Stem Cell Therapy

What is stem cell therapy in dogs and cats?

Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can renew themselves though cell division. Under certain conditions, they can become a specific tissue or organ cell. In many tissues, stem cells serve as an internal repair system, replacing damaged or dead tissues by reproducing and turning into the needed cells.

Stem cell therapy is the process of placing stem cells from the body into diseased or damaged tissues, such as a torn ligament in the knee or an arthritic joint. This process is often referred to as regenerative medicine, a technique that enables the body to repair and regenerate damaged tissues.

There are two different kinds of stem cells: embryonic and adult. In veterinary medicine, adult stem cells can be found in all tissues in a pet’s body, including bone marrow and adipose (fat) tissue. 

Adult stem cells can repair and regenerate various tissues, because they can differentiate into specialized cells. Stem cells can differentiate into blood vessel, bone, cardiac, cartilage, fat, ligament, liver, muscle, nerve, and tendon tissue. Currently, stem cells are obtained from the bone marrow and fat (adipose) tissue in dogs, cats, and horses.

What conditions can be treated with stem cell therapy?

The most common use of stem cell therapy has been in the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs and cats. Other potential uses include repairing bone, ligament, and spinal cord injuries; treating kidney and liver disease; treating cardiomyopathy (a form of heart disease); and treating certain inflammatory diseases of the skin and gut. These other uses are largely hypothetical at this time, but clinical research into stem cell treatment of these conditions is ongoing.

Cancer treatment with stem cells is not considered appropriate, because of the risk of causing the cancer to worsen, grow, or spread more rapidly if stem cells are introduced.

How is stem cell therapy done?

After a definitive diagnosis of the condition has been made and your pet has been selected as a suitable candidate, there are three steps in stem cell therapy:

1. Fat is collected from your dog, cat, or horse, a procedure typically performed while the patient is under anesthesia. Fat cells are usually taken from a small incision in the groin, abdomen, or shoulder region.
2. The fat cells are transferred to a specialized laboratory where stem cells are extracted and concentrated.
3. The final stage of treatment is injection of stem cells into the affected area, such as a hip, elbow, or knee joint. This step also generally requires some form of anesthesia for your pet.

Most cases will be performed as an out-patient procedure. Other than rest and supportive measures, minimal special care is required after treatment.

Is stem cell therapy safe?

There is little risk of reaction or rejection of stem cells, because they are taken from your pet. Any injection into a joint or tendon involves some risk of inflammation, infection, or injury. Your veterinarian will discuss your pet's specific risk factors with you before treatment. Stem cell therapy requires anesthesia and, while adverse reactions are rare, there is an associated risk.

"Your veterinarian will discuss your pet's specific risk factors with you before treatment."

Currently, there are no guidelines with respect to stem cell therapy. The American Veterinary Medical Association encourages the study of stem cell therapy but cautions its use in clinical practice. The North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association was created as a resource to share information related to stem cell therapy and research.

How do I know if stem cell therapy will help my pet’s condition?

There is currently no definitive way to predict which pets will benefit from stem cell therapy. Some patients respond favorably only to relapse in the future. Other patients experience remarkable improvement soon after treatment, while for others, it may take months for any appreciable changes to occur.

The decision to use stem cell therapy is complicated. It is based on your pet's condition, age, breed, previous treatment and response, severity and duration, and anesthesia/sedation risk. The laboratory providing the stem cells will also help determine if your pet is a suitable candidate. Stem cell therapy should only be performed by a veterinarian with special training, who understands the benefits and limits of this therapy.

It is important to have realistic expectations as positive outcomes cannot be guaranteed. It is also important to be aware that costs can be substantial. Other proven scientific treatments should be investigated before moving ahead with stem cell therapy.

How long does it take to work?

Some patients will show improvement within several days, while others will require several weeks before any changes are seen. It is important to note that not all patients treated with stem cells will respond positively. Stem cell therapy can be repeated in cases where poor to no improvement is observed.