Animal Hospital at Anthem Gives Local Dog a New Leash on Life with Stem Cell Therapy

Animal Hospital at Anthem and Grooming recently gave Darby Celotti, a local large mixed breed dog, the ability to enjoy the activities she loves without pain through their new Stem Cell Therapy. Dr. BrIan Waller worked with Pets Best Insurance, Darby's pet insurance policy, to get full coverage preapproved for the regenerative therapy.

Darby's owners had noticed early in the year that she had stopped putting weight on her back right leg. Dr. Waller identified a torn ligament and did surgery to repair the tear. However, Darby had also started slowing down in her activities due to pain of arthritis from her bilateral hip dysplasia in addition to the ligament injury. Her owners felt that Darby's recovery from surgery, though slow, was positive when she began to carefully put weight on her back right leg again. But Darby was still not back to her normal, active self, and was still sacrificing activities she loved and should be capable of doing at eight years old, such as long walks and swimming.

Eight months after Darby's surgery Dr. Waller suggested Animal Hospital at Anthem's latest Regenerative Cell Therapy service. Dr. Waller knew that the regenerative ability of stem cells would not only help Darby's injured leg, but would also help to decrease the pain and increase the motion in her other arthritic legs. Dr. Waller also shared with Darby's owners that stem cell therapy could help prevent reinjury as well.

Darby's owners were very pleased to discover their current pet insurance policy through Pets Best Insurance covered stem cell therapy by Vet-Stem, Inc. Darby underwent a small fat tissue collection, which was over-nighted to Vet-Stem's labs in San Diego, California. That next day Vet-Stem processed Darby's fat sample, extracting the stem cells and packaging them in five concentrated doses for Dr. Waller to administer the following day.

"Within a week there was a noticeable improvement in her movement," Darby's owner remarked, "Once again she was able to stand on her back legs, swim, and go for long walks. She was like a young dog again. Needless to say, we are thrilled with the results. As time goes by, she gets better and better!"

Animal Hospital at Anthem and Grooming is one of 17 hospitals in the ever-growing family of Arrow Group of Animal Hospitals in metro-central Arizona. The Arrow Group of Animal Hospitals is a co-operative group of 17 individuAl Small animal hospitals around the valley that are proud to offer the highest quality veterinary care possible. The doctors and staff at each hospital strive to build a long term relationship with their client families and their pets, always making recommendations in the pet's best health interest. Animal Hospital at Anthem offers complete veterinary care from wellness, to vaccines, spays and neuters, dental, surgical and now regenerative medicine. Visit their site at AnthemAH.com to find out more.