Stem Cell Therapy
We now offer adipose (fat) derived adult stem cell and platelet rich plasma therapy! More than 15 million dogs in North America suffer from some form of degenerative joint disease, better known as arthritis. Some dogs may receive daily doses of pain relievers and oral joint care supplements. Still others might find their way to physical therapy or rehabilitation. But for some, any or all of these options are not enough to relieve the pain. A potentially helpful treatment is stem cell therapy. Stemlogix, a company focused on bringing regenerative medicine technology to veterinarians, has developed a cellular therapy to treat arthritis and joint injuries in dogs that is derived from their own fat tissue. Stem cells are precursor cells that have the potential to develop into a variety of specialized cell types. Most people may equate this technology with the controversial use of embryonic stem cells. But this new technology uses adult stem cells derived from the fat of the pet which is the body’s richest source of stem cells in both animals and humans. Since they are the pet’s own cells, there is no ethical debate and there is almost no risk of rejection or reaction. Working with Stemlogix, Creatures Great and Small Veterinary Hospital is now able to provide highly viable and affordable same-day stem cell therapy to your pet. Our clinic has integrated a stem cell laboratory and can produce stem cells on-site allowing patients to receive the most potent and viable stem cell therapy possible. Regenerative stem cells have a limited lifespan outside of the body. We are able to extract fat tissue, isolate the stem cells and deliver them back to patients within 90 minutes. This quick turnaround maintains the highest cell viability and functionality which gives patients the best chance for clinical improvement. Stemlogix stem cell therapy can relieve pain, increase range of motion in joints and improve the quality of life in pets suffering from the following conditions: Arthritis, Joint Pain, Cartilage Damage, Tendon & Ligament Damage and Hip Dysplasia.
Stem cells are delivered to an area of damaged tissue where they stimulate regeneration and aid in repair of the damaged tissue. In addition, the stem cells have the ability to differentiate into many different cell types such as tendon, bone, ligament and cartilage, which may further help in the repair of damaged tissue. The main goals of stem cell therapy are to provide long-term anti-inflammatory effects, slow the progression of cartilage degeneration and initiate healing of the damaged tissue. This provides pain relief within a few days to a few weeks after the injection with further improvement as healing progresses.
What should I expect?
Your pet will undergo a simple surgical procedure to obtain a fat tissue sample either from the shoulder area or from the abdomen. The tissue sample will be processed in under two hours directly on-site at our hospital to obtain highly viable and potent regenerative stem cells. The stem cells are then delivered back to your pet at the injury site and/or with an intravenous (IV) infusion.
Often your pet will have renewed energy, less pain and increased mobility! Talk to your veterinarian about gradually reintroducing activity in order to prevent aggravating the condition.
