We are pleased to have been offering Stem Cell Therapy for many years here at Amherst Small Animal Hospital and the Animal Pain Management Center to great success in helping many patients lead more comfortable lives.
Stem Cell Therapy can help with a variety of issues, especially arthritis. It is also a treatment which is currently being studied as therapy for:
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Kidney disease – cats
• Liver disease
• Immune mediated diseases
• Heart diseases
In general, after a pet has been evaluated and is determined to be a good candidate for Stem Cell Therapy, it is a relatively straightforward two-step process. On a Tuesday, the pet will arrive at our hospital to have the falciform fat harvested. The falciform fat is found in the abdomen, and even lean cats and dogs usually have plenty of it. With the pet under anesthesia, a small incision is made in the abdomen and the fat is harvested. The harvested fat is then shipped to Vet Stem, where the stem cells are harvested from it. The stem cells are then shipped back to us, and the pet comes back in on a Thursday to have them implanted. The stem cells can be injected directly into the affected joint or joints, and can also be given intravenously.
Here is a checklist to help you decide if you might want to discuss Stem Cell Therapy with us! We welcome any questions you might have!