Arthritic dog is walking better after stem cell treatment

[DainBramaged]

The dog whose arthritic right hind knee received an injection of regenerative
stem cells at a Randolph veterinary hospital two weeks ago is now more mobile and walking with greater zeal, his owner said.

He has a lot more energy and he's walking a lot better,'' Erin McGuire, of Brielle, said Tuesday about her 2-year-old Great Pyrenees named Bentley. She had taken him to the American Animal Hospital in Randolph, where Dr. Brian T. Voynick and a colleague performed the treatment. "He definitely has a little more pep in his step,'' McGuire said. "Everyone else has
noticed the change. (He's) actually trying to fetch a tennis ball, which he's never tried before.''


Voynick, who on Tuesday also performed the same procedure on a 14-year-old Australian Sheepdog's hips, said Bentley's recovery is going as planned. "I was pleasantly surprised about his progress,'' Voynick said, adding the goal of these surgeries is for the animal to have a "better quality of life -- that's what we aim for.''

<snip>Voynick said the operation costs $1,800, and can be applied to dogs, cats and horses experiencing arthritis, lameness, pain and a restricted range of motion. Previously, veterinarians were limited to prescribing anti-inflammatory medicine or performing expensive surgeries.<snip>

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100825/UPDATES01/100825044/Arthritic+dog+is+walking+better+after+stem+cell+treatment+by+Randolph+vet++owner+says

[xchrom]

1. 1800 would be cheaper than long term chronic care.

meds for pets are becoming expensive.

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. Is there a Human treatment like this?

I and others I know could benefit from this treatment immensely if its so wondrous.

I know the stem cells used on dogs come from canines, but
I imagine if the human treatment would cost 10 or 100 times as much.

I wonder if I can get this treatment in Europe where stem cell treatment is not a religious issue?

I've had dogs that suffered from arthritis and knew the pain they suffered, little did I know I would be an old dog too one day.

[hughee99]

3. I think they get the stem cells from the patient

according to the article,

"They drew blood from Bentley and removed fat -- containing dormant stem cells -- from his left shoulder. They mixed the fat and blood platelets in a special centrifuge, which activated the stem cells."

This would probably cut down the price considerably since they would not need to "harvest" anything from somewhere else, and as this is adult stem cells and not embryonic, they may be doing this type of research here in the U.S. for human use as well.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Gee...... maybe even I could fetch a ball again one day

Sounds promising I didn't know arthritis could be almost cured.

[Raspberry]

5. Religious objections

are not an issue, as the stem cells aren't embryonic. They are from the patient him/her/itself. Wonder if this would work with rheumatoid arthritis.

[SPedigrees]

6. Now if they could repair failing kidneys, livers, and hearts as well

my doggies would be on the road back to youthful health.