Photo credit: Steve Sweitzer

Meet Malibu, a white shepherd, who was picture-perfect at six weeks of age when she was adopted by her family. Energetic, with a zest for chasing after and jumping for her toy ball, Boo thrived on being active.

Fast forward nine years. Its 2008 and age has taken its toll. Boo has great difficulty standing up and struggles to walk to her dog bed. She limps painfully and her back arches, bracing from the pain of severe arthritis in her hips.

Boo wasnt responding significantly to traditional anti-inflammatory treatment for her arthritis. Her owners, Steve and Sheila Sweitzer, were worried about her quality of life. But, they discovered there was a new option for Boo: Stem cell regenerative treatment surgery.

This revolutionary treatment for dogs can helpbut pet owners should be financially prepared. The average cost for stem cell treatment for a dog costs approximately $2,500.

Stem cells hold immense promise for medical treatment because they can take on the traits of all kinds of cells and then replicate many times over. But theyre also the subject of fierce controversy because the most versatile cells can only be derived from embryos.

But what if you can utilize stem cells found in your own body? Not only is it possible, its also proven to be effective in animals.

Vet-Stem Regenerative Veterinary Medicine in San Diego, Calif., has spent the past 20 years developing a successful stem cell treatment for animals.

Vet-Stem CEO and founder Robert Harmon says that during their development phase Vet-Stems treated nearly 3,000 horses, many with joint problems. One of those, a race horse named Be A Bono had bone chips and fluid buildup in his knees that threatened to end his prize-winning careerand his life.

After receiving stem cell treatment, Be A Bono returned to the race track and has since earned more than $1.25 million in prize money.

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Stem Cell Treatment for Dogs - Pet Insurance