Dog Becomes 1st In
NYS To Be Treated With Stem Cells
September
29, 2010 6:10 PM
Luger, a Rottweiler, is believed to be
the first dog in New York State treated with stem cells. He
underwent the procedure at Animal General in East Norwich.
EAST NORWICH, N.Y.
(CBS 2) – Do you have a dog or cat that has trouble
walking? Some veterinarians believe they’ve found a cure that
doesn’t involve a bunch of painkillers.
Luger is a four-year-old Rottweiler who cries
in pain every time he gets up. He’s been on anti-inflammatory
drugs for the past three years.
Luger’s vet said a genetic defect is to
blame, reports CBS 2′s Magee Hickey.
“He has no neck to his femur, he has all
extra bone formation, and his socket is very flat,” Dr. Ellen
Leonhardt said. “He has extremely severe hip dysplasia – that’s
about as bad as it gets.”
Luger was sedated for what’s believed to be
the first ever stem cell procedure on a dog in New York, at
Animal General of East Norwich.
First, Dr. Leonhardt extracted 20 grams of
fat from the Rottweiler’s shoulder. The fat contains stem cells,
which may be able to repair Luger’s defective hips once they are
mixed with Luger’s blood platelets. The mixture is shaken up in
a stem cell cocktail in a specially designed centrifuge known as
a MediVet.
“We are activating them with a little LED
laser, and then we put them back into the dog. It’s almost like
turbo-charging these stem cells, which helps them to proliferate
and heal,” Dr. Mike Hutchinson, a veterinarian who specializes
in stem cells, said.
The repair cells were then injected into each
of Luger’s hips, and also into his veins. The vets say this
procedure can be used on dogs, cats, horses, or any animal who
is suffering from arthritis, lameness or a restricted range of
motion.
Luger will be up and moving a few hours after
the procedure, though the pain-relieving effect on his hips
won’t be felt for about a week.
“It saves him from having hip replacement
surgery,” Dr. Leonhardt said. “Our goal is to do this minor
procedure and save him from the big one.”
“He’s a very active dog, and getting him off
the meds and having him pain-free for the next year or two will
be wonderful,” Luger’s owner, Rosanne Mamo, said. “I’m just
excited for him, because he deserves better.”
Luger’s owners are hoping he’ll soon be well
enough to train for his future job, as a therapy dog visiting
nursing homes.
The stem cell procedure costs $1,800, and the
operation is sometimes covered by pet insurance.
