Surf Paws Animal Hospital

Getting in shape is a popular New Year’s Resolution- and people often include their pets in that goal! Dr. Cristina Miliaresis, owner and veterinarian Surf Paws Animal Hospital, gives us tips to start this exercise regime on the right foot… Or paw.

Thinking about giving someone a new pet for Christmas? In this Love Your Pet, Cristina Miliaresis, a veterinarian as well as the owner of Surf Paws Animal Hospital, and Fran Freitas, head technician shared with Diane Ako some things to consider first.

A 13-year-old dog who was barely able to walk is back on his paws thanks to stem cell therapy. Before the treatment Kumba suffered from arthritis so bad he could barely get off the floor.

Two months later his owners say Kumba is like a new dog. "Now he's up every day, if we get up and he's excited he'll romp around in the backyard like a horse galloping again and it's so nice to see, it's so nice," said Rumi Hospodar, Kumba's owner.

Kumba is a 13 year old Rottweiler-Labrador mix who suffered from severe osteoarthritis.

The after footage (starts at 1:50) are 7 weeks post therapy and the latest was taken on 8.11.2012.

This is a home footage of Kumba, our stem cell therapy patient from June.

 Kumba is a 13 year old Lab-Rotiweiler mix who suffered from severe osteoarthritis. 

"Surf Paws Animal Hospital on Thursday administered a new stem cell therapy treatment to 13-year-old Kumba. Kumba's owner, Rumi Hospodar, watched through the window as he was carried back from surgery."

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 22, 2012
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Cutting-edge technology is helping Hawaii's pets live better lives for months, even years.

We were there as a beloved dog named Kumba received one of the first-ever, in-clinic stem cell therapy surgeries in the islands. 13 year old Kumba doesn't know he's a guinea pig. The Rottweiler-Lab mix is one of the first in Hawaii to undergo the stem cell procedure at Surf Paws in Hawaii Kai.

Stem Cell technology does not involve embryonic stem cells; MediVet-America’s Stem Cell kits use the adult animal’s own stem cells taken from their fat, to heal and repair, therefore there are no ethical issues and the method is extremely safe. We have seen dramatic improvement in pain relief and range of motion for dogs and cats. Moreover, if you have pet insurance, some companies may cover eighty percent of the cost. In this video Dr Cristina Miliaresis/Surf Paws Animal Hospital and Carole Spangler Vaughn, Ph.D./MediVet Hawaii LLC. For additional information or questions, please call our office at 395-3647.

Stem cell therapy has shown to have success in treating animals diagnosed with arthritis and other degenerative diseases.  Now, the treatment is more convenient and affordable.

Stem cell therapy for animals uses an adult animal's own stem cells to help them heal themselves.  The first in-clinic stem cell therapy procedure for animals in Honolulu was performed Thursday.

13-year-old Kumba might think he's a puppy, but he shows his age when he walks and as he struggles to get up.