Stem Cell Therapy for Dogs

Stem cell therapy is also available for canines and involves collecting the stem cells from fat and using these in pets with arthritis, injuries and fractures. The stem cells will help the regeneration of the tendons, ligaments, joints and bones. Stem cell therapy is typically used in dogs that don’t respond to conventional treatment.

Stem Cell Therapy

The used of stem cell therapy in canines is very recent and has been developed following the successful application of the therapy in humans. The stem cells can be found in most tissues of the dog’s body. In the stem cell therapy, the cells that are utilized are taken from:

  • Fat cells, being the most common source, as dogs have a lot of fat and extracting the stem cells from these cells bears the least amount of risks for the pet. Fat will also regenerate faster
  • Bone marrow
  • Skin
  • Muscles
  • Nerves

Stem cells can easily transform into various types of tissue such as bone or tendon. These tissues will help in the repair of various injuries and defects.

It’s important to differentiate between the adult stem cells and the embryonic stem cells. The embryonic stem cells are obtained from embryos, while the adult stem cells are obtained from fat tissue. In canines, only adult stem cells are being utilized, as their effect is more predictable. The adult stem cells may be harvested from the dog that is being treated and after being developed, it will be placed into the areas that are treated. In this manner, the dog will not reject the cells and the chances of recovery are very high.

Uses of Stem Cell Therapy in Canines

In canines, the stem cell therapy may be used in the following conditions:

  • Arthritis and osteoarthritis
  • Tendon and ligament injuries
  • Bone fractures

Stem Cells for Arthritis

Arthritis is a common disease in dogs and this cannot be cured. Many traditional treatment methods may relieve the pain, but may not be 100% effective. The autologous stem cell treatment (i.e. the stem cells are taken from the patient, processed and placed in the same patient) may give better results in managing arthritis and in many dogs, the condition will improve as the joints will be repaired. The procedure is simple:

  • Some cells are extracted (e.g. fat cells) through a simple surgical procedure
  • The fat cells are processed to extract the stem cells
  • The stem cells are injected in the joints that are painful or affected by arthritis

Stem Cells for Injuries

The stem cells for injuries such as tendonitis or fractures are used in the same manner as in the case of arthritis. The stem cells will be injected at the site of the injury. Typically, the dog will recover sooner than if other types of treatments are administered.

The therapy can be applied in older injuries, ideally less than 60 to 90 days old, but even older injuries can be treated.

 

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