BOSTON (WHDH) - If you have a pet, you know they are like a member of the family. If they are in pain, you want to do whatever you can to help.

Veterinarians in Massachusetts are using stem cells to help dogs and cats suffering with arthritis and other joint problems and the procedure just got easier for the animals.

Though his tail still wags, walking looks painful for seven-year-old Angus.

"You don't want to see him that way," said Vern Mace, Angus' owner.

Ten-year-old Lilly has a very bad case of hip dysplasia. Her owner is a veterinarian technician at an animal hospital in North Dartmouth and says it's the worst case she has ever seen.

"It is very heartbreaking," said Sarah Farias, Lilly's owner.

Both owners are hopeful that a cutting edge procedure will help their dogs move around pain free.

"Hopefully can play ball like he likes to, which is all day long," said Elizabeth Mace, a pet owner.

Our cameras were there as Angus and Lilly made a little history at the Chase Farm Veterinary Hospital. They were the first pets to undergo a stem cell therapy in a much faster way.

"We've been waiting a good long time for this and I think it's fascinating," said Dr. Jean Pitcairn, a veterinarian.

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Stem Cell Therapy for Pets - 7News Boston WHDH-TV

Stem Cell Therapy

After many years of research, it now possible to provide affordable same-day stem cell therapy to dogs and cats suffering from a variety of degenerative diseases and injuries. With our Stemlogix in-clinic stem cell isolation process, our board certified veterinarians can extract fat tissue, isolate millions of regenerative stem cells and deliver them back to the patient all in about 90 minutesin just one office visit!

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 Hip dysplasia

Often your pet will have renewed energy and freedom of movement. Talk to your veterinarian about gradually reintroducing activity in order to prevent aggravating the condition.

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.

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 about an hour directly on-site at our state-of-the-art facility where highly viable & potent regenerative stem cells are obtained. The stem cells are then delivered back to your pet at the injury site and/or with an intravenous (IV) infusion.

The Stemlogix stem cells are derived from the animals own tissue and they can be injected in large concentrations in the area of injury. Because the injected cells are derived from the animals own tissue and are minimally manipulated there is almost no risk of rejection or reaction. 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.

For more information, please visit http://www.stemlogix.com

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Stem Cell Therapy

This information is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care. Always follow the instructions provided by your veterinarian.

Diabetes mellitus occurs when the pancreas doesnt produce enough insulin. Insulin is required for the body to efficiently use sugars, fats and proteins.

Diabetes most commonly occurs in middle age to older dogs and cats, but occasionally occurs in young animals. When diabetes occurs in young animals, it is often genetic and may occur in related animals. Diabetes mellitus occurs more commonly in female dogs and in male cats.

Certain conditions predispose a dog or cat to developing diabetes. Animals that are overweight or those with inflammation of the pancreas are predisposed to developing diabetes. Some drugs can interfere with insulin, leading to diabetes. Glucocorticoids, which are cortisone-type drugs, and hormones used for heat control are drugs that are most likely to cause diabetes. These are commonly used drugs and only a small percentage of animals receiving these drugs develop diabetes after long term use.

The body needs insulin to use sugar, fat and protein from the diet for energy. Without insulin, sugar accumulates in the blood and spills into the urine. Sugar in the urine causes the pet to pass large amounts of urine and to drink lots of water. Levels of sugar in the brain control appetite. Without insulin, the brain becomes sugar deprived and the animal is constantly hungry, yet they may lose weight due to improper use of nutrients from the diet. Untreated diabetic pets are more likely to develop infections and commonly get bladder, kidney, or skin infections. Diabetic dogs, and rarely cats, can develop cataracts in the eyes. Cataracts are caused by the accumulation of water in the lens and can lead to blindness. Fat accumulates in the liver of animals with diabetes. Less common signs of diabetes are weakness or abnormal gait due to nerve or muscle dysfunction. There are two major forms of diabetes in the dog and cat: 1) uncomplicated diabetes and 2) diabetes with ketoacidosis. Pets with uncomplicated diabetes may have the signs just described but are not extremely ill. Diabetic pets with ketoacidosis are very ill and may be vomiting and depressed.

The diagnosis of diabetes is made by finding a large increase in blood sugar and a large amount of sugar in the urine. Animals, especially cats, stressed by having a blood sample drawn, can have a temporary increase in blood sugar, but there is no sugar in the urine. A blood screen of other organs is obtained to look for changes in the liver, kidney and pancreas. A urine sample may be cultured to look for infection of the kidneys or bladder. Diabetic patients with ketoacidosis may have an elevation of waste products that are normally removed by the kidneys.

