An innovative approach to treating arthritis in dogs—involving the use of stem cells taken from the animal being treated—has shown positive results, according to veterinarians who have employed the new therapy. This relatively new technology may signal a new approach to the treatment of this common, debilitating condition.

Arthritis: what it is, how it’s treated

Osteoarthritis—not to be confused with the more serious form of the illness, rheumatoid arthritis—is a degenerative joint disease that causes inflammation, pain, swelling, and loss of mobility. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), almost half of all dogs in the United States suffer, to some degree, from this form of arthritis. (For an informative podcast on arthritis from the AVMA, click here. For a detailed article on arthritis from the American Animal Hospital Association, click here.)

Treatments for the symptoms of arthritis include pain medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, nutritional supplementation, and changes in diet. Some pet owners opt for newer, “holistic” approaches, including acupuncture and massage therapy.

Vet Stem™ Regenerative Cell Therapy

Now, an entirely different treatment is available. Developed by Vet-Stem, a California-based company, this treatment involves the use of a dog’s own stem cells to directly treat its arthritis. (Interestingly, the therapy began in 2003 to treat tendon and ligament injuries, fractures and joint disease in horses. More than 3,000 horses have already been treated with Vet-Stem™ Regenerative Stem Cell Therapy.)

During a short surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia, a veterinarian makes a small incision in the dog’s belly or shoulder and removes about two tablespoons of fat tissue. The sample is then sent overnight to Vet-Stem’s lab, where it is processed and the Vet-Stem™ Regenerative Stem Cells (VSRCs) are concentrated. The VSRCs are then shipped priority overnight back to the treating veterinarian in ready-to-inject syringes. With the dog under sedation, the veterinarian injects the cells directly into the affected joint.

Thus far, the results have been impressive. At the 2008 annual convention of the American Animal Hospital Association, Robert J. Harman, DVM, MPVM, Vet-Stem’s founder and CEO, spoke about the success of his company’s therapy: “Over 500 hundred dogs around the country have been treated with little to no side-effects. About one half of one percent of the patients experienced some discomfort, but that might just be form the needle going into the joint.” None of the dogs reportedly became sick or died due to treatments.