A VETERINARY practice in Salisbury is offering a new pioneering treatment for dogs with osteoarthritis and other debilitating conditions.

The Vets in Exeter Street is offering canine stem cell therapy and is believed to be the first practice in Wiltshire and Hampshire to do so.

Practice owner Howard Taylor said: “It’s hard to believe that this cutting-edge technology is now available to our patients. This really is the next big thing in veterinary medicine – a living, drug-free remedy intended to repair rather than simply suppress or mask symptoms.”

As part of the treatment a sample of the dog’s body fat is taken and stem cells are then isolated from this fat at a specialist laboratory and cultured to increase their numbers.

This process takes approximately two weeks and the stem cells are then injected into the animal’s affected joints under sedation.

The practice says these act as the “body’s personalised repair kit, reducing swelling and discomfort and encouraging natural and safe regeneration of damaged tissue” and that a reduction in pain and disability is expected over a period of three to 12 weeks following injection. These benefits can last 12 months or more from a single injection.

Cells can be harvested for repeat treatments, which can be stored at an external laboratory, meaning only repeat injections need to be given.

Vet Kate Baker has been injecting her own dog Dillon who suffers from elbow dysplasia. Although the cells were only injected two weeks ago, he is already said to be showing promising results.

Kate said: “I am over the moon with Dillon’s response to the stem cell therapy. It is a fantastic minimally invasive treatment option that could provide a lot of dogs with a significant amount of pain relief in the future without any side effects.

“Dillon is so much happier and he has gone from a dog who struggled on walks to a dog who is desperate to go for his walks again.

“Although he still exhibits some lameness he is much more comfortable and brighter in himself and his elbow joint is showing an improvement in flexion and a reduction in joint swelling.

“It is still only two weeks since the stem cells were injected so theoretically we should get further improvement over the coming weeks. We have several more dogs at the practice which we are planning on treating in the coming weeks and I am hopeful for similar positive outcomes in these cases as well.”

Mr Taylor said: “I am so proud of Kate and the rest of the team at The Vets for getting this off the ground in Salisbury.”

For details call 01722 337117. or email admin@thevets.tv