The treatment is different for patients with uncomplicated diabetes and those with ketoacidosis. Ketoacidotic diabetics are treated with intravenous fluids and rapid acting insulin. This treatment is continued until the pet is no longer vomiting and is eating, then the treatment is the same as for uncomplicated diabetes.

the inset picture shows the top of the insulin bottle

Diabetes is managed long term by the injection of insulin by the owner once or twice a day. Some diabetic cats can be treated with oral medications instead of insulin injections, but the oral medications are rarely effective in the dog. There are three general types of insulin used in dogs and cats:

In general, cats and small dogs need insulin injections more frequently, usually twice daily, compared to large breed dogs that may only require one dose of insulin daily. The action of insulin varies in each individual and some large dogs will need 2 insulin shots daily. The insulin needs of the individual animal are determined by collecting small amounts of blood for glucose (sugar) levels every 1-2 hours for 12-24 hours. This is called an insulin-glucose-response curve. When insulin treatment is first begun, it is often necessary to perform several insulin-glucose-response curves to determine:

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causes-the-pet | StemCell Therapy MD

Harness the Bodys Healing Power with Regenerative Cell Therapy!

More than 15 million dogs in North America suffer some form of degenerative joint disease, better known as arthritis. Unfortunately, many dog owners are unaware of the pain their pet is experiencing, thinking that the slow movement is due to the effects of old age.

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. Some lucky pets even get ramps built in their homes, sparing them the need to climb the dreaded stairs! But for some, any or all of these options are not enough to relieve the pain. But a potentially helpful treatment is stem cell therapy. Stemlogix, a company focused on bringing regenerative medicine technology to veterinarians, has developed a therapy to treat arthritis and joint injuries in dogs using the pets 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. Since they are the pets own cells, there is no ethical debate!

Scientific and anecdotal evidence have shown that these fat derived stem cells are quite helpful for arthritis, tendon and ligament injuries. Furthermore, no significant side effects have been reported. Stem cells appear to moderate the inflammatory response and actually create a healthier healing environment in the joint. Recently, a detailed study on the use of fat-derived stem cells in dogs showed that animals receiving the treatment demonstrated a significant improvement in lameness when compared to dogs in the control group. This news has excited scientists and pet owners alike and has many asking their veterinarians about the potential for a real world application.

Working with Stemlogix, Beach Pet Hospital is now able to produce innovate stem cell therapy in-house! Traditional methods required shipping the fat sample to a remote laboratory. There are many advantages to in-clinic stem cell production including much lower costs per procedure, its much easier logistically (only one office visit per patient as opposed to two), and the cell viability & potency are higher. Our veterinarians can harvest a small fat sample from the pet and Technicians then process the tissue to concentrate and purify the stem cells. The cells are returned to the veterinarian, ready to be injected into the pet just 1.5 hours after collection. All of this seems pretty miraculous and for some pets, the results are truly nothing short of a life-saving miracle.

Not all pets are considered good candidates for this therapy. Since anesthesia is involved in both the harvesting step and the reintroduction of the cells, this may not be ideal for patients at increased risk for anesthetics. Additionally, according to Stemlogix, any dog with serious systemic disease, such as cancer, might not benefit from these treatments. Arthritis can be painful and even debilitating in any dog. If you suspect your dog suffers from this disease, talk with your veterinarian about testing to confirm arthritis and then discuss the many treatment options. Veterinarians may recommend a multi-modal approach, combining appropriate medications, controlled exercise, weight loss, and environmental changes to make your pet's life easier. In some cases, new technology, like stem cell therapy, might be beneficial.

How Stem Cells Can Help with Arthritis

More than 20% of dogs in North America suffer from arthritis. This means that about 15 million of our canine companions have this painful disease

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Regenerative Cell Therapy Beach Pet Hospital 316 N. Great ...

What would you do if you knew a controversial treatment could use your cat's own body to heal itself? Would you take on the risk and expense, or would you opt for more traditional methods?

Some cat owners have taken the former road with the development of stem cell therapy. This newly popular technique puts aside traditional surgery and medication in favor of small injections of your pet's own cells. Used to treat conditions such as arthritis and ligament injuries, stem cell treatment (also known as regenerative medicine) is filled with potential as well as contention.

