MEDFORD, Ore. -- A former Oregon military dog that did two tours
of duty sniffing out bombs in Iraq is going to receive stem cell
therapy to treat osteoarthritis in his hips.
The Mail Tribune reports the 80-pound German shepherd named
Basco was adopted in November by Debbie Richter in Medford after
he was discharged by the military.
Hip problems such as arthritis can lead to early death for
larger dogs, and surgery options such as hip replacement have a
limited chance of success for an older dog like Basco, who is 7.
While researching alternatives, Richter says she found
MediVet-America, which offers a stem cell treatment for joint
problems in dogs and horses using the animal's own stem cells to
regenerate damaged tissue.
An Oregon State University veterinarian will perform the
procedure
