Grover, a 4-year-old German Shepard, may have a new lease on
life thank to an injection of stem cells that is hoped to bring range of motion
back to a bum knee. Treatments to the leg have helped the dog move around, and
seem to have helped some of the pain, but the dog still suffers.
The owners hope this expensive new therapy will help, but
admit that they are unsure of the process. This will be the first time that
doctors have used stem cells from a subject to try and repair damaged cells,
but there are growing numbers of pet owners willing to try experimental
therapies like this one to help their furry friends.
Researchers currently rely on animal models to try and
predict the behavior of stem cells in humans. Mice and other animals with
similar genetic profiles have been used to test the applications of stem cells.
While there is a gap between these animals and human patients, science have a
growing body of evidence suggesting that this testing will lead to real results
soon.
For those considering the therapy for their own pets, it’s
important to manage your own expectations. Stem cells are extremely potent, but
their use is still very much experimental. The price can be high, and the turnaround
time can be slower than anticipated. Some treatments can be conducted same day,
others require repeat visits and off-site lab work.
The most important take away is that pet owners increasingly
have more options to deal with pet illness.
Bio: Sasha Bakhru
is a bio-medical researcher with experience in stem cells and pharmaceuticals. Sasha Bakhru is the co-founder of NeuroBank.
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