Stem Cell Therapy

What is Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cells are the body’s repair cells. They have the ability to divide and differentiate into many different types of cells based on where they are needed throughout the body. Stem cells can divide and turn into tissues such as skin, fat, muscle, bone, cartilage, and nerve to name a few. They even possess the ability to replicate into organs such as the heart, liver, intestines, pancreas, etc

Why do we take cells from adipose tissue?

Adult stem cells are highly concentrated in the fat tissue. There are 50 to 1,000 times more stem cells in the fat than the bone marrow. At this concentration, it is no longer necessary to culture the stem cells to acquire the necessary cell numbers to make a healing impact. The procedure to extract fat from the patient is much quicker and less invasive than a spay. The stem cells are contained within a pool of cells in the fat termed the Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF). The SVF may impart anti-inflammatory effects, add bioactive peptides, and contribute to reformation and architectural organization. These are benefits lost once stem cells are cultured.

Before Elsa recieved her stem cell therapy treatment, she had a hard time walking, difficulty standing up, and was very unsteady when walking. Once she recieved stem cell therapy, Elsa was barreling down the sidewalk with ease! The same goes for Blu! Before Blu got her treatment, she was very weak in general, going up and down stairs was nearly impossible (as seen in the video) and she was very stiff when walking to the point she needed help walking. After treatment, you can see in the video she is pulling our technician down the sidewalk and flying up the stairs!

What can we do with the stem cells?

Adult stem cells are capable of dividing into many different cell types. With this capability, we can use them as a treatment for joint injuries, ligament and tendon damage, and fractured bones. Research and clinical trials currently support the use of stem cells in these conditions. Ongoing research is targeting other areas of the body for treatment and the preliminary results are very encouraging

What makes MediVet America's technology better?

With our patented LED technology and by incorporating Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) – the same treatment used by many sports professionals, MediVet America is able to acquire the most living stem cells of any company currently offering this technology. If your beloved pet is going to have to endure the surgical procedure, we want to make sure they are going to get the most out of it! MediVet America also offers Cryobanking, where you can store extra cells from the procedure for future use

What happens to my pet when they come in for the procedure?

First, your vet will put your pet under general anesthetic. Then, he/she will make a small incision and collect 2-4 tablespoons of fat (either in the belly or behind the shoulder blades). Since your pet is under anesthetic, this is a great opportunity to do anything else needed – spay/neuter, or dental for example. Your local, highly trained MediVet representative will then process the sample, right in the clinic, using MediVet equipment. After about 3 hours, the cells are ready for injection into areas of damage. In addition, some cells are administered IV. For the administration step, your pet will either not be sedated at all, locally anesthetized with ethyl chloride spray, or lightly sedated, depending on what’s best for your pet. You can pick up your pet later that same day. We recommend that the patient be kept quiet for the first 10 days. Then, while they may feel a lot better, you will need to be careful so your pet doesn’t injure themselves until they build up some of their muscles.

Is this procedure safe?

As with any procedure that involves anesthesia, there is always a risk. However, the stem cells are coming from your pet and are being re-administered back to your pet. There is no risk of an allergic reaction. Rarely there might be a mild immune reaction in the injected joint that should subside within a day or two.

When will I see results?

We expect you to see results! While we know every animal is different and there are no guarantees, we have seen positive clinical improvement in 95% of the arthritic cases performed nationwide. Some owners have even reported seeing a difference in as little as a week! While quick results are possible, we expect you to begin seeing improvement within the first 90 days following treatment. Really bad arthritis may require multiple injections, so banking your extra cells is always a good idea! We typically see improvement starting after 3 weeks, and then continuing up to around 2 months.

What conditions does it treat?

Our typical patient has osteoarthritis (hip dysplasia, degenerative joint disease, calcifications, common degeneration and inflammation), soft tissue injuries (cruciate injuries, tears, ruptures, inflammation), or needs accelerated healing of fractures. We know a lot about these conditions, and over 95% of these patients get better, with MediVet’s Stem Cell Therapy.

We also treat other cases under “compassionate use”. We know less about these conditions, but are seeing some exciting results. Some of those conditions are: degenerative myelopathy, feline gingivitis, end-stage renal disease, liver and kidney failure, allergy, auto-immune, inflammatory bowel disease, pulmonary fibrosis, IMHA, atopy, and spine trauma. Please talk to your vet if you have questions about any of these conditions.

How long does the treatment last? What do I do if my pet starts having trouble again?

We typically see about 1-3 years of relief after the initial treatment. Most pet owners chose to bank cells, so retreatment is easy. MediVet has a banking facility in Kentucky. If symptoms return, your vet merely requests a dose of cells from the bank, and inject them. No surgery is necessary.