coming up the stairs when called, and then even when he wasn’t called.
Within two weeks Keno was back at K9H20 where Kendall DeMenech noticed he was making a much fuller motion with his back legs and because of his added mobility he was swimming much higher on the water and moving “Damn fast!”
As of November 2008 Keno has shown no signs of relapsing or stopping. He plays with his toys, jumps on the bed to watch late night TV with me and comes up and down the stairs any time he wants. As well, he is getting up from laying position much easier and doesn’t stiffen up after his normal swims. And most importantly Keno is off ALL medications and back to being an oversized puppy again!
I have no idea what the future holds for Keno but in regards to Vet-Stem my wife Linda and I couldn’t be happier with the way we were treated or the results. And not a week goes by that I do not get a chance to tell people about Dr. Crook and Vet-Stem.
- Tom & Linda Cattermole & Keno
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Click here to read Samson Lynch's full story as it appeared on statesman.com
- Samson & Susie Lynch
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When only 2 years old, my most promising go-to dog for cattle and sheep herding tore his right hind tendon. After researching with my veterinarian my options, I knew Vet-Stem's regenerative stem cell therapy was the answer to Buzz's recovery. Buzz is now completely healed, and is as good as new. He works sheep and cattle daily on our ranch, and will be competing in dog trials again this summer. Without Vet-Stem's treatment, there is no way Buzz could work daily without being in pain or discomfort. I cannot thank Vet-Stem enough for giving Buzz the ability to follow his naturally talented instinct.
- John Doyle & Buzz
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Rainer began limping and showing signs of constant pain due to elbow dysplasia around the age of only 7 months old, and by the time he was 16 months old he could not even walk down stairs.
In November of ’07 Dr. Tim McCarthy performed stem cell therapy on Rainier, and by January he was up and walking better, with no signs of pain or discomfort. About 90 days after surgery I was able to take Rainer back on walks –building up to 3 miles per day.
He’s still a puppy in his mind and wants to play, run and chase balls, so this procedure has given that back to him. Our other alternative prior to learning about regenerative veterinary medicine was euthanasia, but thanks to Dr. Tim McCarthy Rainier is now living with a higher quality of life, because he is in considerably less pain.
Click here to read Rainier's story as featured on DogHealth1.com
- Susan & Jeff Page & Rainier
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Abbey, our 12 year old Golden Retriever had suffered from poly-arthritis for years. We had managed her pain for 4-5 years by using various alternative medications, Chinese herbs, supplements, acupuncture and traditional drugs.
Her coat deteriorated, her muscles atrophied and she had a lot of swelling and pain in her joints. Many times we had to carry Abbey or put her in a wagon to pull her around.
A couple weeks after her stem cell therapy she was chasing bunnies and squirrels and her coat grew back doubly-full!
We had our dog back after 4-5 years of constant pain management. Abbey is no longer on half the medications she was prior to the stem cell therapy.
Thanks for giving me a front row seat to a miracle.
- Donna and Scott Klug-Splon & Abbey
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Thank you very much for making stem cell therapy a viable option for our four year old Clumber spaniel Lawrance.
Kurt Schulz, DVM from Burlington Vermont Veterinary Specialist injected both of Lawrance's horribly arthritic elbows last June. Lawrance sustained corinoid fractures in both elbows (requiring surgery)when he was one year old and had arthroscopy on both elbows for bone fragment removal last June just prior to the stem cell injections.
Lawrance has made a remarkable recovery! He is walking without a limp, and seems very comfortable and happy. Lawrance is very special to us and we are truly grateful for your services.
Thanks again for making it possible for Lawrance to enjoy some quality of life.
- Lisa and Bill Druary & Lawrance
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Almost immediately after her stem cell transplant, Luci was back to her bouncy, happy self.
- Shirley Zindler & Luci
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Forest injured his elbow running at the age of 8. He is now 13, and his elbow joint has slowly deteriorated over the last 5 years to the point at which he had considerable pain just getting onto his feet.
When he walked, his elbow would flair out 45 degrees with every step. Arthroscopic surgery, pain meds, and physical therapy had done little to help.
Dr. Landry, of Mountain Ridge Animal Hospital & Pain Management Center suggested stem cell therapy. Now, one month after the treatment, Forrest has little to no pain getting up & down. He even began to run again with his elbow not flaring at all.
Forest's result from stem cell therapy is a "10"
- Carl & Danielle Patrick & Forest
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I adopted Glitter from Guide Dogs for The Blind. She had pre-mature closure of growth plates that lead to a form of elbow dysplasia, and she had no cartilage within her elbow joint. She was pretty uncomfortable doing everyday activities, but maintained a great attitude.
As a veterinarian myself, I had been researching the stem cell therapy for patients in the clinic and ended up treating my own dog.
After Glitter received her stem cell therapy she is able to be much more active, relies less on NSAIDs, and is not chronically painful. Her quality of life has dramatically improved.
Thank you Vet-Stem!
- Stacy Jeter, DVM & Glitter
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We're so glad Sadie was chosen for a part in the Vet-Stem research project. She's doing so much better, getting up steps great, and even getting on her brother's bed unassisted! She's in much greater spirits and really enjoyed her walk with us around the cotton fields. You helped a "miracle" happen! Thanks.
- Sadie & Sharon Raynor
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Rio had been a working therapy dog until his elbow dysplasia left him lame, lethargic, in pain, and with a decreased appetite. At only 18 months old he had to retire from working as a therapy dog.
Medical and surgical therapy failed to help Rio.
Dr. Gary Beall at Springboro Veterinary Hospital in Springboro, Ohio then suggested the Vet-Stem procedure. After stem cell therapy he began to improve immediately. He started eating better and had more energy. He was able to move around without pain, and he re-entered the Therapy Dog Program.
Now he visits people in hospitals, and helps them feel better. Stem cell therapy has helped Rio’s quality of life, allowing him to enhance the lives of others
- Sherrie Osborne & Rio the therapy dog
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Zeus has had major symptoms of arthritis for the last 6 years of his life. He was always limping, had swelling of the joints, and was very unstable on his hind legs.
Both of his hind legs had ligament injuries, which limited such an active dog. Since his osteoarthritis was getting worse, and I felt surgery was too invasive a procedure, I decided on Vet-Stem therapy.
Within a week and a half of the stem cells being injected we really started to notice a difference. He used to not be able to stand up, and now he can lift off from his backend; he no longer has to drag himself up from the front.
It is great to watch him moving, running, and being in less pain. This saved his life.
Click here to watch the
full news segment as featured on Phoenix ABC 15
- Linda Jiron-Beckberger & Zeus
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