For decades, researchers have touted stem cells as a
potential treatment for a number of diseases. Doctors already use stem
cells to treat people with leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders as well as for some solid cancer tumors.
Pets
can also take advantage of stem cell treatments. "Used for appropriate
conditions, I think this therapy will significantly help a large number
of animals. In the right instances, the results have already been
astounding," says Sean Owens, DVM, DACVP. He's an associate professor at
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and medical director for the
school's Regenerative Medicine Laboratory.
The most common and successful veterinary use of stem cells treats osteoarthritis in dogs,
as well as injuries to bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, and the
spinal cord. Early research also shows that stem cells might
successfully treat dry eye in dogs and stomatitis -- a severe, painful
oral disease -- in cats. In the future, pets and people could benefit
from stem cell therapy for chronic diseases such as diabetes and
autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Owens says.
What Is Stem Cell Therapy?
A
stem cell is a blank slate that can become any type of cell, with the
potential to regenerate tissue in a part of the body where disease has
damaged it and caused it to lose function.
Pet
stem cell therapy uses stem cells from the bone marrow, umbilical cord
blood, or fat of either your pet or another animal of the same species. A
veterinarian injects the stem cells into the diseased area, such as a
knee joint damaged by osteoarthritis. The cells move to the inflamed or
damaged tissue, suppress the inflammation, relieve pain, and cause new
tissue to grow. This new tissue is more like the original tissue than
the scar tissue that would typically grow in an untreated inflamed area,
Owens explains.
Stem cell therapy is not for every
pet or every condition. Beware of veterinarians who claim it's a
cure-all. It's not for every budget, either. A course of two to three
injections can run $2,000 or more. If you have the resources and your
pet still has several good years ahead of him, stem cell therapy might
be a good option. Find a veterinarian who has experience with the
therapy and ask lots of questions, including not only if your dog or cat
would be a good candidate but why.