Stem cell therapy is a recently developed technology for use in our pets.  Stem cells have been a hot topic of debate in human medicine due to use of embryos to harvest them.  The technology in pets, however, is slightly different.  We use adult stem cells harvested from your own pet’s fat to inject into your pet’s painful, arthritic joints.

How does this work?  Well first, we must know what stem cells are and what they do.  Stem cells are pregenitor cells.  They can differentiate into many different types of tissues, including muscles, nerves, cartilage, bone, fat, liver, as well as others.  These cells are drawn to areas of damage within the body, where they help to repair damage that has occurred.  In the case of arthritis treatment, the cells are injected straight into the joint.  Studies have shown that these stem cells help repair damaged cartilage, decrease inflammation, prevent damaged cells from dying, heal these damaged cells, and promote active tissue regeneration.

How do we treat your pet with stem cells?  First, we have to harvest fat from your animal.  This is done with a brief anesthetic procedure and surgery.  The fat is collected and shipped to the lab to have the stem cells harvested.  The lab then harvests the stem cells and ships them back within 24 hours, for a total turnaround time of 36 to 48 hours.  When we have the cells, your pet is lightly sedated and the cells are injected into the damaged joint.  Rest is important for 30 days after the procedure, at which time exercise and physical therapy are encouraged.  We will provide specific exercises to perform with your pet based off of which joint or joints have been treated.

Studies have shown that 80 to 90% of dogs have an improved quality of life. One third of all dogs treated in the clinical trials were able to completely stop giving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and another 28% were able to decrease the dosage after just 90 days.  Dogs treated with stem cells were also shown to have increased range of motion in affected joints, decreased lameness, and decreased overall pain.

Is stem cell therapy safe?  There is minimal risk involved in stem cell therapy for several reasons.  First, the cells we are injecting into your pet came from your pet! This minimizes any chances for a tissue reaction or rejection of the cells.  Second, the cells that are collected are not changed in any way.  The lab does not manipulate the cells or modify the cells.  They simply collect them from the fat and send them back to us in an injectable form.  In addition, there have been numerous publications supporting the safety of stem cell therapy in animals.  The total number of adverse events in the clinical trials was less than 1%, and the events were related to the harvesting of the fat or the injection itself rather than the use of stem cells.

Does my pet need stem cells?  Currently, stem cell usage is limited to arthritis and orthopedic soft tissue damage, including ligaments, tendons, and fractures.  Studies are ongoing with liver disease, kidney disease, and some auto-immune diseases.  Stem cells cannot be used for cancer or in the case of active infections.

Stem cell therapy presents us with an exciting, cutting edge technology that can greatly benefit many pets.  If you wish to pursue stem cell therapy for your pet, contact us and we can set up an appointment to discuss your pet’s condition.  We would be happy to answer any additional questions regarding stem cells!

*** Although this seminar has passed, we will have another one sometime soon.  If you would like to attend, please send us an email and we will put you on the contact list for our next seminar.  Thanks for looking! ***

Join us for a free seminar on new medical treatment options for:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Stifle injuries, such as cranial cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
• Agility/flyball/hunting and other sport injuries

Drs. Matt Peuser and J.C. Burcham will present a 90-minute presentation on Sun. Feb. 7 (Superbowl Sunday) at 1:00pm at Olathe Animal Hospital for anyone interested in learning more about non-NSAID treatment options for dogs with arthritis. The importance of weight management, joint nutrition and supplementation, and physical therapy will be reviewed, followed by an in-depth look at a promising new treatment option called stem cell therapy, or regenerative medicine. Read our article about what stem cell therapy is and how it works.

Refreshments will be provided. There is no fee for this event. Parking is available in our parking lot. For directions on the day of the event, please call (913) 481-2992, as our hospital is closed for business that day and no one will be answering our phones.

Exercise is a very important part of treating pets with arthritis. Exercise helps maintain muscle strength and increases comfort and flexibility of the joints.  Exercise also aids in weight loss, another important aspect of managing arthritis.  Exercising the arthritic pet can be very challenging because they are already in pain to some degree.  Therefore we recommend specific ways of exercising your pet.

