ORLANDO, Fla. -

If you think your dog is suffering from arthritis, researchers at the University of Floridas Health Science Center want you.

[WEB EXTRA: See if your pet meets study criteria | More info on stem cell process ]

Well, actually your pet.

Your dog may be eligible for a blind study being conducted by the University of Floridas College of Veterinary Medicine.

UF veterinarians are looking for 30 dogs, ages 2 to 10 years old, to participate in the next phase of a stem cell therapy project.

The dogs must be healthy, 10 to 120 pounds, and should have been diagnosed with elbow arthritis or dysplasia by their local vet.

Doctors are injecting stem cells directly into the elbows (front leg joints) of the animals to determine if the treatment will decrease the inflammation and pain associated with elbow dysplasia.

Dr. Stanley Kim, a specialist in small animal surgery, says some pets are given a placebo and not even the owner will know if saline or stem cells have been injected into the pets joints until the 6 month study is completed.

The dogs are evaluated at one month, three months and then again at six months but no dog will be left without the stem cell therapy.

Read more:
UF researchers recruiting local pets for arthritis study