This is an interesting article about a 6-year-old sheltie that could barely walk due to arthritis, and a new technique to treat it.
Owner Vicki Rusconi had tried numerous procedures to try and help her dog Abby, but nothing worked. Abby’s pain was so bad that euthanasia was being considered.
All that changed when Rosconi found out about a treatment using Abby’s own stem cells.
When a vet at the animal clinic where she works recommended injecting stem cells using Abby’s own fat, she figured she had nothing to lose.
“I was skeptical to be honest, but I was willing to try anything,” Rusconi said. “I think when you get to the point where it’s either euthanize your dog or try a new procedure, you’re willing to try it.”
Since the first round worked so well, Abby is now undergoing a second round of stem cell injections using her own fat.
“The stem cells come from the fat sample from the abdomen, and they get as much stem cells out of that as they do from bone marrow,” explained Dr. Gary Brown.
The procedure is still experimental and can run about $3000, so it doesn’t come cheap. According to the company who developed the procedure, hundreds of dog have undergone the stem cell therapy, about 80 percent showed improvement.
Abby was one of the lucky ones, she has done very well. Hopefully her second round of treatment will be just as successful. That’s great news for dogs who suffer from this condition, the therapy definitely sounds promising.
