The Vet Practice

How could we see so many patients suffering from debilitating arthritis, joint and ligament injuries and not look for more treatment options?

It just wouldn't be right to ignore the groundbreaking developments in regenerative medicine knowing that it's already helping thousands of pets (and people) recover faster from bone and ligament injuries or lead happier and more comfortable lives in their golden years.

Especially when - it's less invasive than orthopaedic procedures, the treatment is virtually drug free and the procedure can be performed in just one day - in the clinic.

So what is this procedure called?

It's called Autologous Adipose Stem Cell procedure - and here's what it actually means

Biology 101

Stem cells are found by the millions in our (and animal) bodies. They're basically "repair" cells which travel to the site of injury or damage and create new cells to replace those which are damaged or lost. It's a natural pocess that happens thousands of times a day on a microscopic level in creatures great and small.   

Scientists have discovered that they could harvest these stem cells from the patient's own fat, separate them out and inject them back into an area which needed to be repaired - with great results.

Stem cell therapy has been used succesfully in many thousands of patients so far (mainly in the U.S) and now this same technology is now available to dogs, cats and horses in Australia.

Stem cell technology is not new to human medicine. In fact it's been around some 40 or so years. Bone marrow transplants for example are a form of stem cell therapy. Then of course some of the treatments used foetal stem cells which presented an ethical and moral dilemna for the industry.

Luckily - the stem cell therapy we're talking about here uses only adult stem cells obtained from the patient itself so there're no ethical or moral values at stake. Hence the term Autologous - meaning from the patient itself.

For which conditions could the procedure help?

Adipose stem cell procedure has been used succesfully in dogs and cats suffering from:

• Hip dysplasia
• Osteoarthritis
• Ligament and cartilage injuries
  

Are all patients with these conditions suitable candidates for the procedure?

No. All patients must first be screened for suitabilty for the procedure. Like any form of therapy - it's not a "cure all" for all bone and joint problems.

How long does the procedure take?

The MEDIVET Adipose Stem cell procedure is completed within a few hours. Your pet is admitted to hospital in the morning and can go home again later that evening.

What does the procedure involve?

A small sample of fat (around 20grams) is surgically removed from an area just near the shoulder blade. The fat sample is the processed to isolate then extract the stem cells which are them mixed with a sample of your pet's own blood plasma. A portion of this final solution is then injected directly into the afflicted joint or area of concern and some intravenously back into the blood supply. It is a very simple and straightfoward procedure carried out under aseptic conditions to avoid infection.

Where is this procedure available?

This procedure is available from vets who have invested in the specific laboratory equipment that allows the fat cells to be processed - in house. The MEDIVET Adipose Stem cell Procedure procedure differs from similar technology which has been available through individually certified clinics and specialist centres. (The processing of the sample involves additional steps to activate the stem cells.)

The MEDIVET Adipose Stem cell Procedure is also less costly therefore a more affordable option for pet owners. That's why we like it.

We'll be bringing you further updates about this exciting new field of Veterinary medicine over the next few weeks and months as well as case reports of patients undergoing the treatment.

It's available NOW through our practice.

So - stay tuned and Follow us on Facebook for updates and pictures.

P.S Here's a brief commentary from a vet who has been using this therapy in his practice in the U.S.

Ref: www.medivet-america.com

Please note: Fees quoted in this video clip are in U.S Dollars. For an estimate of our fees, please contact us.