By Kim Hilsenbeck.
Stem cell therapy shows promise as a way to rejuvenate arthritic dogs, offering some relief for pets and their people. The process can ease also joint injuries, ligament and tendon damage, as well as fractured bones.
Ross Harris of Buda said his 12-year-old retriever, Sam, is walking proof of stem cell therapy.
“He’s getting old. It was hard to get in car, hard to get him outside. Age was catching up,” he said.
Older dogs suffering from hip problems and arthritis may benefit from stem cell therapy or the use of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), according to veterinarian Troy Smith of Manchaca Village Veterinary Care. Smith and his team are one of a handful of vets in the south Austin/north Hays County area to perform the procedures. Ross Harris of Buda said his 12-year-old dog, Sam, is now more active following the stem cell therapy he had about a year ago. At top, Dr. Sandra Ontiveros and a veterinary technician withdraw blood from a patient. Above, Sam, whose person says the dog now loves going outside again. (Photos courtesy of Manchaca Village Veterinary Care) |
Harris heard about stem cell therapy from his veterinarian, Dr. Troy Smith.
Using the white board in exam room #1, Smith, owner of Manchaca Village Veterinary Care, visually and verbally explained how it works. Smith is one of only a handful of vets in the southern Travis/northern Hays County region to offer the treatment.
“When activated, stem cells can regenerate into the tissue that’s damaged,” he said. “Stem cells are dormant unless activated.”
Those activated stem cells release a bioactive protein called growth factor (GF).
For clarity, Smith added, “We’re talking about adult stem cells, not embryonic, so we don’t have that issue [of controversy].”
Debates between the scientific and religious communities have raged for years about using embryonic stem cells because of moral and ethical concerns in harvesting those cells.
But adult stem cells are fair game.
“I don’t know if we’ve identified any body tissue that doesn’t have adult stem cells,” Smith said.
He uses fatty tissue, which he said contains some of the best stem cells.
“Fat cells contain thousands more times stem cells than bone marrow,” he said.
He added that the procedure is no more invasive than spaying a dog.
“We move that same fat out of the way to perform the spay surgery,” he said.
Smith said PRP – platelet rich plasma – also releases GF, which, similar to stem cells, can stimulate cell regrowth and repair. PRP involves drawing blood out of the animal.
“Sometimes we get adequate response from PRP, which is also less expensive and less invasive than stem cell therapy,” Smith said.
In either case, the PRP or the stem cells are injected into the affected area, for example, the hips. And because the cells are from the animal, there is no chance for the body to reject them.
Smith cautioned that before he attempts any procedure, he will consult with pet owners about all the options available, including weight loss. If the animal is not overweight, he may recommend an anti-inflammatory drug first to see if it offers relief. He is also a proponent of supplements such as glucosamine.
But if a dog is a candidate for the stem cell or PRP therapy, it can be a less expensive option than surgery to repair or replace aging hips, for example.
Harris’ dog Sam had the stem cell procedure about a year ago. Today, he said Sam can jump into the car and loves going outside again.
“I had to coax him to go outside and now that’s pretty much gone. He gets excited about walking,” Harris said. “It was a pleasant surprise. [The stem cell therapy] was well worth it.”