Regenerative medicine works around the principle that the bodies of organisms produce cells called stem cells. These cells are able to differentiate, or mature into a wide variety of other body cells depending on which tissues surround them. A stem cell can develop into muscle, nerves, bone, and other body tissues.

When a cat suffers from an injury, the stem cells surrounding the injury differentiate and begin healing the body. For example, stem cells might mature into ligament cells to repair an injury from running.

Living things contain two types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, which are present in early-stage embryos and develop into organisms; and adult stem cells, which are present in the tissues of mature organisms. Adult stem cells do not harm the organism when removed and do not prevent further development in any way. It is these cells which are used in regenerative veterinary medicine.

During stem cell treatment, a trained veterinarian uses a small syringe to remove fatty tissue from an animal's abdomen or back. This tissue is then sent to a lab, where it is centrifuged (or spun) to isolate and extract the stem cells. The cells are returned and then injected back into the animal's body in the affected area. As the cells interact with damaged tissue, they mature into healthy cells which can repair damage or injury.

Because it requires no extensive surgery, regenerative therapy is accompanied by a much shorter recovery period and less pain for the animal. Some owners report seeing improvement in their pet's condition less than 36 hours after treatment. Surplus stem cells can be frozen for future injections, eliminating the need for repeat extractions. Veterinary stem cell treatment has been approved by the FDA for orthopedic problems in tendons and ligaments, as well as bone fractures and arthritis.

The ease and comfort of regenerative medicine doesn't come cheaply, however. A single cycle of treatment can cost between $2000 and $4000, and requires a knowledgeable veterinarian to perform the procedure. (Many veterinarians consider regenerative medicine to be an offshoot of alternative medicine, limiting the number of doctors certified to practice it.) According to Vet-Stem, the California-based leader in veterinary stem cell therapy, around 20% of owners see no improvement in their pet after treatment. That other 80%, however, have seen their beloved pets heal with a minimum of trauma and pain in exchange for taking a chance.

In just a few years, stem cell therapy has gone from a hot topic on news channels to an eagerly embraced therapy for canine illness. With the current trend in treatment comes the hope that some day soon a similar course of therapy will be approved for use in humans. Thousands of animals are living a happier and healthier life due to regenerative medicine, and the full possibilities of the technology still remain to be seen.

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Stem Cell Therapy in Cats: What You Need to Know - Page 1

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News: Vet-Stem Cell Therapy

If your dog or cat has arthritis then you should consider Vet-Stem Cell Therapy.

What Results Have Dog Owners Reported? Greater than 80% of dogs with arthritis have improvedQuality of Life Here are survey results for Older Dogs Here are survey results for Younger Dogs

Is Your Dog on Pain Medication? See survey results for Dogs on Pain Medication.

Pet owners should discuss appropriateness of treatment for their pet and associated costs with a Vet-Stem credentialed veterinarian. A checklist of points to consider with your veterinarian is found here.

For a letter to take to your veterinarian describing how they can become trained in Vet-Stem Regenerative Cell Therapy Click here.

StemInsure Store Stem Cells Now, Use Stem Cells in the Future. Click here.

Stem Cell Therapy in Development Vet-Stem is currently evaluating the use of stem cells for treatment of: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Kidney disease - cats Liver disease Immune mediated diseases Heart diseases

Vet-Stem believes there are certain applications where stem cells may not be appropriate. These include: Cancer Systemic infection

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Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cells simply explained are your animal's own repair cells. There are many adult stem cells in fat tissue, however they are dormant. MediVet's patented stem cell procedure allows your vet to isolate stem cells from your animal's own fat tissue, activate them, and re-inject them directly into the damaged areas all in one visit. The goal of this revolutionary procedure is to provide a potent anti-inflammatory effect promoting cartilage and other tissue regeneration ultimately creating a healthier joint environment. Most importantly, it's an all natural approach to healing without the adverse side effects and complications of drugs or surgery.

The advantages of using Medivet's technology is not only the affordability, but it's safe, non invasive, and drug free. There is no comparison, as MediVet stem cell therapy is the most logical cell therapy choice for treating osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, hip dysplasia, tendon, ligament, and bone injuries. MediVet's goal is to improve the quality of your pet's life, as we have done for the 1000's of animals we've treated.

The Procedure

On procedure day, your vet will make a small incision and collect a small amount of fat (either in the belly or behind the shoulder blade). The sample is then carefully processed by a highly trained Veterinary Technician. After the cells have been isolated, then activated, they are ready for injection into the areas that need repair and administered intravenously.

