Vet-Stem Regenerative Medicine

Cascade Hospital for Animals is excited to be able to provide cutting edge regenerative cell therapy to our patients with joint or tendon disease, and osteoarthritis. This technique allows us to collect adipose (fat) from your own pet, concentrate it down to only the most beneficial regenerative stem cells, and place them into the affected joint or tendon, where they can then become new tissue to control pain and improve function.  Drs. Hoss and Paplawsky are both certified to perform this healing technique.

What is Vet-Stem Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative medicine uses a concentrated form of autologous adipose-derived adult stem cells to treat traumatic and degenerative diseases, including bowed tendons, ligament injuries, osteoarthritis, and osteochondral defects in horses, dogs and cats.

Stem cells are multipotent and can differentiate into tendon, ligament, bone, cartilage, cardiac, nerve, muscle, blood vessels, fat, and liver tissue. The stromal fraction that is harvested from adipose tissue is a heterogeneous mixture of regenerative cells.

Vet-Stem Regenerative Cell (VSRC™) technology delivers a functionally diverse cell population able to communicate with other cells in their local environment. Until recently, differentiation was thought to be the primary function of regenerative cells.  However, the functions of regenerative cells are now known to be much more diverse and are implicated in a highly integrated and complex network. VSRC technology should be viewed as a complex, yet balanced, approach to a therapeutic goal. Unlike traditional medicine, in which one drug targets one receptor, Regenerative medicine, including VSRC therapy, can be applied in a wide variety of traumatic and developmental diseases.

Why use adipose-derived regenerative cells rather than regenerative cells derived from bone marrow?

Adipose-derived regenerative cells are:

•    Readily available source
•    Can be collected in far greater concentrations than those from bone marrow
•    Able to differ entiate into multiple lineages implicating their potential in bone, cartilage, and cardiac repair

Success in clinical trials and animal models

Despite its infancy, regenerative medicine is not new. Success in numerous animal models of disease.  Vet-Stem collaborative and clinical research demonstrate positive results in treating horses with tendon and ligament injuries, osteochondral defects, and osteoarthritis.

For more information on Vet-Stem technology, please visit their web site at www.vetstem.com

So how does the procedure take place?

Day One:

At Cascade Hospital for Animals our Vet-Stem certified doctors typically collect adipose (fat) from your pet’s abdomen. This is a sterile surgical procedure which requires a brief anesthetic.

The adipose sample is placed into a vial and sent overnight to the Vet-Stem lab in San Diego, California.

Day Two:

Your pet’s adipose tissue is processed in the Vet-Stem lab and returned to Cascade Hospital for Animals 48 hours later for reintroduction into your pet.

Day Three:

You would bring your pet back to the hospital to receive the VSRC injections.  Depending on your dog’s or cat’s condition, the cells may be given IV or injected directly into the injured joint.

Important Notice:
While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the Vet-Stem Regenerative Medicine, individual results may vary. There are no guaranties of outcome.  Surgery with Vet-Stem Regenerative Medicine may not be appropriate for every individual; it may not be applicable to your pet’s condition.  Always ask your veterinarian about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.  Only your veterinarian can determine whether Vet-Stem Regenerative Medicine is appropriate for your pet’s situation.