First, before you start any exercises, help your pet “warm up” by applying warm compresses to the affected joint(s).  This can be achieved by using a warm wash cloth or towel and holding it in place for a minute or two.  During this warm up period, passive range of motion exercises should be performed for an additional five minutes to help relax the joints and promote blood flow to the muscles.  Start at the foot and work your way up the leg, gently flexing and extending each joint.  It is important not to go further than your pet will comfortably allow.  Passive range of motion exercises should be done for 10-15 repetitions two to three times per day.  The following video demonstrates these exercises on the rear leg.

Once your pet has had an adequate warm up period, then you can start the actual exercises.  For our arthritic pets, we recommend to start off slow.  Over time, we want to work our way up to longer duration of exercise.  Slow, controlled leash walks are a very good exercise to begin with.  Try to avoid any sudden spurts of speed or high impact exercises.  Initially start out with 5 to 10 minute controlled leash walks.  Your pet may only be able to walk for 2 to 3 minutes at a time, but that is ok.  As your pet gets more comfortable and stronger, increase the duration of the leash walks every other week.

Other types of exercises that are very effective include swimming, stairs, and sit and stand exercises.  Walking on different types of surfaces, such as sand, soft soil, or on inclines also helps increase muscle strength.  Start out with low repetitions for each exercise, and perform these twice daily initially.  As your pet gains strength and comfort, slowly increase the number of repetitions performed each time.

Finally, a “cool down” period of stretching helps keep your pets limber and more comfortable.  This can be accomplished by doing the passive range of motion exercises.  Flex or extend the joint to the point when your pet starts to show very mild discomfort, and then hold the joint in that position for 5 to 10 seconds.  When the stretching is finished, apply an ice pack to any sore joint.  If your pet is excessively stiff or sore the following day, then decrease either the duration of the exercise or the number of repetitions.  Exercise should never be performed to the extent that it is painful to your pet.

Adequan^® Canine is the only FDA approved disease modifying osteoarthritis drug available.  It has been clinically proven to be safe and effective.  Adequan^®Canine contains an injectable glycosaminoglycan.  Glycosaminoglycans are components of many types of connective tissue, including cartilage.  These not only help prevent the breakdown of cartilage within your pet’s joints, but can actually help repair small defects in the cartilage as well.  First, it binds to damaged cartilage to stop further damage from occurring.  Second, it decreases the activity of enzymes that break down cartilage.  Third, it stimulates the cells within the cartilage and joint lining to start producing more connective tissue and hyaluronic acid, an important lubricant in the joint.  All of this adds up to a more comfortable pet.

Adequan^®Canine is given as intramuscular (IM) injections twice a week for four weeks.  After this initial treatment period, we recommend to repeat injections every 30 to 60 days as needed.  Your dog will typically start to show signs of increased pain or lameness, letting you know that it is time for another injection.  If your dog is painful on day 30, then we recommend injections every 27 or 28 days.  Call or email us if you would like more information, or to schedule your dog’s first injection.  Together we can work towards keeping your pet as comfortable as possible!

Pain in pets is a subject that is very important to pet owners and to us as their veterinarians.  Pain affects your pet’s quality of life and overall well being.  Osteoarthritis (arthritis) is the most common cause of pain that we see in our pets.  Arthritis is caused by damage to the cartilage in joints, exposing bone to further damage.  Inflammation then occurs and damage to cartilage and bone progresses.  Other conditions, such as hip dysplasia, cause instability in joints.  The body then builds more bone in an effort to stabilize them.  This new bone rubs on cartilage and bone that is already present, resulting in pain and inflammation.  Physical examination gives us indications that arthritis may be present; however, radiographs (x-rays) are the only way to definitively diagnose arthritis.

Pets with arthritis may show signs as subtle as being stiff in the mornings, or being slow to rise.  However, their pain can be severe enough to be debilitating as well.  Other common signs of pain are limping (even if mild), aggression, painful when touched, withdrawal from family members or normal activity, and inappetance.  Fortunately, several treatment options are available for pain control and keeping your best friend comfortable.  Although medications may be needed, there are several non-drug therapies as well.  The best treatment often involves a combination of the following methods.

No pet should have to suffer from pain.  As members of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, our goal is to keep your pet as happy and as pain free as possible.