Stem Cell Technology
What is stem cell technology?
Stem cells are cells that have the ability to divide and give rise to specialised cells. Stem cells can come from a number of places (not just embryos).
In adults, stem cells are usually obtained from bone marrow. This is painful and yields only a few cells. In animals Stem Cells can be obtained from fat. Losing a bit of fat is no problem for most patients. Fat is a good source of mesenchymal stem cells which can develop into pericytes cells which repair tissue, fat, muscle, cartilage and bone.
Why use stem cells?
Stem cells enhance the repair of damaged tissue. All cells die and get replaced. With degenerative diseases such as arthritis, not enough cells are produced to replace damaged and dying cells. Stem cells actively regenerate damaged tissues. In degenerative diseases like arthritis, stem cells enhance repair and also slow progression of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a painful and chronic debilitating condition. Cartilage does not regenerate well and is easily damaged. Joint replacement surgery is often the best option but this is costly, painful and has only limited availability.
Does your pet suffer from?
- Arthritis
- Hip dysplasia – a condition where the ball in the hip joint does not fit neatly into the socket joint. It causes crippling arthritis if left untreated and huge discomfort for your pet.
- Joint pain – of any joint.
- Cartilage damage.
- Damaged tendons.
Then this may be the treatment of choice for your pet.
How do we do it?
There are 2 options:
- Using fat taken from your own dog. We surgically remove some fat from your pet under general anaesthetic and send it to a laboratory where under sterile laboratory conditions they harvest your pet’s stem cells and then send them back to us to be reintroduced to your pet. We then inject the area where the healing is required to start your pet’s body’s natural healing response. A number of joints can be treated at the same time.
- Using stem cells collected from young healthy donor dogs. An anaesthetic and surgery is not needed for your pet with this, so a better option for older dogs. Also there is only one visit not two. This option also tends to be less costly. With donor stem cells, the donors are all extensively tested and healthy. We have had no problems with injections. A number of joints can be treated and stem cells can also be given intravenously. This is particularly beneficial with immune problems, kidney disease & IBD.
How does it work?
In the lab they retrieve the stem cells that have been locked away in the fat. When they have extracted the stem cells they are enhanced with beneficial proteins and sent back to us to be injected back into your pet. We now have large quantities of stem cells to assist in the rapid repair and regrowth of your pets damaged issues. Your pet is given pain relief and stem cells injected directly into the joints that need it (can be more than one).
What are the benefits?
- There is significant improvement in mobility after the procedure.
- There is significant improvement in strength.
- It gives relief from pain when other options aren’t helping.
- It reverses the progression of osteoarthritis.
- It works and the benefits last for years.
- Your pet can be running around happily like a puppy again within weeks.
We have used Stem Cells in more than 50 pets now & are very happy with the results. If you have any queries please feel free to discuss with us how it could benefit your pet. Costs range from $700 to $2,500 depending on how many joints are treated.