NEXT Sunday is the annual Dogswalk Against Cancer, held simultaneously in Riverside Park and Bear Mountain State Park (for info, call (800) ACS-2345). Now that his cancer is in remission, my 14-year-old pit bull, Sam, planned to attend in celebration.
Sadly, his arthritis is so advanced that he can barely stand, let alone walk.
The other day on the street, Sam’s wobbly hind legs gave out and he collapsed. I got him home using a Bottom’s Up Leash (bottomsupleash.com), designed as a temporary measure to help dogs who’ve had leg surgery. I feared it might have to become Sam’s permanent canine cane.
On another outing, I commiserated with the owner of a stiff-legged Samoyed wearing the handsome Web Master harness (ruffwear.com). The man demonstrated how he uses the harness handle to help his arthritic dog get around.
But now there’s high-tech hope for arthritic dogs to cast off their “crutches” and walk on their own. It’s the incredible therapy pioneered by Dr. Bob Harman of San Diego’s Vet-Stem clinic (vet-stem.com).
Fat samples are surgically removed from your dog under anesthesia, then overnighted to Vet-Stem’s headquarters, where they’re harvested for stem cells. Those cells are overnighted back to your vet, ready to be injected directly into the afflicted joint, enabling it to regenerate itself.
Although it’s risky to sedate senior dogs, I’m taking that risk. My inspiration is another 14-year-old pit: Stevie, the first New York dog to undergo the procedure.
“On our walks to the park, Stevie would turn to me as if to say she didn’t want to go,” recalls owner Simone Reyes. “She was like a little old lady with a walker. But now she acts like a much younger dog who can’t wait to get to the park.”
I’ll be thrilled if Sam begins to walk like his old self again, but I asked Dr. Harman if Sam might have a chance of ever running again. “Absolutely,” the doctor said. “We’ve seen 13- and 14-year-old dogs run after the procedure.”
We’ll keep you posted.
js@pet-reporter.com