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Pocono News Section
Stem Cell Therapy Performed On First NEPA Dog
Stem Cell Therapy Performed On First NEPA Dog - Friday, May 9, 2008 at 4:29PM EST
Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Friday, May 9, 2008 @ 04:29pm EST
BLAKELY, LACKAWANNA COUNTY --
Here’s a story that may amaze you. Shelby became the first dog in our area to receive stem cell therapy. It helped relieve painful joint problems. Consumer reporter Jeff Chirico has more on the treatment that has changed one dog’s life.
"This quick pace she has, she hasn’t had that for years.” Every step Shelby takes is astounding to Denise Cocco of Mount Cobb.
Denise Cocco/Mt. Cobb
"It turned back the clock. It sounds too good to be true, but it worked.”
Just two months ago, Shelby couldn’t walk without pain. The 12- year -old Husky-mix laid in the snow because it made her arthritic joints feel better. “We would have to make the decision within the year to put her down.”
But in March, Shelby received a new lease on life--stem cell therapy.
Dr. Joseph Pannick/ Veterinary Medical Center
"They’ve been doing this in California for five years."
Dr. Joseph Pannick of Veterinary Medical Center in Blakely is the only vet in this area certified to perform the innovate procedure. “We took fat from the area behind the scapula.” Stem cells are separated from the fat at the Vet-Stem lab in California. Two days later, Dr. Pannick injected the stem cells into her hip and through an i-v. The cells gather around dead or abnormal cells.
Pannick falls short of calling it a cure. “But what it does is it causes that tissue to regenerate to an extent where these dogs are viable and these dogs are back normality with their diseases. "
"The results were absolutely amazing.”
Joey Cocco /6 years old
"Now she can walk faster."
Denise Cocco
“She used to sleep under the bed until noon. Now she gets up with us. Spend the day outside with us. Completely different.”
The stems cells even stopped a disease that was making her go blind. The procedure isn’t cheap --$2500. But Denise believes it’s worth every penny. “I couldn’t let her deteriorate thinking maybe there was something we could do to help.”
The future of medicine is giving Shelby a bright future of her own.
Dr. Pannick says a similar procedure is being done on humans in some countries. It hasn’t been approved in the United States.
We’ve started a discussion about this on the PaHomePage. com “Watch and Discuss Forum.” Leave your comments.
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