The Process of Stem-Cell Therapy in Pets
In stem cell therapy, special stem cells are drawn from the bone marrow, fat and umbilical cord blood of an animal of the same species as your pet and then used in the treatment of a whole host of conditions affecting your companion.
Your veterinarian will inject the stem cells into the injured, diseased or damaged area of your dog's or cat's body. The stem cells will be able to replace or help repair the damaged or dead tissues, reducing inflammation, alleviating pain and promoting the growth of new tissues.
What does stem-cell therapy treat?
Veterinary stem-cell therapies help to treat a wide variety of conditions, injuries and diseases in cats or dogs. Some of the most common of these include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Fractured bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Damaged ligaments
- Liver and kidney disease
- Oral disease in cats (stomatitis)
Is stem-cell therapy right for your pet?
Sometimes it can be really difficult to predict the final results of stem-cell therapy. There are some situations in which cats and dogs respond quite well to stem cell treatments but later relapse. In other situations, though, animals will show incredible improvements that have long-lasting results.
Our Rock Springs veterinarians will determine your cat's or dog's suitability for stem-cell therapy based on the laboratory supplying the stem cells for the procedure and the age, breed, general health, previous treatment and response history, severity and duration of your companion's condition, and sedation risk of your pet.