PetStem

The Beginning of PetStem

Since I was a little girl, I have always been an animal lover. Dogs and cats were part of my family. As my bond with my beloved pets grew, I came to truly appreciate the beauty of their unconditional love and loyalty.

In 1994, I had two beautiful Dobermans, Roscoe and Rina. Rina’s life was prematurely taken after a long grueling battle with hip dysplasia. It wasn’t actually the hip dysplasia that ended her life, but rather the very commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory medication used to treat it. I was so deeply hurt from her passing and felt responsible for not being aware of the effect of the medication. If only I had known.

In 2005, one of my closest friends gave me a beautiful gift, a little male Pomeranian bundle of joy – so human-like, a one of a kind puppy. At first, I was scared to keep him because I didn’t want to go through the heartbreak that I experienced when I lost Rina, but I immediately fell in love with my new little angel and named him Kujo. He brought so much joy to my heart and life. He was amazingly smart, so loving and warmhearted.

Sadly, around the time he turned 7 years old, he started suffering from arthritis and was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, the same degenerative disease which had effected Rina. Kujo was in pain most of the time. He couldn’t walk up or down stairs and as the disease progressed, he had difficulty moving at all.

He was prescribed a different anti-inflammatory than Rina. Of course, I was very concerned about how the medication would impact his system but at that time, it was the only available treatment option. I came to discover that the new medication was also making him ill. My sweet Kujo was not the same happy little boy. He was getting sick and appeared sad and listless.


The PetStem Solution

One day I was at NuStem, a stem cell therapy clinic in Beverly Hills, visiting a doctor friend of mine. I asked him if we could take Kujo’s stem cells from his own blood draw and inject them back into his damaged area. We decided that it was worth trying based on the amazing results the medical field was reporting with this breakthrough technology, as well as the documented testaments to its effectiveness on joint and tendon regeneration and repair.

We tried the stem cell therapy on Kujo and every day I prayed for a positive result. That was the moment that changed my life and set me on the path of creating PetStem. A few days after the procedure, Kujo became noticeably happier and considerably more responsive. Later that evening, he actually climbed two flights of stairs to wake me up in my bedroom! This was the first time in over six months that he had even been on the stairs, much less attempted to climb them. He was energetic and as playful as when he was a puppy! It was truly as if a miracle happened! I cried tears of joy as I held him.

It is impossible for me to put into words the pure happiness and excitement that came over me that night, not just because of the miraculous recovery of my beloved Pomeranian, but also in the realization that this treatment could benefit other animals and the owners that love them so much. In my heart, I knew I had to open a pet stem cell clinic.

PetStem is dedicated to Kujo, who unfortunately passed away as a result of damage to his stomach caused by anti-inflammatory medication. I was heartbroken knowing that his life, health and happiness could have been prolonged. Don’t make the same mistake I made by hoping and believing that prescribed medication is the cure. You might not know the damage that is occurring until it is too late. Anti-inflammatory medication is no longer the only treatment option for mild or debilitating arthritic issues. Now, with stem cell therapy, there is an incredible alternative. PetStem can give your pet the safe and pure regenerative healing power of stem cells. Their cells, their cure.

Kujo is the reason for PetStem, and because of him, it is with great pleasure and love that I introduce PetStem – stem cell therapy for animals.
- Karen and Kujo