Stem Cells
Since 2003, Stem Cells have been utilized by small and large animal Veterinarians for the treatment of orthopedic cases world wide. Traditional services provided a mail in program whereas cells could be processed and sent back to the practitioner for reintroduction to the patient. Since then, innovation and improvements to various segments have driven a more wide commercial appeal for the service.
Stem cells are the body’s repair cells. They have the potential to divide and differentiate into many different types of cells. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into tissues such as skin, fat, muscle, bone, cartilage, and nerve to name a few.
MediVet’s patented stem cell procedure allows your vet to isolate stem cells from your animal’s own fat tissue, activate them, and reintroduce them directly into the damaged areas all in one visit. The goal of this revolutionary procedure is to provide a potent anti-inflammatory effect promoting cartilage and other tissue regeneration ultimately creating a healthier environment for the affected area. Most importantly, it’s an all-natural approach to healing without the adverse side effects. One example, in the case of arthritis, stem cells can become new cartilage cells, thus reducing pain and increasing mobility.
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). MediVet provides on-site training for each clinic that brings on Stem Cell treatments; the process ensures your pet’s cells will be isolated and activated in a proper manner.
The surgical time requiring anesthesia is typically less than 30 minutes. The cells are isolated, activated and re-administered on site so that your animal can go home same day.
We recommend that the patient be limited to activity within the first 10 days. It is likely your pet will be feeling good and want to exert themselves, however we recommend limiting physical activity so the cells have the ability to work to repair injuries. Improvements are typically seen within the first two weeks and continue improve over the next few months. Veterinarians report responses from initial treatments lasting 18-24 months.
We typically see about 18-24 months of relief after the initial treatment and even longer when treatment is sought at earlier stages. Most pet owners chose to bank cells, so re-treatment is easy and cost effective. MediVet has banking facilities in Kentucky, Australia and Europe. If symptoms return, your vet merely requests a dose of cells from the bank, and injects them. No surgery is necessary.
Stem cell therapy for animals has been commercially available since 2004. MediVet pioneered in-clinic treatment options around 2010 and has now successfully treated thousands of animals globally.
Stem cells treat the source of the problem by becoming new tissue replacing damaged tissue. Other treatments, such as NSAIDs, merely attempt to reduce symptoms. The treatment is very low risk, because it uses the animal’s own stem cells. With MediVet’s technology in a recent study conducted by four independent Veterinarians over 95% of animals treated show improvement. For pet owners, there are two main advantages to MediVet.
First, the processing is all done in your vet’s office, so no worry about losing or damaging the sample during shipment.
MediVet allows your vet to complete the entire procedure in one day, making it very convenient for you and your pet. While all companies are equally safe, MediVet has the highest reported success rate greater than 95%. When comparing side by side, vets are choosing MediVet because of the superiority in technology and on-site training with support.
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 or would like to submit your animal for a compassionate use trial.
Yes, this procedure is very safe. The biggest risk as in any surgical procedure is using anesthetic, to remove the fat tissue. On a typical dog, Veterinarians report this procedure is easier than a spay. The fat is collected in about 20 minutes by your vet. Processing the sample is done carefully by a highly trained Vet tech carefully trained by MediVet. In the thousands of animals treated, we have not observed any significant negative side-effects from MediVet’s stem cell therapy.
Learn more about the unique regenerative medical care, treatment and services that we provide to your pet in our state-of-the-art rehabilitation center by clicking on the links below.