Whitchurch's Leonard Brothers Vet Centre have shown they are at the vanguard of treatments for animals with two dogs already on the mend after revolutionary stem cell surgery.

The two dogs, Bonnie and Skippy, received the new treatments at the centre, in Brownlow Street, after they had su?ered from a partial tear to their crucial ligament in their knee.

In the past, this injury would have meant a two-hour operation and a painful eight to 10 weeks recovery.

But senior vet at the centre, Andy Nelson, says the new treatment, which has been used extensively in human medicine especially in elite sports men and women, has been proven to work in 80 per cent of cases, and is well underway at Leonard Brothers,

"It has only recently been commercially available to pets," he said.

"We take a blood sample from the patient and this is then processed in the practice to concentrate the platelets and growth factors which have the same e?ects on tissue healing as stem cells.

"This processing takes about 30 minutes, and then the resulting small volume of platelet rich plasma is injected into the a?ected joint.

"Sedation or anaesthesia is required, but most of these doggies will already be sedated for their diagnostic X-rays so we perform the platelet therapy under the same sedation.

"It’s very exciting as crucial injury is very, very common and we can really improve the future for those doggies a?ected; instead of a major operation these patients can now have a pain free treatment which can give the same end result.

"There are lots of other indications for the platelet therapy, and we expect the main area of treatment to be in canine arthritis.

"We see lots and lots of arthritic dogs and if we catch the cases at an early phase in the disease, the platelets and growth factors can help the joint heal and avoid expensive long term medication."

Both Bonnie and Skippy have already started on their road to recovery, with LBVC practice manager Nicky Smith confirming the two canine heroes have come off their previous treatments.

The pair have been labelled the centre's star patients for July.

Anyone wishing to contact the centre about the treatments, whether it is to book in or to just discuss what benefits their pets may get from this exciting new treatment call the practice and ask to speak to Andy, on 01948 662424.

Leonard Brothers also have a centre in Nantwich in Crewe Road on 01270 652121.