Stem Cells Could Get Pup
Walking Again (NBC Los Angeles & MSNBC) Updated 10:05 AM PST, Wed, Feb 9, 2011
A Labrador retriever is looking forward to walking pain-free
after receiving a stem cell operation to ease pain in her
right hip.
Sierra, a 3-year-old Orange County black lab, has had chronic
hip pain for months -- a condition that could be hip
dysplasia, a common condition in labs.
Sharon Oaks, Sierra's owner, said that she tried pain
medication for the pup, but the problem has only worsened.
"She keeps that right rear leg up in the air and she'll be
hopping around on three legs…so I can tell it's really hurting
her now," Oaks said.
One option for Sierra was a total hip replacement -- a
procedure that can cost upwards of $12,000. Instead, Oaks
opted to get her pooch stem cell therapy, which costs around
$1,800.
Sierra is only the seventh animal to receive the stem cell
procedure from MediVet-America in California. The goal is to
encourage Sierra's own stem cells to repair her damaged hips.
The procedure can be done in one trip to the veterinarian's
office and has a recovery time of about three weeks, according
to the company that invented the procedure.
"I'm hoping she's just able to be her good old normal self and
we can go on our long walks again" Oaks said.
By JULIE JESSUP
