We’ve all heard about the use of human stem cells in treating various human ailments. Stem cells are the ancestral cells that have the “programming’ to turn them into specialized cells in many places in the body. But harvesting them has been difficult. One promising source of stem cells, human embryos, raises moral objections from those who consider the embryos human individuals. The use of these embryonic stem cells has proved very controversial. The difference in pet stem cell therapy is that we are using the pets own adult body cells, or mesenchymal cells, to collect the stem cells.
This is done by collecting a small quantity of fat from the pet which is then sent to Vet Stem. We use fat because it is readily available, easy to harvest and rich with stem cells. Within 48 hours of collection the pets own stem cells are returned for injection into the affected joint or bloodstream.
The beauty of this process is that we are dealing with the pets pain in a very holistic manner, utilizing the pets own body to heal itself! Thus there may be no lifetime drugs to take, and best of all, there are very few, if any, side effects.
Indications for stem cell therapy are (1) arthritis, (done by intra-articular injection. The duration of effect is up to 18 months, with a 60% favorable response rate), (2) fracture healing, and (3) tendon and ligament repair. Stem cell therapy can be used along with NSAIDs, (Rimadyl, Deramax etc), hydrotherapy, adequan, glucosamine, chondrotin and hylauronic acid.
This process has been used in clinical trials for the past 3 years and the results have been extremely promising. Over 2500 horses and 200 dogs have been successfully treated. I am hopeful that stem cell therapy will prove to the “the answer” for pets in chronic pain from arthritis that do not seem to respond well to our normal procedures for pain relief.
Stem cell therapy “regenerates” and heals the tissue itself, rather than just slowing the “degenerative” process as drugs do. A veterinarian must be trained and certified in this technique in order to perform the procedure.
Owner, Newkirk Family VeterinariansDr. Mark Newkirk is the owner of NEWKIRK FAMILY VETERINARIANS, with offices in Egg Harbor Twp, Mays Landing, and Margate, and has been taking care of pets in South Jersey since 1981. The Newkirk family has lived in South Jersey all their lives, and Dr. Mark has wanted to be a veterinarian since age 14, when he went to work in Margate as a kennel boy!
Graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Mark treats dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and exotic pets, and has special interest in alternative medicine. We are proud to announce the fulfillment of that dream with the opening at the EHT location of ...The Animal Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Center! The center features the areas only veterinary supervised under-water treadmill plus ultrasound and other therapies to deal with chronic injury or spinal problems. For animals that need special care or have severe arthritis or for whom the adage “old age is not a disease” applies, these special pets can now get special care at this Center!
newkirkfamilyveterinarians.com