After the procedure you will be able to take home your beloved pet later that same day. While your pet may feel better quite rapidly this is due to the natural potent anti-inflammatory ef fect these cells have.

That being said, we recommend that you leash restrict your pet for the first 30 days after the procedure, allowing these regenerative cells to promote the desired repair. Typically, significant improvement starts after only 3 weeks but impr ovement can continue long after the first procedure date. Although every case is different on average MediVet Veterinarians report 1-3 years of relief from a single injection when treating general mobility issues.

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MediVet America Stem Cell Therapy

Deltona retiree Paul Jaynes was heartbroken when his 9-year-old Labrador, Cookie, suddenly stopped walking last year. The once-athletic dog struggled to stand and, if she moved at all, collapsed after a few steps.

He carried his 90-pound companion to his truck, drove her to the vet and braced himself for the bad news. Surely she couldn't live like this.

Instead, his veterinarian told him about a newly available procedure involving stem cells. In a single day, the vet said, they could remove the cells from Cookie's fatty tissues, process them and re-inject them into her joints. She could go home immediately.

"It was very dramatic," Jaynes says. "The day after surgery, she was standing. She was hesitant, but she was standing and walking a little. I thought: 'Are you kidding me?' Within a week, she was almost back to her old self."

That was last September, and six months later Cookie is still going strong, Jaynes says. While he has no doubts about the treatment, though, some veterinarians worry that marketing of stem-cell therapy for animals has gotten ahead of the scientific research needed to validate its use.

The results, while sometimes promising, are not universal.

"Most of what you hear is anecdotal 'Oh, I tried this, and it helped my dog,'" says Dr. Jeffrey Peck, a veterinary surgeon at Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, based in Maitland. "This has grown in its marketing exponentially greater than it has grown in evidence."

Much of his practice is in orthopedics typically, dogs with hip dysplasia or arthritis. He tried using stem-cell therapy with his patients in 2008 but dropped it after a dozen cases in which he saw no improvement.

"I don't refuse to do it if a client really wants to try, but I give them my disclaimer," he says. "I tell them: 'I don't think I'm going to hurt anything. But I doubt I'm going to help anything either.'"

At $1,400 to $3,000 for the procedure, most pet owners opt out, he says.

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Stem-cell therapy for dogs draws support, detractors

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Newswise Almost five years ago, a seven-year old Labrador Retriever was operated on, using a technique eventually patented by Virginia Tech biomedical engineering faculty member Rafael Davalos. The beloved family pet was suffering from a cancerous mass in the brain, and all other forms of medical treatment had been exhausted. The operation completely eradicated the malignant tumor, and follow up examinations of the canine proved the procedures success.

The teams findings were reported in the February 14, 2011 issue of the Journal of Technology Cancer Research and Treatment and, since this surgery, the investigators have continued experiments and mathematical modeling techniques that are leading towards effective treatments for humans affected with glioblastoma, the most common and deadly malignant brain tumor.

Today, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has awarded one of Davalos colleagues, Scott Verbridge, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics at Virginia Tech, a $386,149 research grant to take a related medical procedure a step closer to using on humans. Verbridge will lead a team that includes Davalos and focus on targeting and destroying the most therapy-resistant infiltrative cells in malignant glioma.

Glioblastoma is the most common and deadly malignant primary brain tumor, and it is almost universally fatal, with a five year survival rate of less than five percent, Verbridge said. This statistic has not improved significantly in decades, and there is still no treatment option to preferentially target the glioma stem cells or diffuse infiltrative cells that lead to tumor recurrence after surgery, chemo, or radiotherapy.

Davalos technique used on the canine patient is called irreversible electroporation. The investigators propose in the current project that these pulses can be tuned to target the unique physical properties of malignant cells, Verbridge said.

By contrast, chemotherapy and radiation used to reduce or eliminate cancerous cells are not discriminatory and also affect healthy cells.

Clinical trials using the irreversible electroporation procedure have occurred in the treatment of liver, kidney, pancreatic and lung cancer.

"The procedure is essentially done with two minimally invasive electrodes placed into the targeted region, delivering approximately 80 pulses to the site in about one minute. The pulses are high voltage, but low energy, so no significant heating occurs as a result of the procedure," Davalos said.

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A Dog Lives On; Now the Stage Is Being Set for Treating Humans